Playing With Fire

indestr

lame forev

t came, to he

the secre

link, the

o heart, and

d in soul

and words of self-justification. He had kept a brave face to his father, but to his aunt-mother he wept out all his trouble, and he was comforted as one whom his mother comforteth.

quarrel with his father-the Master being to them, first of all, an ecclesiastic with a suggestion of the surplice ever around him. She knew their sympathy would veer decidedly toward the Master, for

cknowledged presence. For Donald had begged not to see Marion that evening. "She will ask me all kinds of questions about Richard," he said, "questions I cannot answer until I see him." So Marion felt as if she had been snubbed and se

be insensible to Donald's anxiety and trouble, and would put my

ve, Marion. Donald i

is he g

ow until he hea

have not had a letter

t know-e

e Lady Cramer about the settlement of his deb

s her right. He s

e is another day nearly gone, and I do not expect to

ful of you to be making trouble where there is none. That is t

no one but Don

r wrong. Donald

ve Dona

-shallying with Donald. I like a definite 'Ye

y to their fathers. You taught me that yourself. 'Exceed in nothing

espectable word. I wish you would

h me, Aunt, and wi

r from your lover; and caring nothing about the going away-perhaps forever-of your own b

h Father," she said haughtily. "He is the best and greatest of men.

Richard Cramer. Good girl! I wish y

much together, and Mrs. Caird was frequently startled by the Minister's hearty laugh over some of Marion's obs

e's in

hame! Sen

's in G

g for l

'er his J

ame! Send

e dearest wish of both hearts; for, if Marion was watching for Richard C

h his Uncle Hector, and would be there until Richard's return; then, it would be time enough for her to interfere, if interference was necessary. But during this i

neighbor concerning the sin of my encouraging you in your disobedience against your father. You are freely welcome, laddie, but you must be quiet for a

you were frien

Hills together half a century ago. When he got the estate into trouble it was my care and skill saved it from roup and rent rack. Then he married his

owing as the people to whom it was due that had made him resolve to retir

oing to stop all such plundering; then, if he will be quiet a short time, he will be in comfortable circumstances. He tells me he is going to

to a lord, if you are ca

ly than the Cramers; 'by our permission' they settled in Cromarty-well, well, this is old world talk

equire him

ary to carry out my plans for his relief." Then he laughed and, clapping his hands re

ome good luck! He is

the way godsends come-steal round a corner of your life, an

cle, is there not something I can

sister. If you do, she will come with her own answer, all smiles and

I must write to my aunt. She will te

uce woman; but crooked and straight are all w

Caird is straight all t

an odd occasion; one promise at a time is a

ion's hand while he offered his other hand to Dr. Macrae; and Dr. Macrae took it, though Mrs. Caird noticed that he left the table while doing so, saying he had finished his breakfa

ndeed, sir, you would vow she was but twenty years old. S

pocket a letter from Lady Cramer, received an hour previously, in which she described herself as really ill with longing for him, having no heart for the follies and gaieties of Paris and seldom going out. Further, she dec

shameless creature! I will never speak to her again! If she sought her pardon at my feet, I would spurn her from me," and to such passionate evil promises he trod the lying letter under his foot. Then he sat down, erect and motio

ver determined to prevent his daughter's marriage to Lord Cramer. How could he permit her to come under the influence of a woman so wicked as Lady Cramer? She would either alienate his

liance. He told himself that circumstances have a kind of omnipotence, and that any day they might alter affairs so radically that Marion might come to see things as he did. "If Cramer would only go to the other side of the earth," he whispered, "it would leave a vacuum in Marion's life. Nature abhors a vacuum; she would has

room, and the first words he uttered seemed to

, sir, I am going with the Enniskillen Dragoons to India next week, bu

warlike nat

turn them into

n easy

ll be

-fin

r daughter ever since I first saw her. I

e remaine

idea of waiting for

be compell

ir

will that

shes to go

ked her to g

finitel

thoug

o go with me now,

mistress in twenty months. She can marry you the

es me up I will never gi

to bring changes. Even now she would not leave me to go w

her love by my own. S

hall see that," and he rose, threw open the

rio

the ready answer.

Come q

anger within his gate caused him to return at once to his study. In two or three minutes Cramer followed. He had Marion's hand in

all you, Jes

act, Ian," she answer

requiring yo

eeded. What for are

y and hear,

face, and she stood smiling in all its glory. Dr. Macrae was struck afresh by a beauty he had hitherto regarded too little. He saw in her at this hour the noblest type of Celtic loveliness-its winning face, splendid form,

Lord Cramer tells me you are willing to g

so then, wherever he dwells, there my h

me is no promise. The law of your native land forbids you to make t

said, "But it is no matter, dear Father, for you are above the law in this case. You have only to

-a country full of deadly diseases and constant fighting-where the heat is intolerable and savage beasts, treacherou

red women brave all these thin

which in the stress of this unhappy hour I feel fully justified in claiming. In my favor the law considers that for nineteen years I have had all the care, an

r your rights in respect to the care and education of the children," said Mrs. Caird.

provisions of a law, Jessy, not a

you naming its appl

ents' home, learn how to estimate their affection and goodness to her, and get some ideas concerning the world into which she may finally go. It permits her parents, also, to bring proper lovers to her notice, and to point out the faults

it. You ought to know that. Not a penny piece." And he raised his head proudly and drew Marion closer to

er," said Dr. Macrae. "She has a very wealthy un

the other relatives,' Ian. My money is

u. You are your own judge. I am at your mercy"; and he stood up and regarded the poor girl with e

cried, "what i

e. If you have no love left for you

e toll of two years' love servic

es

ming and her eyes brimming with tears. "Good-bye, Richard!" she cried. "Good-bye, dear

y daughter," said Dr. Macrae, and he ros

g, remember in one year, seven months and eleven days I shall come for you. It is dread

r, and I do not forget that abuse

tentional silence were the most unbearable of repartees. He glanced then at Mrs. Caird, and, putting Marion's arm through his own, they passed out of the room together. Dr. Macrae was furious, but Mrs. Caird stepped between him and the

chen, as they ate an unusually long and hearty meal, were sure the Minister was right and Mrs. Caird and Miss Marion wrong. In those days Scotchmen were always right in any domestic dispute, and t

either in prayer or complaint. Dr. Macrae was not a praying man-what Calvinist can be? If all this trouble had come of necessity, if it had been foreordained, how could he eit

of that mysterious Presence of God in which we live and move and have our being; and that, as speech is the organ of human intercourse, so prayer is the organ of divine fellowship and divine training.

chard's favorite, and adding to its attractions a scarlet japonica in her black hair. She knew that she had never looked lovelier, and after her father had left the house she began to watch for her lover. Richard was aware that the Minister was due at his vestry at half-past seven, and M

longer, dear,"

unt. He is not comi

racted by her own imaginations. In the morning she was so ill her aunt would not permit her to rise. Hour after hour they sat tog

ther," said Marion. "I have thought of his behavior all night

Then Marion had a pitiful storm of weeping, and, after she had been a little comforted, Mrs. Caird sud

do, Aunt? Wha

ill go straight about the business. At the worst I can but fail, and I never do fail if there is any p

ck. There was no intimation of this purpose, but the visitors who went there on business knew the plain green door that admitted them to chambers about which there was an atmosphere of gre

rtant matters a final judge or director. He had quite as much temper as his nephew, but it was better in kind and surer in control. His intellect was broad and clear, his love of literature knew no limitation, and in religious matters he trusted no living man. He was a master among his fello

ant curiosity to an opportunity to form her own estimate. She found him in a fortunate mood. He was taking his afternoon smoke when her card was given to him, and it roused instantly in his mind a curiosity to see whether Donald's love and lauding of Aunt Caird wer

society, he placed a chair near his own for her, and during that act Mrs. Caird made a swift but correct estimate of the man she had to manage. Physically he had the great stature and dark beauty of his family. His hair was still black,

beside her, "I know you have not come to call o

for coming to the point at once

appiness to his own desires. To ware your sympa

re i

ss I was at sea, and taking

is he

York-p

eri

native land of all not sati

rough which a letter wou

I h

ne hundred pounds. Wi

New York for him when he gets there, and he had sixty pounds with him. Th

g to stop i

ey'll give it away for a song that pleases them-or a lilt

e, just as easy with their mone

Mrs. Caird," he said. "I declare you a

one with New York, wh

ver. What he will do on the way to the rive

will go to

Orleans. A good many Scotch boys are there. I gave him letters to three whom I

great many

hes at Redan; and we rode together down the red lane

ot stay in the cit

called Texas. If I had been twenty years younger, I would have gone with him-just for a sight

he was going there to stay with a frie

I sen

you advise

nd advising are ve

Major, they wo

l perception, Mrs. Caird. I dare say Cramer told you to what lo

oupe River, not far from San Antonio. It was like listening to a fairy tale to hear him describe its beauties. And he said that last summer the ladies, Alice and Annie Carew, accompanied by their el

n Paradise. They are just 'Tom and Alice Carew' there. Their life is absolutely free, simple and happy. Titles

g lad!" and, though Mrs. Caird's voice was low and

then asked, "How is Donald's sister? Is s

on her, and she is breaking her heart about Richard Cram

send

s,

e could not meddle or interfere with what I am doing to make him solvent and happy. And I wanted him to be under authority a little before I

set him free

on a Macrae-man or woman-getting their f

good-bye last night? She is fairly i

ing to sail Thursday, instead of Saturday. I had two men seeking him, and his valet had packed his valise, and he had twenty minutes to reach his

did write

Poor lad, he was near

r got tha

forgot it! Wil

to think of you keeping what may be his last message to her! O

ot. I am not used to sending love let

weetened the dour, ill-tempered Macrae blood in your heart. Think ba

"I remember her, a dear, sweet girl, fresh and pure as the mountain bluebells she had in her hand w

ow you now, and I am not feared for yo

stay half an

t n

talk to you

equiring some one to do so. He is sp

rio

N

ly widow

ust look h

u can't mean

Lady C

hief! Is

old can't be hid. Forbye, he is reading books he has no business

rite love letters if

Lady Cramer is only

fascinating man. She will likely get the heartache herself she is sorting out for him. I'll ha

bad as

y. Here is Marion's letter. Tell her I am perfectly an

ajor. I am g

come here. I hope you

Her eyes dilated with rapture when she saw Richard's writing, and, after kissing and thanking her aunt, she ran away with it to her room. There was no offense in that-Mrs. Caird both underst

s like a si

is in a wat

s like an

re bent with s

like a rai

es in a ha

gladder th

love has