s turning golden

e spr

opper-"

n and gold except the sky, and that was mostly blue and gold. Gorse and

that it lighted up with golden gleams the tower of a distant church beyond the wood! Yet, as I looked steadily, it became evident that the flames neither diminished nor increased; presently I discovered that the column of smoke rose from a spot entirely different-more to the foreground. In the end I

flame. The disused quarry, not half a mile away, where the sun was bright, might have been an open gold mine-so brilliant the shini

s turning golden

ies are light

hrough the eyelid

the s

aneously, again and again, its tuneful refrain. For up at A

at her washtub on the threshold of the door, but none the less ready to enter into conversation, as

ews, sir?" she began, a n

and the like, if they were young; those who were older scanned the columns of the local newspaper, published in the county town, and believed firmly in the absolute truth of everythin

disaster, or railway collision; Bell knew nothing about such events. Experience had

eard some n

being first in the

til a fortune!" she replie

y. For Christian was, beyond doubt, one of the

e fortune come fr

ill juist aboot a week afore the puir mon met wi' his accident, ye ken. An' he says in the letter," continued the old woman, warming up with the inte

cousin is dea

meriky, ye ken, an' Christian's had word to expect him. Mayb

al was dying to make in the church; of the shinty club we were so anxious to start, but could not for want of means; of the hall we planned to build some day for concerts and social gatherings in the long

," was the remark to which

owans wes all strict Catholics. The mon would n

d "church"-or more frequently "kirk"-denotes exclusively a Protestan

tholicism of this particular Gowan might be open to question. "Our religion is as free out there a

ho had been "strict Catholics" once, but who had lamentably fallen off through kno

an put up at Christia

bie at Larrigie Inn. They've redded up the best rooms, and kindled fires and a', to be ready gin he comes soon. The fowks say as Gowan 'll likely

deed! My cogitations as I made my

ly (as he is wont, dear b

gh his glasses-"you may give up all hope of getting anything out of him. It is

o more interesting subject of conversation than the comin

fty, poor fellow, for he was too fond of whiskey; the result was that very little means remained for the support of the family when the bread-winner had been taken. The proprietor of Taskerton was generally an absentee, and the casual tenants of the place had little interest in those employed on the est

donation for Christian's benefit, nothing definite had been settled. We had all subscribed to buy her a sewing-machine, and as she was a clever seamstress she was able to make ends meet by dressmaking. She had her cow, and her few hens, so altogether, with the

e hill. No other habitation was within a mile of it, and its solitary position was quite enough by itself to suggest to any one that a man who had made money across the "drink"-as I heard an American once irreverently styl

little woman, about forty years old, probably; she bore the marks of her many anxieties on her brow-too early scored with wrinkles. I could not help thinking, as I saw her, that no fin

l greetings had passed, and I was seated in the chair of state by the fire-for the hi

od of the priest and yourself, sir, as well as our neighbors aboot, to take sic an interest in us. Indeed, I'm very t

xpect your cou

the mantelpiece, where a ch

see what he says. He was to sail on the 14th, and that was about a fortnight ago. Mistress Dobie had a message t

remarked, as I handed it back. "He

I'm very thankful that we've foond sae g

was quite a handsome little chap, with reg

ed for now," I said, be

miling, and put

can put him to some kind of institution for a year or two, where they can teach him to read and write and coont as well as any bairn wi' all his senses. For he's nae daft!" she exclaimed, with mot

nce knew a postman who was afflicted like Jeemsie, and he did his work better than any of the other men in the same office

d to myself on the way home the lightening of so many burdens whi

rd through Willy that M

igie

r. "He was treatin' the fellows wi' drams a' roond, the nicht he cam'; he wes sae glad to be bock i' the auld

ter. "There's too much of that kind of thing already about here. However, we mu

oo young when they left to have cultivated

ath. With a somewhat boisterous geniality he made instant friends with all of his former class in the neighborhood. With Val and myself he was not

of small wagonette, drawn by a single horse-in which he always occupied the seat next the driver, good-humo

e Kirsty, and toys for each of the bairns. He seemed to be never happy out of their company; when they were not driving about the country, visiting neighbors, or picnicking on the hills, they took their more important meals at the inn. The two elder children

n, or anything connected with him. But his words showed me as soon

ur young fellows are getting into the habit of dropping in there of nights and listening to the man's stories of life 't'other side.' He seems capable of standing a good deal of li

hear that he means to take them off with him, and he doesn't appea

most anxious a

eased to be a practical Catholic for years, and it was probable that his attendance at Mass and contribution of half a sovereign to the offertory every Sunday was merely the result of a desire to stand well in the estimation of the more staid members of the community, and

children. His wife died about two years ago, it seems, and he is too old to marry again. So he

ds, if they are to trust to that old heathen for a proper bringin

practise his religion, and in a kind of self-defense he rails against it-though not openly to Catholics, I believe. She is deluded enough to imagine that the influence of herself and the children will win him ov

prove to be from Elsie, who announced the presence of Christian Logan in th

r the deaf and dumb, while the others traveled a little about Scotland before starting for America, as he had now decided to do. He had made his money in horse-dealing, it appeared

The idea infuriated Gowan. What did religion matter? Protestant institutions of the kind were far in advance of Catholic. It was ridiculous to think of sending the boy an

practice of his religion. She had come to pour out her difficulties to Val, and to ask further advice. He, of course, applauded her decision, and strengthened her in the resolution she ha

eemsie, and she was most anxious for Val to be present. To this he had at once consented; for he felt i

et for lunch next day. "But we've won the victory for the littl

inclined to think; for the Protestant Home which Gowan favored was in no way superior. They discussed the question in all its bearings, and eventually Gowan lost his temper and showed his hand. He mea

stian interposed. Very quietly

for the sake of worldly advantages, Cousin Aleck, I may as well speak plai

would soon learn to repent of her folly, for he would go straightway to a lawyer and change his will! Not a penny woul

ey are well rid of him! What a blessing he showed

ntleman," and she was "sorry that some people did'na ken when they were well off!"-alluding, of course, to Christian. But Mrs. Dobie, not bein

t memory in benediction; every night she and her little ones gave a prominent place in their family prayers to the "Cousin Aleck" whom they all regarded as a generous benefactor. It was not difficult to interpret the mother's intention in thus making the man a constant object of prayer; to her the possession of God's grace appeared a good be