The Heather-Moon

suggestion to passengers that it was strange the whole train did not empty itself upon the platform. So far from this being th

e stiff-stemmed wayside plants; but the sixth man had not set his f

ible to the naked eye at night, in a not too brilliantly lighted railway station, could be explained

with a glance, thinking him exactly like other men of decent birth and life who knew how to wear their clothes; but railway porters and romantic women (are there other women?) have a special instinct about men. The two

lk a dozen times a day without knowing technically what they mean-personal magnetism. He was rather dark and rather thin, rather like a conquering soldier in his simple yet authoritative way of giving orders for what he wanted done. He had eyes which were of an almost star

ggage in the van, to be taken to his automobile; and there were other passengers who looked much jollier and mor

so very kind as to wait

tonished it was only because so many odd things had happened to him in life, in railway stations and drawing rooms and

f whose face did hers piquantly remind him? He had a dim impression that it was quite a celebrated face, and no wonder, if it were like this one. The

fore his eyes danced the hunting tartan of the MacDonalds of Dhrum. Once that particular combination of green, blue, red, brown, purple, and white had flashed to his heart a signal of warm human love, daring and high romance; but he believed that long ago his heart had shut against such deceiving signals. Across the way in, he had printed in big letters "NO THOROUGHFARE," and was unconsciously well pleased with himself because he had done this, thinking it a proof of mature wisdom, keen ins

thyst against the gold of sunset sky and sea; but the purple and the gold were un

of clear streams that have never reflected other things than trees, shadowing banks of wild flowers,

that was just as well. The girl had asked him to wai

?" she began. "Perhaps you'll like to buy it. Nobody else

nd she returned the look, in spite of herself rather th

sell?" he answered by a question. "Is it fo

he girl exclaimed. "And I don't k

here have you lived

, and I want to go to London. I must go to London, but I haven't any money, and they won't trust me to pay them for my ticket when I get some. So I tried to sell a piece of jewellery I have, and nobody would buy it. I thought when

that the girl was a minx, and the man a fool. He recognized this unreasonableness in himself; nevertheless, he had no doubt that his own instinct about the girl was right. She was genuine of her sort, whatever her strange sort might be; and though he laughed at himse

ke friends," he said, "yet you seem to bel

an interesting way," the girl answered, with an apologetic air, as a witness might if wishing to conciliate a cross-que

p showing the crest of the MacDonalds of Dhrum set with a fine cairngorm and some exquisite old paste

ll this?" the

w you'd see it was good. The others would hardly look at it, except one quite horrid man who squeezed m

an who had not squeezed her hand, and exhibited no

ou know our tar

concerning himself, but he beat down the impulse. "If you want money, you can raise somet

"When I get to her, she'll give me money, of course, and I can pay you back, if you'll lend me enough now to buy my ticket-and perhaps a little, a very little, more

man slowly. "But you surely don't mean to

s, is there? I've never been in one yet, but I've read lot

ver been i

I was a baby, probably I should have been just like other girls. But now I suppose I must be very different, and seem stupid and queer. Every one stared as if I were a wild animal when I wa

tions first," answered the man gravely, "so I must ask you to excuse me if I catechize you a little

called "Miss MacDonald," a dignity never bestowed on her befo

deal than Carlisle, you know, so you may have some difficul

she must be so beautiful and splendid that almost every one will have heard of her, so al

MacDonald!" This time

married," the girl admitted. "And her Ch

that she--" He broke off abruptly, looking more clos

ery well, she never spoke to you ab

your mother's, you'd better let me advise you a little, without thinking that I'm taking a liberty. From what you say, I have

ndma doesn't like the stage, and as you know mother, I don't mind telling you she's been perfectly horrid-Grandma, I mean. She let me believe that

cDonald will be taken by s

story-books-really interesting story-books such as Grandma wouldn't let

uld be the wisest thing. Besides, she mayn't be in London now-probably isn't. It's past the season there; and Mrs. Ballantree MacDonald is one of those beautiful and successful people, you know,

e must be a darling and perfectly lovely; and then I want to say, 'Mother, here's your

r heart's set on that scene I've no right to try and dissuade you; but anyhow, the thing to do is to find out where she is before you st

take a train, Mrs. Muir our housekeeper and perhaps Miss Hepburn may come here looking for me from Hillard House. I'

about running away fro

y place if you and your

thing more or less of the sort when I was a

lready," Barrie hastened

ther's wing. That means you're a bit handicapped among a lot of people who haven't lived retired lives. I don't advise you to go back to your grandmother's house, because you wouldn't anyhow-and besides, you know your own business better than I do; only, of course, you'll have to write to her.

an interest for my mother's sake," said Barrie, t

an expressionless expression. "I call myself Somerled,"

as the name of the great leader from th

, do you-in spite o

learn than girls in the world. I know a good deal-really I do. I've read-heaps of things, behind Grandma

th or without right, though unworthily.

ma's people, and I don't know anything about mother's. But if you're going t

e a Scot, though I've lived half my life in America, and they think of me there as an American. I've been thinking of mys

arrie. "That makes it see

now with her brother in a nice little house just outside Carlisle? It's named Moorhill Farm, and belongs to a Mrs. Keeling, who has lent it to Mrs. West

re were less chance of her mother being there than elsewhere, London was wiped off the map. Still Barrie was loth to abandon her plan. T

has stick-out teeth. Grandma bows to her. But how c

's a widow, and a sweet woman. Her brother's as nice as she is-Basil Norman. Perhaps you'

eir names in book-sellers' windows, when I come into town with Heppie-Miss Hepburn. I

afraid of

d of women. They stare at your clo

help you buy pretty things to w

shall I buy them? I

Now-will you trust me and come to Mrs. Keeli

go to a hote

can't go alon

hy

roper for Miss Ma

talk like

I'll lend you no money

e girl said, as she might have

at the prospect of continuing it. Surely this girl was unique! He believed in comparatively few things, but he beli

aid to himself as he led Mrs.

believed in almost an