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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1902)
THE OMAI1A DAILY BEE: SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23, 1002; 19 I 'U i i or mm . ay (Copyright, 19m, by 8. R. Crockett) CHAPTER I. Grim, gray, dour, fell th early Decern wer twilight upon the seaboard pariah of Oower. the outward and visible sign, stranger might well suppose, of a elmllar grim humor among Its Inhabitants. But up on the aide of Bennangour Anton MacMIUan, the herd, drew hie checked plaid more cloeely about him and hummed a cheerful pealm. Now Israel May say, and that truly, If that the Lord Had not our cause maintained; If that the Lord Had not our right sustained At this point Anton stopped abruptly and, hading his eyes as If the summer sun had been shining In them, rn.ide an Impromptu night-glass of hie palms and exclaimed, "Davert!" Now, when a weit-country herd, born In the purple of the Klrk of the Covenants, valiant In defense of Headship and joyously confident of total depravity and the eternity -of punishment, stops on his hillside and says "Davert," It may be taken for granted that ha sees more than a ewe fallen "aval An a hollow or a slap In the dyke through which his flock hath streamed away to the promUed land of another man's pastures But again the same "minced oath" broke from Anton's Hps, so vigorously that Tyke and Tod, his mlnlstrant collies, slunk aside In fear, casting anxiously back In their ca nine consciences for wbat of transgression undiscovered or duty undone might be about to bring their master's hasel "cllcklo" whirling about their ears. j But It was to a spot far down the slope I of Bennangour that the keen gray eyes of 1 their lord were directed. Beyond the vll I lege, beyond the klrk and manse, Anton MacMIUan saw the dark and solemn towers - of Castle Oower, and strung across them, like a fairy necklace, certain bright points which told of lighted chambers and festal t cheer. - That might well be, for It was Christmas Bight, but Anton MacMIUan had never heard ' of the festival save as on of the whims of? that Scarlet Woman who, on her Seven Hills, continued to observe times and sea sons and so delude the unwary and encore Banted. - "There maun be great doings doon by," muttered the ' herd, as he resumed his locg, twinging, heather stride, the dogs cow ering at his heel In uncertainty as to his mood. "Forty year bae I herded Ben nangour, clear day and mirk nlcht, but never ha I seen the great noose of Castle Oower shining as If auld Gregory Glen- drnwyn had herded the stars o' heaven Into his windows, as Tyke and Tod there mlcht herd a wheen silly sheep Into a bucbt!" And, Indeed, It was something far out of the common which had set the great, gaunt house of Castle Oower alight from turret to porter lodge, brought out Gregory Glen donwyn's laced coat, with the gold stiff on the collar and sleeve, the earn In which he had bowed the knee to the king In Ed In burgh at the never-to-be-forgotten royal visit, and sent every gray domestic and elderly stable boy to door and window In tremalous agony of anticipation. - The two cons of the house wer coming home, the elder, Rupert Olendonwyn, from th ends of tha earth; the younger, John, only rrora th collsge of Edinburgh. But, as was natural. It wa for Rupert, the heir, that the preparation was made. Jock, poor lad (so the servants averred), might have com and gone a score of times and found no mor slaughter of fatted calves In Castle Oower than a slice or two of cold meat from the butler's pantry and no more Illu mination than was Involved In lighting nis own solitary bedroom candle at the table In the back hall. But Rupert ah, for his first born this old Gregory must order up the .best bottle of port, dusted and cob webbed, from the cellar. Th boy would be cold. He would b tired. It was a pity that be bad refused the family carriage nd begged that a horse might be eent him at the Cross Keys in Drumfern, sixteen long Boot's miles away. The laird of Oower aat In his great chair Drat born after years of abeeno. Grler on, come and go. Prom his chimney corner he cast an occasional glance of ap proval at th clean-cut sparkle of the glass and sliver on the white cloth. "It Is wll-benttlog." he mused, "that I hould rejoice to welcome my aon Agneta's first born after years of absence. Gier on. why on earth do you trot In and out like a new-made elder at his first sacra toent Is everything not ready for Mr. Rupert r Duncan Grlerson, the ancient butler of Castle Oower, lifted his hand to his brow In a semlrallltary salute. He and Gregory Olendonwyn had aerved In the Border Feaclbles together. HNa. Caatle Oower." he said with slow emphasis, "this Is no a time when we are likely to forget aught that can mak the return o" th young malster leas memorable. There Is never a servant that shelters under the root o" the Olendonwyns but will do hla duty this nlcht Aye. even thr a auld Sarah Dumplla doon at th village her that waa the laddie's foster-mither, and reared htm frae a week auld has brought up a muckle pot o' the crsb Jeely he was saa fell fond o' when he waa a laddie!" Oregory Olendonwyn nodded, well pleased. "Yes, yes," he said, ''all Is Indeed In readi ness, and I'm sure that you will not And Rupert ungrateful. He was ever generous and high-spirited from his youth up, and I cannot believe that these qualities should nav forsaken blm during the years he has spent abroad." "N. ca." muttered the old butler, busy ing ftlnvMlf at the sideboard. "Malster Ru pert will be Malster Rupert to the end o' me chapter. And we will a' lie down and tnak' oureel's door scrapere and hall mats I for blm to dlrht bis feet on!" ' "Very properly so." said Oregory Olen donwyn. who bad caught th spirit but not exact letter of the old man's speech. "The grandson of peer f Ireland, the heir to an ancient name and t th estate which my son Inherits from m will never, I trust ack due respect In hla nstlve country. Though. Indeed, there Is a reckless and dla. loyal spirit abroad, which seeks to overturn both church and tula in common destruc tion, liav yu noticed any symptoms of such In th servants' hall, GrlereonT Speak openly, sir!" A curious light shon for a single Instant In the old man's eyes, but they wer bent upon the floor, and so far aa words wer concerned he answered meekly enough: "Well, laird Oregory, I dlana ken, I dinna mind o ocht that could be ca'ed a bangln' matter, as It were. But noo, when I be think me. It's fae as daith that Tammas Faith full refused flatly to sup his parrltch the lther morn In', declarln' and threepln' doon my throat that he was lntltled to bam an' eggs. And there's Mary Oeddes, th guise-herd, an' It please your honor fslth, that lassie wlnna look at a red herrla' tor her supper, but maun bae her pease-bros and bannocks like a leddy. O, as ye say, laird, It's fair awesome that thae common alty are comtn' to In this generation wl' their whims and whlgmaleerles. But I doubt na these are the times spoken of In the prophet Daniel, the seeventh and aucbt chapters, as guld Malster Albllna pointed oot In his lecture and addeetlon last Sab bath mornln's, when your honor vrss ower by at Dr. Caesar's klrk." "That will do, Grterson," said his master, sharply. "When I wish for any Informa tion about goose-girls and silly bletherln pulpiteers Itke Simeon Albllns I will net fall to ask for It In the meantime (go to th hall door and keep n sharp lookout for the arrival of your young master. Then you hear his horse turn into th drive, do not fall to advise me." "And mlcht your honor ha ony com mands about Malater John, when ha arrives frae th college at Edlnbra'T" said th old man. lift lag his eyes for one Instant to those of bis master and dropping them In stantly with a look so shrewd and keen that It seemed like the edge of steel In- Ing themselves to a momentary exchange of flouts and Jeers, or when a reference to some college story, well worn and proven. now for the first time failed to wake th usual gay contagion of youthful laughter. Lst to quit these attempts at enliven- ment was a tall lad with a floes of fair hair crisping under his college cap, n Uttl pale of face and thin of cheek, perhaps, but with a blue eye so sunny-bright that not even the lank wretchedness of that December afternoon could In the least cloud or overcast Its aiure clarity. His companions for the moat part ad dressed this youth either brusquely as "Glen," or with reprehensible flippancy as "My Lord Bishop." It was a rough place at the best of times, but today th Cross Keys held a raft of drovers, sweexln Indiscriminately In Irish and Scottish, high-flavored with flat and ahtllalah for anything in the way of "dlvar alon." So It chanced . that John Olendonwyn, th friendship which long absence on Ru- 1 pert's part and perhaps some trifle of Jeal ousy on that of hla Junior had clouded for time. And In th Inn parlor of th Croe Keys (bar was clinking of glasses and th sound of stampings and shoutings, not so much mirthful as loud. For th prodigal returned from a far land evidently consid ered this a more promising spot wherein to kill the fatted calf than In th gloomy din big room of Castle Oower and face to face with his father. ' Now, though Rupert's face waa Bushed with wine and his vole exceeding Jovial and loud, his 'hand shook pitifully. For there wer a sheaf of papera and a series of summations In hla pocketbook which he waa In no hurry to show to hU father. And John Olendonwyn, who, though no ascetic, loved not win by nature or habit watched with a slowly saddening face this brother who from his youth up had been held before him as a god. Time after time he took his arm and strove to lead hint way. "Our father la waiting for you," he whis pered. "For his sake for God's sake, let us get out of this. I know he has thought of nothing else for days and weeks." But Rupert shook blm off with loud good humor. "Another toast and I am with you, John nie, lad," he would say. "If you are to be a parson and preach to us there Is no need for you to begin your sermonising yet awhile. My father has waited patiently these thre yean and more. He can well afford to wait another hour, and wo will ride all th faster when we do start." 80 It chanced that Anton MacMIUan, shep herd on Bennangour, hearing the nolae of shouting far below him, came over the heather and down tha bowlder-strewn galry. Leaping into th turnpike with the agility of oue-and-twenty, he found two young men struggling for the reins In a hired dogcart, an Indignant and high-spirited saddle-horse rearing and plunging between the shaft. "What's this?" he cried. "Laddies, agree nd be oeevil. Market-nlcht or no market nlcht, there's nae aense in alccan tulxiea!" , "What's this, what's this, Malster John?" And John Olendonwyn, recognising the old, blble-quotlng Cameron Ian- herd, could abruptly, as John stood tn tn doorway uncertain whether t advance or retreat. "Only to know If I can be of nny sT" faltered th lad. Gregory Gleadonwyn waved his hand to ward his unconscious heir. "You have done enough for on night," he aald, stonily; "you may rest satisfied. You have mad my aon sot. He has mad m bankrupt But see understand this. If yon think to benefit yourself by encour aging my poor Rupert to drink himself to death, yon are mistaken, air. Ton can go. Remember, I have my eye upon you and your scheme. Ever since you wer child you have hated him. But It will help you nothing. I. hi father, will keep him safe In spit of you aye, In spit of himself!" John had knocked one of his comrade Into the fireplace of the Cross Keys' parlor only for whispering In his ear, "I say, old fellow, If your brother runs the rig Ilk this, you'll And yourself heir to Castl Oower some fine morning before long!" But since this man who libelled him was hla own father, John Olendonwyn only bent his head and went out through th door, with many unspoken words swelling In his heart CHAPTER III Enganed Persona. "No, John, It will not do. Ton and I are engaged to be married. ' Our fathers and mothers, after the flesh, arranged the mat ter without consulting us even as they did that other business of introducing us Into the world. Kismet I Necessity has no laws. Only, I pray you, do not think It necessary to make love to me. Do not feel obliged to dance attendance when you would far rather be lying at the waterside scribbling poetry, or. It fates were favorable, looking Into the blue eyes of little Falrlle Glendennlag Oh, I-know all about that I am not In the least Jealous.' If I could be things might go better." It was tall and handsomely molded girl who was speaking in a quiet, unemotional tone and the most matter-of-fact way. Veronica Martha Crossraguel Caesar, eldest but far from the only daughter of Rev. Augustus Caesar, D. D., mlntater of the parish of Kllgour, commander-tn-chlet of the town thereto attached, and known Dark Days" Many "dark days" from kidney ills. Backache, headache, nervous, tired, Urinary troubles makes you gloomy. The aches of kidney ills depress, discourage? No rest at night. Hard to "keep up and doing." Doan's Kidney Pills Brighten every household here they're known. Bring relief to aching backs, Bring cure to sick kidneys, Omaha people testify to this. Mr. E. O. Glenn, school teacher of No. tU North 10th street, sayst "I procured Doan's Kidney Pills at Kuhn Co.'s drug store, cor ner of 15th and Douglas streets, for my wife. She suffered terribly from attacks of kidney complaint for years. At th time her back waa aching severely and although she used many preparation said to be sure cures for kidney complaint the benefits received from Doan's Kidney Pills were so pronounced that w have no hesitation In Indorsing the representations made for them." At All Drug Stores, BO cent, Fostcr-MllburnCo., Buffalo. N. T. "WHEN JOHN ENTERED HALF AN HOUR LATER HE FOUND HIS FATHER STILL SITTING IN HIS PLACE AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE. strumetat. x "JohnT" repeated Gregory Olendonwyn vaguely. "Aye, John your honor has two sons, y ken," said the old butler with another of hla quaint aecret glances. "Malster John Is comln' by th Enbro' coach tha nlcht. Y had th letter yoursel'." "Ah, yes, of course," said the laird, mov ing uneasily In hi chair. "Well, John oan se.me In th morning. If he Is hungry give him anything that waa left from lunch. I desire to din alon with Mr, Rupert to night I have much to say that Is not for callant's ears like hla. Take him Into your pantry, Grterson, and see that you do not contaminate him with any of your in fernal church-and-atat claptrap. For, though I hav known you for fifty years, Duncan Grterson, I do believ that at heart you are Uttl better than a rebel and a dissenter yes, low dissenter and Camer onlan!" The old man held up hla hands. "Tour honor, your honor!" he cried. In apparent horror, "what haa moved y to say slo 'thing, wbsn you and me hae been at the wars thegtther, and ye ha heard me expreas myself time an' again, as It were malr forcibly than circumspectly." "That will do, Grlarson," said th laird of Gower, with a wave of hla hand In dis mission. "Oo down aa I bid you and wait for my son in th hall." Th door closed upon th most ancient re tainer of the family of Olendonwyn of Caa tle Gower. Hla master roae from his chair, and, pushing aside the heavy tapestry cur tains of th dining room window, he bent his heavy brows together In vain attempt to pierce the darkness of the avenue. He was looking for Joseph, the son of his heart, and aching tor the first glint of ths coat of many colors with which froa his youth up be had adorned blm. As for the other, there waa plat of cold meat for him In th butler's pantry. CHAPTER II: Th Uwaka Which th Swta Did Eat. But meantime Joseph and his brother had foregathered without leave of Jacob, and lo! both young men made light of the Jealousies of the ancient family out of Ur of tha Chal- dees from whose loins they had sprung. It waa In the yard of the Cross Keys inn at Drumfern, at that ahoulder-pollshed angle of gable against which one Gauger Burns bad ao often leaned, that th two young sren mat. Th coach ha run heavily all th way down from th Beef Tub, snow clog ging th wheels and th horses tired with the Increasing softness of th roads. There were half a dosen college blades upon th top f th "Rover," soma of whom had bora mighty lively with th pea-shooter and catapult when they left Edinburgh In the morning. But after th change-hows at th Summit, with It aloppy discomfort out of doors, th steaming, wet clothes huag to dry befor th kitchen fir, th slatternly, scolding landlady and th worse than Indifferent fara. tha Joyous company had fallen mostly allent, hardly even rous bachelor of art, student In, divinity at the University of Edinburgh and proximate present to th patrimonial parish of Gower, being In pursuit tit peao and th quiet life, naturally ran his head all 'un wittingly Into very peck of trouble. As he cam round th corner he had recognisance of swaying mass of bodies and In th center of th disturbance waa a young man who stood hatless and dishev eled la th midst, defending himself boldly but unequally against an Ignoble throng of drovers and stable yard loafers.. A thin atream of blood trickled down his forehead. He struck out wildly now at this assailant, and now at that, his flushed face and laboring breathing ahowlng that, apart from numbers, he waa In por condition and quit overmatched. In another moment John Olendonwyn had dropped bis wet cloak, upon the stabl Ut ter, snatched spoke from broken-down gig wheel and, crying Aloud. "Out ot the way, you cowards!" flung himself Into the battle. Th odd would still hav proved too great and the champion of the oppreased mlgh tn his turn have been Incontinently overthrown had not one of the collegians, looking from window, Ilk sister Anne, observed the unequal fray. "Glen's in fight, you fellows," b cried. All handa to the help of My Lord Bishop!" And so from th back door of th Inn poured fresh army upon the assailant's flank as Blucher broke upon th Hundred Daya' Emperor at Waterloo. In one hot and multltudloualy whirling minute all waa over. Drover and straw- sucking cornermen were flying down the street and the victorious collegers were re entering the Inn, supporting rescuer and rescued with loud voices and equal arms. At the door ot the parlor the young man who had been so effectually auccored turned upon Olendonwyn with the hand and words of thanks. The band dropped. The words faUed. "John!" "Rupert!" And In another second, all Jealousies and quarrels forgotten, this Jacob, at heart no supplanter, bad in the foreign fashion clasped Reuben t his heart and klased htm on both cheeks. Joseph for all his flue coat waa kinder to Reuben than he de served. 60 It seemed to b now. With Scottish shsmefacedaess John Glen donwyn submitted and turned upon his friends with that singular charming dignity which he could assura upon occasion. "This is my brother, Rupert," he said. "home from a long stay abroad. Rupert, these are my claaamates and fellow-travelers." "And I am deucedly obliged to you all," quoth the heir of Castl Gower. "These confounded rascals would have had tne down In a minute more. Not that it w.sa't my fault to begin with. But th yokel give themselves such confounded air. However, I will teach them different befor I hav don with them." And despite his slim form he looked aa if h could mak good hi words. , So U this fashion th brothers rcmad only find a few stammering wores In reply. "It Is my brother! For God's sake, An ton, help me to get him Into th castl without my father seeing him!" But this, though tha groom who had brought over the horse to Drumfern aided and abetted aa best be could, riding for ward at speed to warn the butler, and though Duncan Grterson lied his most plaus ible tn good cause, proved to be far be yond human power to effect. .For Rupert, noisily venting his determi nation to resist all coerolon, utterly re fused to go to his room by way of the back staircase. He had com 1,000 mile to see hi father. He wan a good fellow, hla father, and would pay bla debta for him. Thsy wer all in conspiracy to keep htm from his father. John In especial was young traitor, who wanted to supplant him. To his father he would go at ones. And In th heat of th altercation, the door which led upward to th hall opened and Oregory Olendonwyn came proudly tn, the master of his house, erect aa lance, his gray hair falling over his high forehead and his great dark eyes flashing from be neath his grlsxled ybrow. His Hps were firmly compressed, and so threatening waa tbelr master's whole demeanor that all stood back and left th two sons and th father alone upon the stone-flagged kitchen floor. John wa still halt-supporting his brother, and endeavoring to persuade him to go quietly up to his bedroom by assur ing him that h would assuredly be better in the morning. Th elder wa struggling and laughing with loud, foolish good humor. "Rupert!" Th sound of his father's vole partially sobered tha young man. II held out his band with kind of pitiful gravity. "Very aorry, sir," he said, "but th fools said I was not to see you tonight, and the fact Is, I must see you tonight ruined If I don't, sir owe a deuce of a lot of money, and the wretched Jews are pressing me.' "Grlerson, give your young master an arm. Let us go In by tne ironi ooor 01 Castle Gower. It shall not b aald that th heir of the Glendonwyns waa smuggled Into the bom of bis ancestors Ilk a thief In th night." And so these three, Gregory Olendonwyn, his son, Rupert, th child ot' his heart, and the ancient and faithful servitor ot their house, (ook. their wsy out of the lighted kitchen Into the darkness and so through the shrubberies to the great, entrance ot Castl Oower." John Olendonwyn followed behind with a sick heart. Ths chill bit of th air now mad Rupert aleepy, and after putting a bundle of papers into his father's hand, be sank drowsily Into an arm chair, on which Grlerson, with aa Impasslvs face, presently covered htm up with a traveling rug. When John entered half aa hour after ward he found his father still slttlDg In his place at the bead of the table, the dinner plates and glasses pushed from blm untouched. The' plac thus cleared . wa atrewn with papers. Gregory Olendonwyn looked up with a whitened face from som calculation be was making. . . . "What do yon wantf h demanded breast with a sharp little clack of anger. "Oh! Oh! Oh!" she cried, "that la Just the hopelessness of It! You will not be serious even for a moment. I tell you I will not have your cheap-Jack compllmcnta and "Veronica dear'-tngs.' "You are making a game of this also, as you do of everything." said Veronica Caesar, looking down little sadly and withdrawing her hand. "You say you do not love me," aald the young man, "but do you not think that If you did, you could mak me something dlf ferent from what I am?' No, John," Veronica went on, more slowly, "I cannot by willing lore you or any other. Sometimes I think I am not made to love any man with the love that men want from women. There are some of us Ilk that Hospital nurses, sisters of mercy. matrons of orphan and rescue homes these should be such women aa I women whom Ood haa mad barren ot the love of woman and man, but with heart that overflow with pity. I do not need to seek any of these spheres, for I have mine near at hand tn father who, true and great-hearted as he Is, must be tended like a baby; mother well, I will aay nothing of my mother and doten children all younger than myself. No, John, I will remain engaged to you as long as you like, but I will never marry you unless my heart is changed and the very foundations of my life are torn up, "Vera," said John, gently. laying his hand on hers, "you and I have had both enough to ty us. Can we not look forward to set tlcg up new home and make each other happy there? The thing la worth the trial, surely?" The girl shook her bead, though she smiled more tenderly than before. "No," she said, aadly, "I would never make a good wife, but oh, think wbat an aunt I should make! You do not really want me, either. You would not be beppy with me, John. Our fathers' plain, businesslike arrangement was better than any pretence ot affection. - You,- th younger son or a great house, were to marry me. the eldest daughter of man of weight In the church. You wer to be a minister of that church, also. They considered your fitness for th office aa they did whether you and I were suited to each other. Why. indeed should they? Your father would present you to the living, at present held by a warm Ing pan of th nam of Albllns. He could easily enough be provided for through your lathers money and my father's Influence. All would be for the best Your father would give you some additional allowance and mine would advance your Interests tn quartera high and ecclesiastic. So the good children would marry and live happily ever after. 'You have It well by rote. Vera." aald John Olendonwyn. "I would that you had it also by heart. "Of course I know It by rote," cried the girl. "Do I not have It served to me tor breakfast, dinner and supper? I motht distracts m with eternal ratter about my prospect. . Ah, John, she does not know bow small chanc there Is of her expecta tions being realised. Only last night Bhe waa even saying, 'Oh, If only that eldest son, who (they tell me) Is coming home would die you. Vera, would bo the ladr of throughout th whole Scottish southlands 1 Castle Oower.' And she has even arranged aa tne aocior. " 1 wnicn room so is 10 nav wnen ah comes John Olendonwyn listened to his com- I to live with us panlon with a faint smile ot amused toler- I ance. He did not greatly beed her words. Veronica was always saying some- "Ood forbid!" cried John, devoutly. "Ah, ther again," cried the girl, "you guard yourself, you see. You do not pity thing, generally something fatiguing. Yet I me the humiliation of having such things there was this to be said tor ner, ne ownea 1 cast up to me." she never cared brass farthing wnetner 1 "And what- would you hav me do. you answered her or not John, for tne Veronica?" aald John Olendonwyn, "It Is moat part, did not answer. He preferred I easy to say that this and that should be to listen and watch. I righted. But It I tell my father that our But on this occasion the girl seemed do- I engagement Is at an end, for no reason termlned to drive him into a corner. It I save that we do not ault each other, he waa for that reason that she had brought will certainly refuse to present me to the him out. to the manse-greenhous. where I parish, even If be does not turn me forever through hax ot ferns and geraniums on 1 from his door. He likes me Uttl enough could look down upon the estuary or uower. u jt Is even le than you do." Buddenly the girl turned upon her silent "Nay. John, that was unkindly said lover a threatening expression In th angle I Criti tha girl; "and quit unworthy of you at which she menaced him with her water- 1 1 J0ll more than any one In th world, Ing can. after my own father. Aye, and would do "John Olendonwyn, you ar mor than mor for you everything, Indeed, except nough to provok a aint! What do yon marry you which would be the greatest suddos I brought you her for?" "Why. to talk to me." answered John calmly. "It is a good place to talk, and you hav been doing It som considerable time, you know." "Exactly, air. But when you ar talked guci, M it u; unklndnes I could do to you, not loving you." 'But I love you, Vera," said the youth. sudden flash of eagsrness lighting hi' blue eyes; "do not let us break the tie now to you are expected to listen, and when vou listen, you are expected to answer ' But did you ask me anything V Inquired th young man. still mor serenely.' 'Dtd I ask you anything. Th gin stamped her toot "No; I did not ak you anything. I only tried to get Utue sens and car for tha future Into that idle, tool lih, selfish head of yours. O, I know you, John Olendonwyn. You think that because your father doe not Ilk you and wishes you out ot tbe bouse you. ar entitled to pose as martyr. So you lounge ana lax through life and pretend to hav measured th heights and deptha of d repair, ugal I h.-v no oatlenc with you!" "Ali the mor reason, then," returned John Olendonwyn. eweetly, "that I should have a Uttl with myself." Something In his attitude Irritated th girl Intensely. 8h set down the watering can and' planted herself directly between him and th door, "Now. listen. John Glendonwyn," she al most palpitated th words, gripping her handa till the nails dented Into the flesh, and her small, even teeth quivered upon her llpa as If ready to bit Into thW In dlgnant curl, "you have had your trial and you may hav greater, but at any rat you won't be any th worse of hearing what one honest girl who wishes you well thinks of you and tbem." "Veronica, dear," urged th young man softly. "Is it necessary? I bav beard It so often." "No," cried the girl; "that Is Just It yeu have not beard! You have been unhappy at home. You hav made yourself mor so thsn you need, so that I hav hesitated t speak plainly for fear of appearing Cruel But now I will be plain" "That you can never be.' youth smiling upon her aa Indolently as ever. Th girl clasped her hands In front W br "Ah, no, John; you do not lov m;" re peated Vera after blm, sadly; "you are too young to know what th word means." . "I am older than you by a good year and a half," cried John. Indignantly. "That may be by th calendar," ah said, 'but I dars you to deny that I am not ten times th man you are. I could go out and earn my living tomorrow. Why, when I was with my Aunt Fisher at Kenmor I did all th laundry work during th thre week she was laid up. And th folk at the great house said tbe things wer nvf better done. Do you think thst I would b afraid to face my father and tell him th truth, lest he should turn me out of th house or put another man Into cnurcn living h had promised me?" "But" objected John Olendonwyn, soma- . thing loss philosophically than before, "I cannot do clear starching, and I hav no Aunt Flaher. Dig, I cannot, and to beg, I am aBhamed." "Furthermore, there ar two things for you to consider. First, would your father really think tbe less of you for asserting yourself like man? I am sure In bla heart he would not. And again, ar you fit to be minister of th church and ex plain the way of life tn other men, when you have shown so little skill In ordering your own?" Your father thinks that I am fit enough. retorted tbe atudent ot divinity. "Only yesterday he complimented me on my col lege exercises." "College exercise, Indeed!" cried Veron- . lea. "Do you really think that you can ' feed parish of hungry, Ignorant souls, upon college exercises? And as to my father, he is everything that Is good and kind but too deeply concerned for th , union he haa planned between your fortun -and my my " "Your clevernee say tu word. Vera," cried John, with somewhat constrained laugh, "you know you mean It" "Well, my faculty for carrying thlngB through, If you will. Yon are dear, good fellow, John; but to tell you th truth, you hav. never waked up to seriousness yet' You are no more fit to be the minister of a parish than to be admiral of the fleet!" Then for tha first time John Olendonwyn , lost his temper. "I am not fit to be a minister of my father's parish, am I not?", he cried, flush ing with swift anger. "I am not fit to kiss ( your hand, madam. Well, at any rate, there remains year or so In which I need , not trouble my head about either you or , th Klrk of Scotland. My brother and I are pretty good friends at present, nd ' well with his help I can try to climb th Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil from th other side. I am too young and , I presume too Innocent for you, my lady Veronica! Eh blen, a year or two with ( ' Rupert will mend both particulars.. Per- . haps so deeply experienced lady as Miss , Veronica Crossraguel Caesar will Ilk her friend the better for that!" "I will always Ilk blm better for p pearlng to be what he la," said th girt "If you think that your brother will help you to a career for which you ar better fitted I shall rejoice. For I am your tru , friend, though you do not think so today, : John. Mor than that I do believ that some day you will awake and cast away your Idleness and selfishness as Samson tore oft th Phlllstln withes." "Ah, but Vera you forget," said John, , smiling again, "the ThlUstlnes got Samson , In ths long run!" 1 "Yea," retorted the girl, because woman ; cropped the locks of bis strength whan , he waa asleep." "Ah," said John Olendonwyn subtly, "you mean Falrlle Olendennlngl" - The girl's cheek flushed swift, fiery . red, and her proud lips quivered angrily. "So Uttl do I mean Falrlle," sh an- , swered, "that I think It would b th bst thing you could do to but It Is useless to tell you now what I think would b best for you. You were Uttl likely to tak my advlc as thing wer. Now you hav told me that you despise both It and m. Mor . than that, you spok bitter word bout Falrlle Glendenntng. In return, for I am no , turn-the-other-cheek damsel, I will speak . one to you. I said that, ilk namson, you were aaleep, and I bad you bwar. ' need not hav troubled myself. For, how ever sound you may b asleep, you hav ( no locks ot strength to b cut. When yon . become a minister let your first text be, 'Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel!' " ; , John Olendonwyn turned pal to th lips. He elxed his bat from where It lay among the flower pots. "You have hit the mark at last, Ver onica," ba said, "your reproach haa goo horn. Soma day L John Olendonwyn, whom you despise, will mak you unaty those words." And without any leave-taking, he went out 'r The girl stood still where h had left her, and looked after him striding sav agely down the gravel, as If be would grind ' very stone to powder under his heel. "God send that day soon!" sh said, softly. (To Ba Continued.) r, Stearno7 Electric Clai and Qoacfi Panto ai die out of th house On incrcikflg dries tip thdf bodies, leavi&f no odor. It U a safe and sure exterminator also of Mice, Water Bugs, Croton Bugs, Cockroaches and all other vermin. 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