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A MAIDHN FAIR. A Scottish Love BT i-UAia-M OIBBOS. CHAPTER I. 4 nusaH BIUUZK. A grey day that would have been dull anywhere bui by the let. A strong breeze blowing aud the grey and blue waters leaping into while oombe and point*. A landsman would h\ a called it a gale, but to libber! U it wan only a " wee thing fresh." 1'uf grey old houaes. with their red aud bro n roof*, looking out on the harbor, would alnu hve appeared dull and dirty but iur tucir piauir<Mk}uely irregular gables auJ height*. Tuen tna busy figure* of tbe ti-bi\ea ia their bright colored petticoat* t. J " abort gawn*" (long jack- et*) ; the louLguig group* of toe fisher- m*u, and, above il. the bunile in the har- bor and on iti wal B which projected out into tbe Porch, gave life to the scene in harmony with the strong breeze and the leaping wur*. Oat on tho i.irihest point of the grey walla a group of men and women, with the spray fl tubing over them and the keen wind bin n tiitir cheek, stood watching a smaek wbiob woe tacking to make tbe port. " Will she win ia, think yoa ?" asks one. Safe eLuu^li - Bob ROM is steering," confidently aimwers a In tie weather-wu ened faceJ uld man, by name Dick Baxter. Bob ROM had keen a smack capsize, and with five trusty ojmradea had pnt off to the renoue It wan a daftltke thicg for Bob to think he could bj out in uuie to help them.' It wo worth trying," said Baxter dryly. Suddenly the pro* of the boat is turned toward* tbe opening lu the wall* and come* traight aud swiftly along, oroa*es the bar, down goon tbe nail, acd boat and men are ate in the u .vr: . There was oo cheer although brave ork had beet: dune ; but an eager inspection of the boat to aee who was in it. ' They bae gotten them a' bat Jock Tamsou," i I Btxter in a matter-of-fact tone, the cirouniiiacoe being of too ordi- nary a nature to call for much feeling ; puir howl, hi' gaeu." " My mau, my man," cried a woman rushing down the steps to the boat, ' whar'* he 1 ' There Was no answer and tbe woman understood. She bowed her head, covered her face with her hands and was silent. Then a couple of burly women , with broad boulders and muscular band*, took each an arm of the mourner. "Come awa name, Jeanie." said one quietly, and the voice was tender although the note* ware harsh "ye'll be better there." And they led tbe widow home. Bob ROM wan the first out of tbe boat, helping one of tbe three men who bad been saved to land. Tbe other* followed, and were first anaiated to a much needed dram and tbeu to their homee. Tbe crew proceeded to the inn, accompanied by a number of fiieud* eager to obtain more detail* ot the rescue than had been given in tbe hurried answers to tbe crowd ia the haven. Roe* did not accompany them. He gave hi* stalwart frame a shake, like a huge Newfoundland dog after com ing out of tbe water, and ibat contented him. He was a man of about thirty, a handsome fellow, tall aud sinewy, dreeised in a pilot jacket, and boot* over hi* trouxert. In hi* aoaly old blue jersey and corduroy trousers, and with hi* tbin brown wizened face, he wa* always at bis poet and knew everybody'" art .ir-. 14 1 wa* en tbe look'ont for yon, Bob. Hoo did ye manage ? It wa* weel done onyway." " We were juat in time poor Thompeon had gine and tbe tber tbree were just dropping off the keel. But you see we got them, and that's all." " Ay, bat i was weel done, and there'll be a paragraph in the Scotiman about yon tbe-morn." " Well, it'll do nae harm," answered Roe*, laughing. " I* that a' vou think o't? Man, I'd gie onything to ha them speak about me in print! Bui be that M it may, wha do you think is here?'' " A lot o folk." " Jist that, )ist that ; bat I was thinking you would like to ken that Jeemi" (pro- nounced with tbe f abort) " i* here." " To see hi* mother, I suppose, and get some more of ber eiller." ".Ji-t that, an' speaking that fine English I could hardly uuderstan' him. Bat I thought yoa wonld like to ken, for he's oome to *ee *om* ane forbye hi* mitber." That wae what Dick Baxter had been waiting to tell, aud be enjoyed the look on Bob Roes'* face a oomioal attempt to bide tbe fact that tbe news disturbed him. " But wbat can that matter to me, I). ok? I suppose he is free to go wherever he is wel- come like other folk." " Nae doot, a;..l it'* jiat a* you tak' it. But if I wae in your place I'd be there afore him " " Where, man, where ?" " A* though you didna ken?" cioltimed Dick Blyly. "Hovs'ever, you'll ken fine when I tell you that I saw ber yestreen and she wan upeetiu' for you, and there was a braw laugh ou her face when I said you wan to be here tbe day." " Thank you, Dick," said ROBS with evi- dent annoyance ; " but I wish ycu wonldna' meddle." " 1 didna' ken afore that it was ony harm to do a frien a guid turn," answered Dick Baxtv in bm moot dignified way. " No harm I nopo." " I didna y o ytuing by ordinar," said tHok a little sulkily, and yet with a desire to Kassare Rons, Hdiug him so much put out. But tbe " by ordinar" must have bad an exieuHive raugn indeed in bis mind, einoe h had been prainiug hi* young friend without Ktmt to Annie Murray, the only child of (Xptaiu Daaoan Murray, who was sole owns* of Anchor Cottage and tbe " Mermsi'i" steamer. " And the didna take it that ift," added Dick pawkily. " Then it's tt| right." And R->- ' ">.,! cin an be went bis way, and that wa, WM | Anchor Cottage. He had I een sent to, by Captain Duncan on a matter ui buaiuM. But the bneineM wa* not in Bob Rosa , m md a* b* walked rapidly along wit J bead bowed against the wind, the spray dashing oter the parapet, and tbe sun slowly begiunbg to make ite way Uuroogb tno milt. I wonder 0*0 it be trot! Wan she) thiuktog o' mi' Maybe, maybe, for ahe's) no uyaettin Jika other lassie* I ken o' bat what hv*n is this? The oaptain i* f ric ndl\ and kindly ; but h* I* proud o' hia daughter, proud o' bis gleaner, and proud o' hia siller he would never bear o't when there's a ohiel like Cargill hanging about waiting for her." At this thought be stopped, teeth eland and feet went down harder and faster on the ground. Again But why should he not think ot bis own early days and count my ohanoee a* guid ae hi* were?" Here a faint smile of bop* crossed hia face ; but tbe smile faded into a troubled look. I'm thinking be would do it, too, if Cargill wtrena here with hi* fineries and his *ill*r that he bad no hand in making. 1'uir auld Bell Oargill it wa* a pity yoa spent your life in hoarding up your bawbees for a loon that'* more than half ashamed to call you his mother before hu fine friends ugh ! Lard forgie me for thae hard thought*. If Annie like* him let him hae ber." The healthy nature of the man rose against thi* enviou* spirit which had for a moment taken possession of him. He lifted his head and looked fate steadily in the face. She chould take him for his own sake, or he wonld " e'en let tbe bonnie lasa gang." It was a relief to tbe man to feel thi* better mood upon him before b* reached the cottage, for be knew that ugly thoughts make ugly face*. It wa* a relief, too, that tbe *un bad scattered tbe mi*t and bright eued everything. CHAPTER II. ANCBOB COTT1OI. The cottage stood on the high ground overlooking tbe Firth. It wa* a square. comfortable-looking building ot one story, built of brawn stone and slated. Tbe only piece of ornamentation about the building wae a porch. It *tood in a piece of ground which wa* also square and planted with things useful vegetable*, fruit-trees, and herry-bufthe*. There were a few plot* of dower* aud some roae-buibee, but the** tbinga being merely beautiful were kept well within bound*. Nevertheless tbe place bad a ooey appearance and was attractive on that account. The captain bad been brought up to regard utility a* tbe first consideration in life ; and tbe only bit o! fancy be had per- mitted himself wheu tbe ground* were laid out, was to place an old anchor in the cen- tre of tbe patch of graet, called tbe green. Thi* anchor bad on* ot it* point* stuck firmly in tbe ground a* if it were holding the whole place steady. " That auld anchor, sir," the captain would say to any visitor, saved the ' Mermaid' once when she was being blown out of tbe roads by one ot the clartieit storms I have ever been in. Tbe ' Mer- maid ' of that time wa* a bit cutter yon maun ken. And when I sold tbe cutter and got the steamer I brought that anchor here and I'm proud o' it reel proud and o I named tbe noose after it." A* soon a* Row passed through the gate he halted, hesitating whether to go itraigbt to the door or to cross the green towards the laas he saw amongst the berry -bushes busy gathering fruit. Hi* heart's impulse had ite way, and he went toward* ber. A* tbe gate cloned behind him with a clang a frank, sun browned face looked up from amongst tbe bushes and recognized him with a pleasant *mil*. H* thought that smile as bright as tbe sunihine itself. " Olad to ice you, Mr. Koes," she laid in a rich, cheery voice. " Father ha* been expecting you, but there ie somebody with him just now." How cordially Bob Roe* thanked that " somebody," and how earnestly he prayed that the " somebody" might stay long. " I could not come *o early a* I waa meaning to do, and I'm no exactly sorry." How is that .' ' " You are here." She looked a* it ah* enjoyed, or at any rate did not dislike, thi* very direct com- pliment. She *aid banteringly " I'll hae to take care of yon, Mr. ROM." " That'* juat what I wonld like yoa to do," h* rejoined sincerely. " Keek into the berry-burn and aay wbat you aee there," she replied, laugh- ingly ijaoting an old play-rhyme of child- hood. " I'm doubting you would not let me tell you what / see." " Ob, bat I would, lor I'm no the gowk !" "I'm sure of that, for what I tee is tbe bonniest las* in all tbe world !" " Eh, Mr. Ross ?" she cried laughing again, " I'm thinking I had better go and tell my father you are here." That was a check, otherwise lie might have found an opportunity to turn this banter to verious account. She was con- soiou* of that, and wished to avoid tbe pje- sible turn tbe conversation might take and he was aware of it. But he tried to detain ber by the assur- ance that he was in no harry and would rather wait until tbe oaptain wa* quite free. With a nniling shake of tbe heac, *be took up ber basket of fruit and went toward tbe bourn. A tall wineome figure, in neat, simple dress ; and a* she crossed tbe green her rich, fair hair glistened in the sunlight like gold. Tbe wistful lover, following, felt that there was no use in following, for snob a prize could never be bu not because there was any inseparable gulf between their poeitions ; but because "be in herself appeared to be *o much above him or any ordinary mortal. AIM, poor lover ! But Annie was a bright specimen of woman nature kind and generous, bonnie and brave. The man who won ber would be fortunate indeed, for be would possemt that greatest of all blessings, a faithful helpmate in all that concerns daily life tender in In sorrow, blithe in his gladness, and patient of bis error*. All this and more ROM thought, and it rendered tbe possibility of ber becoming tbe prize of James Cargill the more bitter. He tried to make allowance for hi* own feelings in regard to Annie and tbe influ- ence they had upon bi opinion of the man. But when all allowance was made he could not believe that Cargill was likely to make ber or any woman happy. The oaptain 1 * daughter WM a* famous a*> tbe oaptain bimaelf ; for although she could play the " pianny," and WM reported to be able to speak French " as well M the French tBttuaelve*" (snob a smattering of the Ian goaiie a* any schoolgirl might pooaesa would nffio* for tins report), she WM bar father's clerk and parser, betides hem* hi* housekeeper. She accompanied biojcu all bu voyages, and in the wildest otorm waa as cool a* the oldest teaman on board. When the " MeruuiJ" WM in traits nbe would stand by her Utuer's aide her tuioi hat aud tbe peajacket over her ordinary dree* giving ber tall figure a somewhat manly appearance ready to obey him in anything that be might command. And throughout tbia rough life she pre- served tbe gentlett characteristics of womanhood. When at home in the cottage no stranger would hare suspected that the quiet-looking laaa with the merry smile was accustomed to auch utern experiences. The " Mermaid " was a small steamer which Duncan Murray had purchased a bargain. Then, having sold hi* cutter, he employed the steamer to considerable advantage in carrying goods along the coast, or to wherever he might obtain a cargo. By thi* meaua be had made a good deal of money a big fortune hi* friend* considered some of which WM prudently invested in house property. He might have retired and lived comfort tably on bu income But be would not do that ; he only became more particular about hi* cargoes and about bin rates of freight. Likewise, be would now employ a pilot more frequently than bad been bis outtom, in order to give himself more ease onboard. Often be had been heard to declare with an emphatic oath that he could never part with the " Mermaid " or hi* daughter " a* lang M thev could baud thegither." In spite of this well-known declaration there were men who would have been glad to make him forego hi* vow so far M the lady wa* concerned ; only she teemed to be M much disposed to observe it M her father. At any rate, no one had yet obtained ber favor ; and there seemed no likelihood of that favor being easily won. To herself there was tbe simple fact that her Ufa WM a happy one and there WM no need of change. Even if one should appear potaaaaed of that itrange power which draw* a maiden away from lather, mother, aud kindred to trust ber whole life to him, ebe believed that she could resist it, until htr father said, " Oo, and take my blessing with yoa." ' Here i* Mr. Roto, father," said Aanie, M she entered the room, and added with ome surprise, Mr. Cargill has gone?" "Ay; did yon no see him? he wanted to see yoa. How are you, Bob? I'm wantin' you to oouie wf ui a* far M Peterbead. Can you manage it?" Ik* oaptain wa* a burly little man with a very ruddy faoe threwd, sharp, and yet not ill-natured. 4 When ?" waa tbe prompt query. Next week, on Tuesday maybe, hot on Wednesday sure." Roe* looked at Antie hi* eye turned to ber involuntarily, ukmg the question, was he going too ? Bat she looked down at tbe table examining some forms which her lather had thrust toward* ber wbiUt be wa* ipeaking. " I'm no sore. But what should you need me for ? you know the road better than me." The oaptain'* quick, pale eye* looked up at him sharply, and be said good- naturedly " I'm perfectly aware o' that. Bob, but next to myself I think you ken them best." " Thank yon, captain " " And M I am to have a friend wi' me, I dinna want to hae mair fa*h mysel' nor is just neoemry. That'* the reason why I want you wi' as, though what you are aae particular about kenning for, I canna make out. What's wracg wi' ye? ' That WM a qoeetion not easily answered, for tbe man himaell did not know precisely. lie felt that there WM a great deal wrong with him ; but a* be found it difficult to discover an explanation for it in hi* own mind, it WM impossible to tran*late it in word* to tbe understanding of another. Bo be inwercd vaguely " Nothing, captain, except that I would like a bit reet." 11 Reet I yew that fetched ad they tbree billies fra* the smack thi* morning, and WM able to walk ont here M if naethmg had happened you .talk about rest when yon are gaon aboard the 'Mermaid'! hoot* man, that's no your reason." ' What u that about tbe smack, father ? " broke in Annie, with eye* brightening, a* she remembered tbe explanation Ross had given for being late. " A daft thing that fool-fellow gaed oat in the teeth o' a gale because he saw a smack oapseezed " " Did vou MY** them ?" ibe asked ot Roe* ; but the father replied "Oo, ay, he brought bame three o' them but he might hae made the loa* o' hi* ain crew aa weel a* that o' tbe smaok. It wa* cleverly done M I am told, all the *amo ; bat you should mind that a life in the hand is worth twa in tbe wrack. But that'* no the question : are ye to come wi' me or no ? Cargill is coining." Annie, by a floib of the cheek* and a movement of tbe baud instantly checked M if abe would take that ot Roes, ap- peared to think that the aaving of the men waa very much the question. The father did not observe the move- ment, aud ROM WM ny tirely occupied with the announcement that Caagill WM going to Peterboad on board tbe " Mermaid." "I'll go wi' yon, oaptain," be said qui- etly ; and any one hearing him speak would have thought that he wa* merely closing an ordinary bargain. But through hia mind WM pasting tbe panorama ot Cargill, all the way along tbe coast ooorting Annie. "That's a plain word, and I think you ought to hae spoken it sooner, for it'* an eaty job to yon, and you'll be among frien'r. Take a dram on tbe head o't." CHAPTER III. AT THI OATC. He bad been in a dream during tbe last ten minute* of his stay in the captain's room. He WM in a dream now that begot out into fresh air. Cargill going with them (' .ryiil had been at the cottage just before him why, then it WM all settled and there WM no hope for him. What fiend, then, bad prompted him to lay he would be pilot of the " Mermaid' on this voyage? Why ehonld he be with them when it wonld be only to intensify hit sense of loss into bat*, and maybe crime ? He should have atid, no, no, BO I and be bad said ye* for the very reason which should have compelled him to say no. It wa* not vet too late. He could And some excuse ; he oonld feign illn*** he could drown hisaeelf. Anything rather than go on board that ves*l and nee lhs*a together, knowing the man to h* so uuwcr- thy. He did believe that if b* had thowfat Cargill an honest man he could hav* said good-bye m sad resignation to the inevi- table ; he could have iteered them safely into port with no chagrin, but only sorrow in hi* heart. A* it waa he must escape from the engagement. He could not answer lor himself if he fulfilled it A* be WM mechanically opening the gate hi* arm WM grasped by a friendly hand. " Stop a minute, Mr. Ross, I have been noticing that you are not well, can we do anything for you " Not wall 1 What a poor thiag was it, then, that the wreck of hope and future should come to be a mere question of " Can we do anything for you ?" So much medicine so much trash air and lo, hope is restored aud the future i* a* bright as ever. That ie tbe current mood aLd a bappy OL6 but to the homely nature cf a man like Roe* it brought no balm. He bad ventured hi* all in a single boat and it had bunk. He turned and saw Annie, the bright, sympathetic eye* full upon him. L<ike most men deeply in love h* WM mo*t any of tne being he most loved. BJ he answered some- what ungraciously " That is true I am not well; but thank yoa for coming to say a kind word to me." " I am very glad to have given you any comfort. I doubt you have been overtaxing yourself to-day." He rettsd on the gate. The sweet voice WM echoing in his brain and h* listened. Then ipeaking to tbe voice he breathed tbe name, Annie." She did not draw away from him. She stood breathless, Will yon 1st me speak to you?" he said, so quietly now that he could scarcely real- ize himself that h* had been fora moment in dreamland. " If it will do you any good, to be sure I will," *h* answered with an endeavor to speak quit* frankly and OMlly ; but the voice faltered a little. " anything I like ?" " Of course." The permission granted be appeared to ft ad difficulty in taking advantage of it, so there WM a pause, and tbe outcome of it " I'm a itapid gowk." But ridiculous M the expression might be to other ear* they were not so to those of Annie Murray, and she asked tremu iously " Wbat foe :' " Because I care n-ore for you than for anybody or any thing else, and I hav* been aye feared to tell you. Now it i* oselesa telling you." He spoke almost fiercely a* in tbe throe* ot a itrong man'* agony ; but With the evi- dent effort to restrain his passion. " You are not to apeak any more," the said, drawing a long breath ; " you are to luu-u to me. You are young, and you can go where you will find friend* to comfort and cheer you' " So it i* said of all men," be mattered. " My father i* an old man," abe went on, " and bM only me a* hi* constant friend and companion. Well, can you think of it? I said to myself long ago that I would never leave him until he sent m* away. Well, can yoa think of it ? The only time that I ever wished I might leave him WM Bat there the blood oam* rushing to ber face and a startled expression appeared in h*r eye* M if *h* had caught btrself in the oommiMion of some ohm*, and the became silent. She, who had been calm in tbe uiidnt of storm, trembled. " Well?" he asked, surprieed by her *ud- den *top and looking into her faoe for an explanation. Well," she said softly an entire change of tone and manner " there'* nothing more to say except that 1 am glad you are to be tbe pilot of the ' Mermaid' on her next trip." H* took her hand gently, and for a moment each looked into the others eye*. Then Now it is my turn to aak yon to listen to me," be said slowly. " Whilst I WM com- ing down tbe path, I mad* up my mind that I would not go. You shall decide me. I* Cargill going by yoar wish ?" " No." 11 Do you wish me to go ?" " I do because father wi*he* it." 8h* added the latter word* quickly, M if fearing that he should misunderstand the import of her wish ; and again they looked into each other'* eye* in tilenoe. " Very well," h* said, " I will go." And then they said good-bye. The under standing between them WM complete, although no word of compact bad been spoken. She wa* to be faithful to htr father, and he WM to wait until tbe father poke. Wait I -ay, h* would wait all hi* life. And he had no doubt that after thi* trip of t!ie " Mermaid," a little conversation with Captaiu Duncan would enable him to arrange matters satisfactorily, With that conviction he went merrily on his way. CHAPTER IV. A DCTlrUL *ON. The original part ol the village consist* of two row* of buildings forming a narrow street. The building* have two flat* . the upper one is approached by a *talreaee with a thick wooden railing outside tbe wall; and the landings of these "outside ntsirs " form tbe rostrums of the fishwives from which they harangue thetr gossipa. Poles jut out from window* carrying ropes to form a triangle, and on theee hang men and women'* clothe* to dry. On tbe stairs are broad bauccued women gossiping to others below on either side, or acrons the way. Beneath the stairs an other* pre- paring bait, mending net* or clothes, and also gossiping. At the foot of one ol these stairs i* Dick Baxter. To him approaches a big, Inmpie h man, jauntily. Hi i* dressed in the latent fMhion of tailordom, has a large signet ring on the third finger of hi* left hand, and carries a slim umbrella in hi* right, which make* bis own figure the more con- spicuous. He is evidently conscious that nob a dandy i* oat ol hi* element in this place. Hi it rendered still more conscious of it by the salutation of Diok Baxter. " Weel, Jeemi, yon we a grand Right, but yon might hae oome sooner, for yoar milh- r's in a greM war about yon.' Thauk yon. Jtulrr Baxu i That's ae uiuekle a* to say . hat I ought to call you Muter Carjdll," ea'.u uiok pity- ingly. " Na, ua, laddie, I oaui> to that. I hae kent y*) unoe yo-were i.. ru run- ning barefoot here in Ike K .*. t. A you maun just thole me saying Jct-iM.- to the Before Dick had finished his ubeert -non, tbe geutleonui had ascended tbe BU roaae and entered tbe dwelling at tbe top. i here be wa saluted by an eldritch cry " Ye hae oome st last, ye deevil'* buckie. Wfat'skeepit >?.' Wait or I get np and I'll learn ye manner*. Did I uo say ti. t ye wa* to be here at twa o'clock and no.' it'* four?" Thi* came from an old woman who waa seated in an old-fashioned armobair. She wore a high white " match," which ren- dered her unrivalled feature* and shrunken eye* tbe more marked ; and the passion OB the faoe at this moment made it appear more haggard than it naturally was. The lumpish dandy WM not at all di*- turbed. His mother, Bell Cargill, bad been paralyzed in ber lower limb* for tea year* pMt ; and although the wa* always expecting to recover and making her ar- rangement* for that event, it had not yet oome to pass. She wa* constantly telling her neighboru what she wonld do when eh* " got up," and they kindly humored her hope, and tbe hops cuatained ber. She bad been oae of the briskest and *tronge*t of tbe fishwives, and by a sin- gular buiinee* tact had been uccaasful to a degree almost beyond precedent. Although living in thi* poor dwelling, sur- rounded by ber creels and fishing-tackle it wa* htr humor to have all tbe relic* of ner trad* about htr she possessed a con- niderable fortune, the result of ber own energy and industry. Bawbees had grown t} shilling* in ber hand*, anil shillings to pounds. Then, whilst she still carried ber creel, abe had uarted a email fish shop in the High Street, Edinburgh, and out of that bad grown two large fisbmougery establishment*, one at the Weal l>il, aut the other in the maiu thoroughfare leading to Newmgton. She bad been careful if tbe selection of her managers, and she bad prospered. She had ono* said bat she never re- peated it that the only miatsvke *be ever made WM in getting married . and the only good her man bad ever done her was in deeing sane." Bat be bad left her with a son M useleu a* him*elf. Notwithstanding all ber prosperity, she clung to the abode in which ibe bad been brought up, and oat of which ah* had reaped everything. Her son, however, bad different ideaa. ' You aee, mother, I WM detained by " Can yoa no speak your native tongue, you idiot? What's the use o' put tin on your fine air* wi' m* ?" cried Bsll irately. " I really thought that I wa* speaking my native tongue a* far M I knew it, mother; but if there i* any other form which will please you bitter I shall be) bappy to adopt it," he answered, taking a chair and seating himaell on it carefully, aa if be feared that it mighl break under him. Tbe old woman eyed him all over, and tbe twinkling ol ber eye* showed that the had a seeret pleasure in hi* grand appear- ance, although she maintained her qnera- lon* manner. " Weil, yoa have a guid Scotch tongue in your head if yoa would only make us o' it : bat you'll do uaething usefu'. Yoa just spend, and spesd, and spend." " If you wonld allow me," he said in a lasy way, " I am quite willing to take the management of tbe business " " Catch me lettln' ye do that. I gied ye a tether o' three months, and if I had gien ye three niair there wouldna hae been ae penny to clink agin anitber left us." " Vary well," he said shrugging hi* heavy shoulders, " I am content. Only don't blame me." " No blame you, ye lazy loon I Ob, wait till I get np ; and it'll no be lang noo or that. No blame you I It ye had been half a man ye would hae been the great- est fish-merchant in the kintry by this tone." " But I don't want to be a fishmonger," be said M before, and folding hi* band* on hi* paunch. " Fish merchant, I said, and mair shame to ye T I* it no th* grandest trade and tbe bra ve*t trade in tbe world ? Can ye no think o' what it mean* men'* live* gann to feed the I m a' ? And oaa ye no think what it ha* been to you ? Whaur would yoar bon- nie elae* oom* f rae, and your rings, and your watohen, and your breaatpini, it it hadna been for the fish ?" 11 1 am quite ready to make my acknow- ledgment to each particular fish if you'll only tell me their namea," he answered coolly, M be readjusted a horseshoe pearl breastpin. Hue wa* exuperated by hi* ooolneM and mad* a movement M if she wonld rise, but fell back on her chair with the old cry Wait till I get np and I'll set ye a bon- nie dance, my braw lad you that canna acme to see me anae a month, cause ye'ra shamed to be seen amang tbe folk* that ken whaur yoar braw dads cam frae. But bide ye. I'm gaun to hae the lawyer here and I'll Mttle ye. And I'm gaun to ute Bob Roes M a witnesn " "Bob Rose I" mattered Cargill, for the first time roused from his lethargy , " he's eternally turning up where he iin't want- ed." " Ay, it's like yoa to misoa' folk that are better than yonrsel'. He looks after them that belang* to him while ye gang aff to your grand chamber* in Edinbio' and London, and are feart folkt should ken yon got your siller frae the puir auld fishwife that ye leave here." (To b* continued.) Archbishop Feehan returned to Chioag from a visit to th* Pope yesterday alter- noon. He waa eeoorted home by a prooea- Rion ol ten thousand persons. Over a hun- dred thousand ai*embled along the three mile march to witnee* the parade. Except General Grant'* welcome, tbe ovation ex- ceeds anything cf th* kind previously witneeted in Chirago. A lady 70 yean old, raiding in Belleville, Tex., hM just out lour new teetb, and there are indications that she will soon have* full set ol natural grinders. A oitisen of Martian.). Me., in a fit of sanity, recently out off hi* toe*, on* M a time, and oalmly trimmed the stamp*.