The Little Minister

ose courage lay spilt on the brae, he had been in as many houses as the policemen. The soldiers marching through the wynds came frequently upon him, and found it ha

ods, Gavin saw a gleam of red-coats. In the back wynd he heard a bugle blown. A stir in the Banker's close spoke of another sei

e Tilliedrum man said, "without a g

gyptian. Signed, Peter Spens, policeman, called by the vulgar, Wearyworld.

und the gypsy, t

ut we ken she's within cry o' this

opinion is that this Egyptian is fearsomely like my snuff-spoon. I've kent me drap that spoon on the fender, and be beat to find it in an hour. And yet, a'

shed," Gavin said, firmly; "s

inks she fooled me. But she's cracky. To gie her her due, she's cracky, and as for her being a cuttie, you've said yoursel, Mr. Dishart, that we're

ed the Tilliedrum

hat the Egyptian diddled baith the captain and the shirra? It's my official opinion that she's no better than a roasted

ounts of the strange woman's escape from the town-house, proceeded along the Tenements. He

ould be a bright day for Thrums that saw the last of her. He hoped the policemen would succeed in-. It was the gladsomeness of innocence that he had seen dancing in the moonlight. A mere woman could not be like that. How soft-. And she had derided him; he, the Auld Licht minister of Thrums, had been flouted before his people by a hussy. She was without reverence, she knew no difference between an Auld L

still in darkness. No sound reached him, save the echo of his own feet. But was it an echo? He stopped, and turned round

this time without stopping. The figure was following him. He stopped.

cloak that now concealed even her feet, despite the hood over

all her hiding-places. For a moment Gavin had it in his heart to warn her. But it was only for a moment. The nest a sudden horror shot through him. She was stealing

dim light. Gavin had almost reached th

eant, hearing some one

the darkness with t

art," said the serge

said

pinched

indeed, I am sorry I ventured into the streets to-night. I thought I might be able to

ma'am, but your husband has-

I must

"I quite agree witfe you, so w

a sergea

her pretty eyebrows, "and how long ar

his gypsy lassie had not given us so much

e you will catc

aid Gavin, fi

the Egyptian, "for you are sadl

rs. Dishart. You

" crie

he walked the distracted minister thro

ung her arm from him, and, standin

-woman!"

the last time he

lapping her h

utiful!" sh

s!" he answered.

id the Egyptian, who piti

nding her, "I could not help

ng a minister, You could have helped

to say that I saved you. I did my bes

d you not ha

n gr

"was, 'This is the person you are in search of.' I did n

said Gavi

gypsy said, "because you

nst my better jud

gypsy. "Mr. Dishart, I do beli

man against his will

aid the Egyptian, spe

ery nicest way

s, remorse filled her, and s

er, and no on

othing, for the gypsy's face had changed with her

jam. The hood had fallen back, and she looked pleadingly at hi

words in Gavin, but onl

underst

y any more?" plea

age of one who when his leg is being sa

ighed, and the sigh mea

ct for law and ord

she answer

ed-coats were still visible, and his f

ing a woman again, "i

you shou

ful in a new way. Her eyes said that lie was very cruel, and she was only keeping back her tears till he had gone. More dangerous than her face was her manner, which gave Gavin the privil

is his wife a man is shot with a thrill of exultatio

peated weakly, and the gypsy bent h

inued, "you were a gypsy girl i

ed out mischievously from beneath the

by this apparition, "as any woman in Thrums, and now you fling a cloak

it. "Ay, ay, ou losh?" she said, as if surprised, "it was just the cloak that did it, for now

, and Gavin walked sc

are," he said, looking over his should

loak. "Really, Mr. Dishart, you had better

o gain the open by the fiel

ding out her hand, "if yo

replied Gavin, but he

ends, then?" said th

. "I hope never to s

ce." Then, with less dignity, she added, "There is a splotch of mud on y

keep the secret from himself. In his boyhood he had sought a remedy by getting his larger comrades to stretch him. In the company of tall men he was always self- conscious. In the pulpit he looked darkly at his congregation when he asked them who, by taking thought, could add a cubit to his stature. When standing on a hearthrug his heels w

oad to wave his hand to her, when some sudden weakness made him look towards the fields instead. The Egyptian saw him and nodded

op of the field," she cried.

other way," G

help me again?

ok his head, but pulled her closer to the m

ng round to see if she were pursued. "Oh, I see," sh

need not have explained, unless he wanted

your m

may suffer more than you fo

can

it not be discovered that

said you

what would my congregation say if they knew I

nd the Egyptian had t

posure, but for my mother's sake. Look at her; she is happy, because she thinks me good and true; she has had such trials as you cann

rily on the dry ground. Then, child of impulse as she always was, she

you going

ou need not be alarme

n her voice, and she sp

she would not, until his

ou want?"

-why do you not hide in the manse gar

ne tears in the

man," she said

ied in horror. "There is a

g to see if she took his advice, hastened to