A Daughter of Fife

form of lif

became a pa

re'er I turn

ng Star o

an all the shrine

that day; and the fishermen, gathered in little groups, were muttering over the bad weather. But their talk was not bitter, like the complaints which landsmen make over leveled crops. Regarding every thing that happened as the result of right

im; and as for the stormy weather, it seemed only a part of the darker and fiercer tempest in his own soul. He left Maggie early. She wat

the big "kist" that was the family wardrobe. For clothing has a woeful individuality, when we put it away forever; and the shoes of the dead men had a personality that almost terrified her.

ht from the living room a pot of scarlet geranium, and a great sea shell, from whose mouth hung a luxuriant musk plant. Its cool fragrance filled the room, and gave an almost dainty feeling to the spotlessn

sunshine athwart the cold; green, tossing sea. Maggie had grown anxious at his delay, and then a little cross. At two o'clock she gave a final peep into the roo

g board, and patting the cakes so hard, that she did not

d, and answered, "Maggie Prom

ly, "good afternoon, Maggi

beauty would bear the test of daylight, or if it needed the broad shadows, and the dull glow of the burning turf and the oil cruisie. But she stood directly in the band of sunshine, a

g peats, and put the big rush chair before them,-"And you can just call me, si

ou pay siller, sir, and there's nae call to say thank you!" With the words she closed the door, and was gone. And someh

ht his table to the fireside and covered it with a square of linen, and set upon it his cup and plate. He

is a' re

s caught by his own. Both were this time distinctly conscio

e, and I am hungry. I

was a hard walk he had.

ad sat thinking with his head in his hands. She longed to know what Dr. Balmuto had said to him, but she knew David Would resent questioning, and likely punish her curi

a sweetheart, David,

a be mair than civil to her. She has heard tell o' the man

' to borrow a cup o' sugar. She said Cupar's boat tried to wi

y it. Folks shouldn

baked wee

are gude

h. She would have turned Inquisitor, and tortured him with questions. "What's the matter?" "Is there anything wrong?" "Are you sick?" etc., etc. But when Maggie saw that her brother was not inclined to talk to h

he wished Davie would speak to her. She laid her fingers on the broad wooden band and was just going to move, when the inner door was opened, and the stranger stood at it. His pause was b

d Pro

but very quickly shook off the intense personality of his mood

name, sir, or I wa

is Allan

vera welcome. Can I do

rgo. Yesterday the sea w

it for me

ea be will

books also, but t

try and bring

ve book

r than

ave you

Worthies, and pairt o' the Pilgrim's Progress. But I didna

olume of Scott's poems. H

ll o' poetry, sir, an'

vi

stanza, that I th

into the words, finally he threw down the book, and standing erect, recited them with outstretched arms and uplifted face. When he ceased, David was listening like one entranced; and Maggie's knitting had fallen to the floor: for she had unconsciously risen, and was gazing at the speaker with a face that reflected every ch

nia stern

n heath and

mountain and

st time. There was a moment or two in which life seemed strange to the brother and sister. They had much the same feeling as those who awaken from a glorious dream and find sordid cares and weary pains waiting for them. David rose and shook him

aggie; and he'll m

seem far enough apart Campbell said a hearty "thank you" to the offer of a plate full. He wanted the food, and it was also a delight to watch Maggie spread his cloth, and bring in the hot savory dish of meal, and the bowl of milk. For her soul was sti

e had served the food, "you took me into a n

to me, Maggi

ing that would clash with the subject of his meditations. But she could not help noticing his restlessness and his

lk, Maggie; but there are

?" "Ay, what are thae to angels and archangels, powers and

h I could see the man who wrote anent them, an

eak the words o' truth and salvation to the people! Oh Maggie, if I could w

see the m

ll tell you what he said. You'll be t

nd word to-day, and y

that! It was fu' o' books; books frae the floor to the roof-place. He was standing on the hearth wi' his back to the fire, and you ken hoo he looks at folk, th

tell o' the calamity that has come to our house?' And he answered, 'I hae heard

. Your father was ready, and I do not think He calls the young men, unless He wants them. It was not

there was still ￡50 which you wanted me to take, and he never said a word, but just let me go blethering and blundering through the st

y? You be to te

how to face hunger, and cold, and weariness, with patience; learn to look upon death, and not to fear him. Forbye you cannot leave your sister her lane. Lassies marry young amo

nor wasna meant for me, and I'll ne'er touch it. That I wont

minister is right; whatna for are we hurrying up the future? Let us be still and wait; good,

ght. Put on a covering turf noo, Maggie, for the tide se

ath in the tide, only an irresistible set shoreward. When David was ready for his breakfast, Campbell was ready also; he said he wished to go with the boat, and David's face lighte

way; and as she stood there, the wind blew the kerchief off her head into the water; and she saw Campbell lean forward and pick it up, and then nod back to her an assurance of its safety. She turned away half angry at herself for th

any of the few men and women about so early. But she was soon sensible of a rapid step following her, and

cht to shun

ere, I didna even

en for any body noo, but that proud, f

'that? I ne'er saw the man's face until yestr

amang fishers? They dinn

m for gentlemen

room at Pittenloch; fourteen white shill

en shil

as a heavy-faced Celt; sallow, and dark-eyed; with the impatient look of a selfish greedy man. Maggie's resolute s

I hae neither this, nor that, to

brother Will, anent a marriage bet

hey to

kirk on the next Sabbath.-I'm no going

elieve I ever sall say it. Think shame o' yoursel' for speaking o' marrying before th

ng as you live. And it will be ill for

nfolk. You hae gi'en me an insult, Angus Raith, and dinna cro

e passions, which in well-bred women are educated clean down out of sight, were in Maggie Promoter's tongue

iation. She preferred to stand guard at its threshold, until Angus, with a black scowl and some muttered words of anger, walked away. She watched him until he leaped into his boat; until he was fairly out t