Up in Ardmuirland

e live, uns

mented le

he world, an

here I

de to So

nd fringed his ankles; shoes, slashed across the front for ease, revealed bare feet beneath; an antique and dirty red woolen muffler swathed his neck almost to the ears. Surmounting these woeful garments appeared a yellow, wrinkled face surrounded by a straggling

was sitting, striving to get the nearest possible approach to an open-air pipe. Touching his

I see h

I was not thoroughly conversant with the terminolog

o see the pries

e seemed stereotyped, for it never faded. His face, when one

said. "But you may go round to the bac

hanked me profusely and politely, as he touched his wretched

ntry of such a class are not always desirable visitors when the kitchen happens to be unoccupied for the nonc

he comes in, and if he can't say the Mass to-morrow, I'll take care to send you word by Will

ow response in the quavering voice of the old m

nd even then I paused a while. When needing information from Penny, one has to be circumspect; she has a way of shutting off th

say. So we old fellows are often obliged to have r

, into Penny's domain with the remark, "Tha

ting Penny, "and I have just been giving him a good h

nt lack of inquisitiveness into a relat

mortal, too, just to make sure of Mass to-morrow for his wife's anniversary. I can't help thinki

I asked-just to encourage

exclaimed Penny, now thoroughly started on her recital. I

n. As he proved to be thoroughly quiet and inoffensive, the neighbors-true to their national character, not speedily attracted by strangers-began in course of time to make his acquaintance, and he eventually became a great favorite with all. When younge

r kindly neighbors would always exchange for meal or eggs the varied produce of his well-cultivated garden. His clothes cost him nothing; for he had worn the same old garments for years past, and though no self-respecting tramp

I've heard his Reverence speaking to him in quite an angry way-for him," she added quickly; "but there's never any change in Archie's way of living. Some of the people here t

tails from Val, but foun

if ever there was one!" was t

ablishment. A moderately large garden surrounded it on three sides, roughly fenced in from the woodland, its fence interwoven with gorse branches to keep out rabbits. The varied supplies of vegetables were evidence

mossy, grass-grown expanse, and threatened to fall upon its occupant to the peril of his life. A small barrel served for a chimney. One win

sitation for a moment or two before venturing to knock at the door. When at last I had done so, shuffling footsteps sounded within, and Archie

ably. "Ye're kindly welcome, tho' 'tis bu

from Bell, it was difficult to find a dry spot for his wretched bed in wet weather. Added

o tak' a stick to bed wi' him o' nichts, to keep the beasts

st visit, no rat pu

He was evidently much pleased to see me; but I could not help thinking at the t

to the man-or perhaps I ought to say intensifying it-was the fact that he was a really attractive personality. He could talk about the various countries he had seen with a degree of intelligence unlooked for in one

Mass, and I noticed with some surprise that he received Holy Communion at least once and sometimes more frequ

o come to the Sacraments on a week-day," I remarked one

e he found in use when he first came here. In those days no one dreamed of breaking fast on a Sunday until the pri

s considerably amused that I should take so much pleasure in the company of one with whom I could have few ideas in

but it was evident, as I could see more plainly in my visits, that he was growing very feeble. I happened to b

regaining strength; in the circumstances, Val thought it well not to delay the Last Sacraments any longer. I tried to accompany him w

bright sun was shining; deluded little birds were flitting about as

e mill-house itself; smoke was rising from the extemporized chimney; for Bell, as I knew, had installed herself as nurse and wa

etched on the bare earthen floor, his head pillowed upon a large stone. His body was covered by blankets, but his arms were crossed on his breast outsid

bed before Wully went for the priest. He'd been keepi

nition, even when the well-known voice began the praye

ness, and knelt with Willy on one side of the quiet

on of the Living God, Who suffered for thee"-thus the quiet voice continued until those prayerful words: "Pity his sighs, pity his tears,

from me. Val and I walked home in unbroken silence through the shadow of the wood, newly decke

he still necessary fire, though we had dined without a lamp, and s

promise to make it public, but that I resolutely refused to do, for many reasons. 'Let Mr. Edmund know, at least,' he said. 'I do not want

ded the story of Archi

incial towns in which he happened to be stationed, and eventually married her. He had asked no leave-indeed, at his age it would not have been granted; his wife, therefore, was not "on the strength of the regiment"-in other words, depended entirely upon his pay, and what little she might earn, for the necessar

or drink grew with its indulgence. His wife, neglected by him, followed his example and took to that sorry comforter; before long she had acq

himself was bad enough, but her conduct had reached the extreme of vileness. The result was what might have been foreseen. Quarrels and recriminations were perpetual

. His mad rage against her was inflamed by the drink he had just taken; in his anger he was strongly tempted to rid himself of the burden she had become. Nothing could be easier! No one had seen him enter the house, and there was every chance of his being able to steal away un

ed his heart at that moment of danger, by a sudden grace. He faltered; threw down

was met on the threshold with the tidings that

of whose time was spent in the cells, rose by degrees to the position of the smartest soldier in his company. When his long service had to come to an end, he took a situation as gardener for a time; but a desire which had come upon him when his army service had been completed became still more urgent. He longed to be able to de

his life was characterized by a rigorous austerity. His pension was at once carried to the priest, as soon as he received it, to be devoted to the offering of Masses for the soul of his unhappy wife, and the relief of the poor-scarcely poorer than himself. He never spent a penny upon his own needs; e

," he would say. "I owe a big deb

se, as I did, at the sight of the dying figure of the old man stretched on the

vile sinner, be content to die in my bed?" Thus he

f the delicately nurtured, sensual men who flocked past his unlovely form to the banquets of the rich glutton at whose palace gate he lay, my though

am paupere, eterna

us, once po

u enjoy et