Playing With Fire

not! Oh, warni

rs, as in the

halo round the

rtal-till they

t, and it was evident not only in her eyes, which were full of a soft blue fire-languid yet masterful-but also in her dress, from which every trace of black had b

lora," she said to her maid, "and if there are calle

circle in a dreamy, shadowy peace. Near the heart of the circle there were seats, and a small table, and my Lady, standing in white on

hts, her manner being at one moment arch and coquettish, and at the next pensive and affectionate; practicing all her small facia

hem. The gravity induced by such thoughts was becomingly dignified, and Lady Cramer thought him handsomer than even her imagination had painted him. Certainly he

been filled with company of a pleasantly mixed character-young nobles and soldiers, and many types of beautiful and eligible young ladies. Every one, then, had regarded her as a kind of matron, and she

walk and, turning, saw the stately, rather somber figure of the man whose conquest she was meditating approaching her. She met him with charming smiles, and little fluttering attenti

e had so much pl

me-I longed to see your face you never came-I have been very lonely-but now! Oh, you cannot tell what a pleasure it is to have someone to tal

her jeweled white han

e, and he clasped the hand she had laid upon his own. Its soft warmth, its slight pressure, the tender smile on her lips, the love light in her eyes, were to his starving soul irresistible temptations. But he never thought of these things as temptations; if he had done so, there was in him a Will gigantic enough to have put them behind him. As a

re, had been changed. Something wonderful had taken place. He thought he had loved before, but this startling, unforeseen, and unmistakable passion filled him with rapture and a kind of sacred fear. He had in no way sought it. By

was reticent, and he felt a keen personal pleasure in the secrecy of his love. He did not dream of her suspecting or discovering it. He found her s

e asked, "or have I stay

e than I expected.

We had dinner together, and I came away as so

for that

is wit

. Her heart is at O

had gone on a tramp together. They are walking th

why

o rest quietly here until we returned to Glasgow. Then I hoped he would be willing

he company of hundreds of young men, the pleasant city, and the fine golf ground w

ce was like the Gar

allers and the library. And the two lasses are growing surly for want of company. Aileen was saying an hour ago t

king of asking the Church to get a supply for

had had enough

oes Mar

places are wearisome to those who liv

miserable if he is not with Donald. She says t

e, the wide

y are no

nth's rest here, you might get through that weary, us

Every book that discredits scientific theo

l you how I felt after reading Paley's. I just thought it probable that Christianity might be true. That was only an opinion,

Jess

nd I do not like your selfishness about your children. I have always noticed, as religious faith dies, selfishness takes the place of self-sacrifice. There were the Dalrys! Their children were lost

ssy

lays it down as the man's duty to leave father and mother for his wife's sake. Marion wants to do nothing worse than you begged Ag

out with us the aura of any book that takes possession of our thoughts or feelings. The doub

ry ba

uncertain, and with a strong insistence leads me from one

he devil. Keep yourself out of his power, and le

ical books show a re

her destructive. They have no business in this room, though in th

es of hell!

e books that have slain more sou

them on your knees-will come to thoughtful men and

as much philosophy of that kind as the world is ever likely to come to. But I notice that, as s

nces of Chr

itual things are spiritually discerned, not intellectually. If a man has had a good dinner, he knows it; there is no need to argue about the matter. If

the matter with you to-night? You

it had been sent. And it entered the house, and I came to myself in a dream and sweat of terror; and I am feared for my children, for they are heart of my heart. And your selfish way with them both is enou

world, and it is my duty to st

her appointed way toward perfection-it seems to be God's commonest way of training women. You do not require to bear with C

Cramer for his

iniquity-if there is any. In my opinion, Cramer is as good as the rest of men-fond of women's co

ly ask him to walk i

over-narro

money to send him to St. Andrews and give him every advantage. H

t escape the sorrow of it. However you may try to comfort yourself, you will not be able to f

rnoon, and you have comp

h it, but if you ruin your children's lives you can never, never und

weeks or months of youth's illusory dreams and temptations. Donald, as a man, will have the privilege of making a choice; a

her marry that lying, sneaking

e confessed his fault to me and I forgave him. All stands as it stood before that di

ction: "Donald has a way of his own. He can be very civil, and very

ssy. I have said all I hav

some bread an

er. It was late also. You ha

cerns the children, we are pulli

the noble repose of the night had no note of comfort for her. The silence of the far-receding mountains, the murmur of the streams, the air of lonely pastoral melancholy, with a light like dreamland lying over all, did not help her

nner of men," she muttered. "They don't permit a woman to smoke-if she is worried or ill-tempered-it is not ladylike. And I'm wond

ramer's beauty, and that night he did not care who locked the door. The huge key turned, the bolts slipped into their places, and she went upstairs, full of indignation at her brother-in-law. She could not understand his mood;

wo weeks in and out of her consciousness. But all his slight deviations from the natural and usual were as nothing in comparison with the change she perceived this night. Then

imself, and it would be most disturbing and confusing if Marion did the same. It would be too much. Though there was no legal barrier, there was a positive social one, so vigilantly deter

marriages were quite right in the sight of God. They will think, anyway, that the Minister ought to have been more careful to avoid the appearance of evil, and they will be 'so sorry' and ask for explanations, and say it is 'really so confusing.' Yes, I can see and hear the great congregation of the Church of the Disciples all agog about the Minister's queer marriage. As for myself, I shall tell any unmarried man or woman who says what I don't like 'to look after their own marriages'; and, if they are marr

little Marion is to be made to marry Allan Reid, and, moreover, why her selfish father wants the marriage immediately. It is to prevent the joking about his own marriage, for if she got into the Cramer family first it would take a deal of coura

elings that it took the encouragement of Lady Cramer to bring it to recognition in his hopes and desires-so the selfishness Mrs. Caird presupposed had not been in any way as yet conscious to him. The situation was sure to present itself, but it had not yet done so.

eep well, but she was restless

oors, or close-d

dreams out, w

be reasonable, if others were. But Dr. Macrae was neither ready nor wishful to bring questions so important to a hurried and already inharmonious discussion. At that hour the affair between Lady Cramer and himself was more hopeful than settled,

he took refuge in that mood. Nothing interested him, he was lost in thought, he answered questions in monosyllables, and placed himself beyond

sick, dea

wered, "I am

Father? What is i

ce was sad and low with the pathetic reproach, and he rose with the word

he matter?

om, dear, and I will t

ied as soon as they were alone. "He is c

Marion? He has set his

ie. You said you

I wi

ther so cr

s, I think, to m

way from Father

ld I

o with you,

ands to

Aunt? I mean, ab

word. I do n

father t

rd seed now, but it will grow to a great

n I was staying at the Hall she was cross because he did not com

y t

ster, and the Minister would be unwelcome to the other guests. I must

could marry you at once, it mi

ot how n

nto the mouths of its elders, deacons and members the foolish jibes and jokes they would be sure to make. The riddling and laughter and comedy sur

Some men would just laugh, and let the jokes go by, but not so your father. They would be words in earnest to him, and every word would be a whip lash. He would fret and

as he would have been by her aunt's scornful picture of the Church of the Disciples in a jocular insurrection. So she looked like him. Quick as thought and feeling, the soul had photographed on the plastic body the very presentment of Ian Macrae. Her erect figure, her haughty manner, her scornful and indignant expression, and her large dark eyes, full of reproach, but quite tearless, were exactly the

not expect, but after a few moments' silence she

oo. He would be distracted with t

l, t

t prev

u marry A

N

will y

r whatever befall,

ord Cr

can

as I have pointed out would be on your father, and he woul

a stepmother. He was good to us in that respect, and, though we may not have known it, he may have had many temptations to alter his life and he

on your marrying

ect him to give to mine the same regard. I am sure he will do so. Why do

are! I was trying to prepare some plain road for you and your lover, and the thought of you

e has had the affection and the loyalty due to both relations. My father is still

poor Lowland Scot, ignorant of your famous clansmen. I have seen some of them, of course, in the Glasgow

for nothing at all. If you think over wh

irs. There now-go away and let me alone-I want no kissing and fleeching. You have cast me clean

was kisses and fond words and forgiveness. But do we forgive? We agree t

ving and reminiscent. "Oh, the sleepless nights and anxious days I have spent for that dear lassie!" she sighed; "and, now she is a woman, her lover and her father fill her hear

talk so much about Richard, and be always planning this and that for us. Oh, I ought to be ashamed of such thoughts, and I am ashamed! Aunt Jessy has been my mother, God bless her!" She had a few moments of repentant reflection and resolutions, and then she continued

each other-but h