White Heather (Volume III of 3)

and, strangely enough, he fancied himself there, and Meenie absent; and always he was wondering when she was coming

d full of promise, and the pale and sickly sunlight that struggled in through the window panes and lit up the dusty little room seemed a glorious thing, bringing with it all glad tidings. 'You, fortunate Glasgow town!' h

And he knew himself that he was looking less haggard than on the previous day. He was feeling altogether better; the long and sound sleep had proved a powerful restorative; and his heart was ligh

not go and have a look at the terraces and trees in the West End Park, it seemed so like two lovers setting out for a walk together that the conscious blood mantled in her cheeks, and her eyes were averted. But she strove to be very business-like; and asked him a number of questions about Mr. Weems; and wondered that the Americans had said nothin

r what the subject might be? And then he was sitting by her side, with all that wide prospect stretched out before them-the spacious terraces, the groups of trees, the curving river, and the undulating hills beyond. It was a weird kind of a morning, moreover; for the confused and wan sunlight kept struggling through the ever-changing mist, sometimes throwing a coppery radiance on the

give up what you undertook to do when you left Inver-Mudal. Why, when you left you were full

ve been in a kind of a whirl at that time. It seemed so fine and easy a thing to st

id not care much to have more money for yourself-for you have very strange notions, Ronald, about some things-y

d, 'I grew sick and tired of the town lif

nstrance, 'you knew that your town life was only a matter of months! And

her reasons,' he said,

were

not te

all the way from the Highlands-and-and done what few girls would have done-for your sake; and yet you

ll you, you wo

some entanglement of debt, or something of the kind, of which he was ashamed to speak; and yet, unless she knew clearly the reasons t

at the first sign of displeasure, he could instantly stop. 'There was a young lass that I knew there-in the Highlands-and she was, oh yes, she was out of my station altogether, and aw

slowly and watchfully, and still wit

ither, for I knew it was impossible there could be anything between us, and that she would be going away sooner or later, and I too. Yes, and I did go away, and in high feather, to be sur

, perhaps, her eyes downcast, her fingers working n

the north, and claim her as the prize?" But that was not to be thought of. She had never hinted anything of the kind to me, nor I to her; but when I found myself cut away from her like that, the days were terrible, and my heart was like lead, and I knew that I had cast away just everything that I cared to live for. Then I fell in with some companions-a woman cousin o' mine and some friends of hers-and they helped to make m

; and his heart was hot with anger against himself that he had caused her this pain. But how co

broken voice. 'I suppose it could not have been ot

b. He could not pretend to think that Meenie did not understand; and this was her gre

spoiled your walk for you wi' my idle story. Maybe

in her composure. 'You spoke-you spoke of that girl-O Ronald, I wish I had

, after

a struggle against that choking weight of sobs; for much was demanded of her at this moment; and her voice seemed powerless to utter all that her heart prompted her to say, 'if-if that girl you spoke of-if she was to see clearly what is be

eni

ilderment of hope-not joy, not triumph, but as

y there should be no hiding or false shame, and surely there is for you and for me in the world but the one end to hope for; and if not that-why, then, nothing. If you go away, if you have nothing to hope for, it will be the old misery back again, the old despair; a

ve given yourself to me-you have no thought of yourself at all-it is all about me, that am not worth it, and never was. Is there any other woman in the world so brave and unselfish! Meenie, lass-no, for this once-and no one will ever be able to take the memory away from me-for this once let me call you my love and my darling-my

bit of a strange and tender smile shining

e daft, I think; and it seems as if there was nothing for me but to thank God for having sent you into the world and made you as unselfish and generous as you are. But that's not

of my going for a while to my mother's cousins; but I shall not do that; no, I shall be at Inver-Mudal, or wherever my father is, and you will easily get to know that, Ronald. But if things go ill, and you do not come for me-or-or,

e was too precious; rather he spoke of all the chances and hopes of life, and of the splendid future that she had placed before him. Now there was something worth striving for-something worth the winning. And already, with the wild audacity that was now pulsating in his veins, he saw

ittle despondent after that first devotion of self-surrender)

id, in a low voice, 'but I do not think I could have done othe

regret?' he

with a strange s

done otherwise. But it is for you to sh

ll at once, Meenie; that's wher

e said; 'it will be a hard and difficult w

ie, you little know what a prize you have set before me. Why, now, here, ever

she said,

erything I had let slip. Dear lass, you have made every quarter of an hour in the day far t

nald,' she said, as they set out to lea

to-mo

of the house for the winter, and I am going with her. But on Friday-if you w

odland Road he strove to talk to her very cheerfully and brightly

to rouse herself a little, and to banish whatever do

e Highlands that you knew, you said you-you had never said anything to her that

ha

'It was not meant for her to see; but she saw it. It was some ver

exclaimed, 'did

his mind went swiftly

the time you wer

look

so very ang

until it was very late. As he walked back into the town all the world around him lay black and silent; no stars were visible; no crescent moon; nor any dim outline of cloud; but the dusky heavens were flushed with the red fires of the ironworks, as the flames shot fiercely up, and sent their sullen splendour across the startled nigh