The Heather-Moon

rlhood had budded and blossomed. All at once Barrie, i

lt, on somewhat Gothic lines, and the gateway being broad, Somerled saw past the flying buttresses of her skirts into the background. And it was this background that explained in a flash why the girl knew less of life than a bird which has learned to use its wings; also the reason why she could never return to waste her young years behind the garden wal

ead of inquiring politely if Mrs. MacDonald were at home, he said bluntly, "I wish to see Mrs. MacDonald; I have business with her-n

, but the name of MacDonald was respected within these gates, no matter who bore it, and this dark man, with the blue eyes that went through you like bright steel blades, didn't look like one who would claim what he had no right to claim. She bad

two worked worsted cushions, each stiffly upright in its corner. One represented a dog's head, the other a bunch of white and yellow flowers with a cold background of steel beads.

irit. "Who'd suppose that su

ing fire could be dimly seen-something in her grim spirit spoke to something as grim and uncompromising far down his nature. To his own surprise he felt awaking in himself a queer impulse of sympathy for the redoubtable Grandma. Perhaps, reluctantly, she felt the same f

g. "It's the first time I've claimed the name for many

n catechized him. "What kin to Dunc

uldn't have heard of us. My father

husband on the island in my youth. Let me see-Mary her name was. They were God-fearing

grown lazy as he grew rich and had not painted. "My clothes suit my trade and way of life better than m

," Mrs. MacDonald severely remarked. "I have read of you in the newspapers; but I never approved of you, sir. It'

me cases. And I'm sorry you don't approve of me, because that makes a bad opening for what I've come

man will recommend you to me, sir, you are

ughter last night, I felt it my duty to do what I could, be

of Mrs. Ballantree MacDonald, the play actress. I did my best for the girl, striving to bring her up to be a good and modest woman, despite the bad blood of the mother who broke my son's heart and killed him, who did what she could, and has been doing what she could in the years since, to disgrace our house. I might have known I should strive in vain, and I did know at heart. Vanity and extravagance and fondness of pleasure were Barbara Ballantree's undoing. I preserved her

king a train for London, where she expected to find her mother. Mrs. West has written you, I know, and told you everything that ha

I've sent no telegram to her nor

aback. "I understood-Mrs. West bel

cDonald shut him up mercilessly. "She must have been 'romanci

he young woman or the old. He would gladly have blamed the elder, but reason rebelled. Whatever

n, and had wondered if he might not learn to like her still better in time. The women he saw oftenest were mostly nervous, exacting, self-centred creatures, craving constant flattery. Aline was none of these thing

mistake-somewhe

how," retorted

on in hand. But perhaps my plans for y

, you may as well tell t

go on with a flash of his keen eyes into hers, "you do care what becomes of Miss MacDonald. If you had not got Mrs. West's letter, you wo

rtiest." "Think what you like. It is nothing to me, and thinking costs naught. As for the hands she has fallen into, what do I know of them?

f your granddaughter's guardian. My plan is to take her in my motor-car to Edinburgh, where I shall deliver her safely to Mrs. Bal-Mrs. Ballantre

revent your doing what you'

reasons appealed to my jud

prevaricato

e of prevari

He was a humble, God-respecting man. But you

e refrained. "The atmosphere of this house does not conduce to humility, madam," he answered

, a gleam which Barrie and few others now living had ever seen; for not more than one or two of her fello

he, a permission which from her was well-nigh a blessin

. "I drive myself, and I kno

erring to phys

d. Nor was I,

eply enigmatical s

rled took a step toward the door. "I'm obliged to you fo

e strength of your na

ntend to disgrac

ey will not long be

s I'm in charge of your grand

en she's twenty-one I shall make over certain money o

t the kind of washing

me, sir!" She

venture, there's no need, for I thin

ad not experienced since early married days. Then she had had to do with another MacDonal

suitable guardianship than mine," Somerled

It will be some time b

u for the c

as no

ame if I choose t

ame in any way

y own actions I must look a

een Barbara Ballantree and Barribel Ma

The question whispered i

Somerled was beginning to think that, for all the b

" he said non-committally. "And

d loose. The grim woman was vaguely pathetic to Somerled in his youth and strength and full tide of success. The touch of the would-be iron hand in the velvet glove o

where Barrie had often dreamed. Perhaps the thought came then because here and there a patch of