THE DISRUPTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 98, 26 May 1876, Page 7

THE DISRUPTION.

, J " -* - MINI 111 I-^^H-I^^ ' , A T^E OP .TRYING; TIMES. --- - ''*'!•" '-, '- " !..- ;.'*,. '.'-. r . : .-/:'._-■> -' I- BelieTOmy««dSfqaain -li'J* t N^wlmttstqmtili^lovinff»rm», ■ ■' , ; ; My^rtar^.bw^^^Vv' -V -.' > I feel my darkening fete rove hangs' ' Mrs Renshaw was sharp enough sighted to discover very soon the result of the discussions reported in last ■chapter. She observed at a glance that Sir John Baldwin during the rest of the evening was cold and reserved to her nephew, and flatteringly compla- j «ent to Mr Simon M'Quirkie. The ladies of the family also saw this, and were sorry for it, but found no opportunity of asking explanations, or using their influence in favor of James Duncanson, which they were much disposed to do. No one ventured to allude to the recent dispute, except the •burly, frank-spoken farmer beforementioned. He introduced the subject bj unceremoniously slapping Mrs Renshaw on the back, and saying, — " He's * clever chiel, this nevo o' yours, mistress. Fegs ! he's nane o' the sneaking gude-for-naething creatures that would sell his birth-right for a mess of jmrridge. There'll be some out-coming o' him, or my name's no Ringan Stiinperton. He's made o' the true stuff for a minister, and may leeve yet to shed his blude for the gude. auld cause •o' Presbytery against Prelacy and a' the ither priestly abominations." .. These were the most unwelcome asWurances to Mrs Renshaw, and she relented them, and the free manner in which they were expressed, by drawing herself up in a taciturn pettisnness, and glooming, as Ringan afterwards described her appearance, "like a sow playing on a trump." She made an ■early retreat, and was accompained by the students to Whinnyside. All the way she preserved a moody, ominous ■silence, only replying in monosyllables to any remark addressed to her by of the young men. M'Quirkie was in a particularly chatty humor, for ins spirits were elevated to a high pitch by the favorable impression he felt -conscious he had made on the Baronet. -James Duncanson was also cheerful, but in a different sense. He experienced :an unwonted buoyancy and serenity oif -spirit from the conviction, that lie had •done his duty in father a trying situation ; and with his mind at rest on a subject on which it had long been watering, he entertained riot a shadow •of regret at the course he had followed, but was prepared calmly and manfully ;to meet the consequences whatever =they might be •f^~Oncß more in her own house, Mrs Renshaw . threw' herself down on a -chair, and passionately gave vent to her pent-up feelings. " A pretty day's *wark this has been!" she exclaimed, addressing herself to anyone particularly, A. hysteric spasm seemed about to check her utterance, but a gush of tears brought relief, set her tongue a-going freely. She Tailed long and loudly at her nephew, And at length addressed him thus: — "Ye havß flung awa' an opportunity this day ye may ne'er ha'e the like o' in your life again." " Well, aunt," he replied, " I cannot «cc I've done anything of the kind. I im not aware that my position is altered at all for the worse, or that: I have lost anything by what passed at the Hall to-day." w Weel, if ye dinna sea what ye've lost, ye might see it wi' half an e'e, and withoot a glimmer* o' the learnin' ye •ha'e gotten thrown awa* on ye. Ye h&d. as quid . a chance as any young minister in the country, and a far better chance than the feck o' them, o' gettin a presentation, had ye just had the gumption to keep the fair side o' Sir John. But that chance yell ne'er ha'e noo, after offendin' him wi' your maggotty notions. It's clean unpossible for you ever to get into his favor «giain." , _ ' "'And it would not signify though I -could," said James, " for, with the principles 1 hold, I could not accept of a presentation from him or any other patron, though it were offered to me <ever so freely." " Principles ; ! haggis bags ! " ex•claimed, the lady. "It wasna to get ony sic bees in your head as ye ;ca' frinciples that I sent ye to the College, 'ye been cheated arid imposed, upohjby <he way ye've been, taucht It wasna honest o* Chaumers, or ony ither doctor, in the College, to learn ye principle*, it wasna. J It was quid learnin-— guid Greek and Latin learnin' — ye wers sent to learn it was, and nane o' their trash o 1 principles." / i In this manner Mrs Renshaw went ■on without iateruaission till . her ; ill ; humor became insupportable even, tb J M'Quirkie, notwithstanding* his iia^ usually happy frame of mind. He jae--cordingly took an early leave, though he hadTbeen invited, and had half consented, to remaia for the night | ■ "James Daacanson's resolution tog depart from Whinnyside and Renounce all further dejfejDdence on jhj^aurit^ jwas do wfix<sdirrev^ablj. Accordingly , the . morning after die scene described above, he took s formal leave of her,

and left die house, taking with him ■ODly sueb of liis furnishings as were /)> -table enough to be earned in his

pockets.; Stran£^ 1 t6 i skyron' i this loci casiftiighe madw no attempt to induct] lii)^^ remain. She was, in a sullen' mootf, Jtnd perhaps expected that her nephew would change his mindrafcer he should have, some experience of the hardships and difficulties of following an independent course unprovided with' means. - - * ' ,■ ;

The student first beat his steps towards Burncrook, a little village, where resided his sweetheart, Miss Montgomery. He wished to see her before leaving the neighborhood, to explain to her the alteration •of his circumstances and intentions for the future, in so far as he had farmed any. But even in this direction there, was a cloud mustering against him. Burncrook lay. with-f in Mr Calmsough's parish, and the family to which Miss Montgomery belonged, being warmly attached to him as their minister, and he no less warmly attached to them— as he was to all bis flock— the reverend gentleman had called the preview evening to inquire for them, in passing through the village on his way home from Baldwin Hall, j He was not aware of the intimacy beween Agnes and James Duncanson, but incidentally mentioned the young student's name in speaking of Sir John Baldwin's dinner party. He launched out in praise of the manliness and honesty with which James had maintained his principles even under the Baronet's frown, and at the cost of his favor; but he regretted, at the same time, that so promising a young man should have adopted views which might deprive the Chtfrch of his services. Agnes sat blushing and trembling while all this was said, for she knew the sternness and ambition of her father's nature, and apprehended that what he heard from the minister would operate to disturb her peace and blight her fondest hopes. She was the favorite, though hot the only, daughter of Gideon. Montgomery; and she knew that, though he had no great fortune to give her, he was determined that her hand shquld only be bestowed on one who could make her a lady, and shed the lustre of superior station on her family. Agnes knew also that her father was bitterly opposed to the movement party in the Church, of which he was a ruling elder, and that he could not think favorably of any one opposed to him in opinion. She therefore apprehended that Mr Calmsough's remarks regarding her lover, though "warmly laudatory, would nevertheless raise a serious obstacle to her further correspondence with him ; and she was not mistaken.] As Mr Calmsough. proceeded to detail what had taken place at the Hall, old Gideon's face became clouded, and he gave expression to his chagrin in various interruptions of the single-minded speaker, who was unconsciously raising a storm which, had. he been aware, of \ he . would much rather have averted. «, %f \ At the end of the ! minister's remarks, Agnes looked timidly and tenderly at her father, as if imploring his forbearance, but he did not legard the appeal. In a cold but inflexible manner, he said, "Perhaps; ; Mr Calmsough, you are not aware that 'the -young man you speak of is one of Agries's admirers; but after what- you tell me, I shall^ take care to make him keep his distance." I

"Indeed," s replied the minister, "I was not aware of the circumstance, but I regret to hcaryou speak so severely. All I have said of him ought rather to make you proud that your daughter is sought after by such aa excellent young man. No one can more sincerely wish Miss Agnes well or respect her more than I do, but I cannot desire better fortune to her than that James .Duncanson may be her husband. Bat come, Aggy ! you are not to be ashamed or terrified. Your father will take my view of, the subject when he gets time to think of it, and I will yet have the pleasure, of tying the knot that is to make you Mrs Duncanson."

Buit the young- lady was too much: agitated to remain longer in the company, and she retired immediately to her own apartment to hide her feelings. Her father, meanwhile, in spite of all Mr Calmgough could say, renewed his protest against James Duncanson, and expressed his determination never to allow: hitn-to enter his dwelling, or to hold any correspondence with his daughter. "No, no," he said, "ho daughter -of mine, especially Agnes, shall be thrown -away on. a manseless, parishless minister.* I'-ldiow -no fault, worse in a young man designed for the ministry— nothing so likely to keep him down in his profession—as new?i fangled notions jlike what, this youth, has spoiled his_prospects ...with. Since he is so wise JUi,, his, own conceit, he must just take his swing j but I'll take cark thatinaerbairniof vra'inej shall ! be preened to_his_J T p_rXunes." It was ! in rain that Mr Calmsough remonstrated : and -\ argued against such c harshness. Old Gideon" becanie onl^rthe mdre-iaex-orable the logger, the subject , •. wwi disr cussed, and the more that was saicli to molUfy his obstinacy." T ' ' ; ::jj Nexfc day : when' Mr Duncanson knocked at-thexloor, it was opened! by asewaiit, who bad been previously instrugtejiiby her master how to kct Jaj^es received no invitation to enter, -apd, after being told that he could |n,ot> see Miss Montgomery, the door Was" rudely shut in his face. This treatment was as unexpected as it was heart-cut-ting am][ cruel. In James's mind astonishment for a while predpniinated

over other feelings, but it gradually; gave way to grief and indignation. "This, then, is part of the price," so, ran his ruminations, "which I must pay for keeping a good conscience ; for, no doubt, the course to which I have committed myself has , become . known' here, and been condemned. It is the sharpest thorn I have met' with, and though I did not hope to find the path of duty smooth, I did not think I should be made to suffer in it quite so soon. But no matter, the die is cast, and I must abide the issue; be it good or ill."

With such reflections did he move away from scenes endeared to him by many a fond association, relieving, or try to : relieve, his mind by many a heavy heigh-ho. One consoling 1 thought occurred to him, and rapidly gained the strength of a conviction, as he turned 1 it over and over in his mind, and viewed it in all possible lights-rnamely, that Agnes could not be a party to the treatment he had received at her father's door. It was not possible she could. It was not; in her nature to be so unfeeling, and so far forgetful of her love and truth. As this conviction settled firmly in his mind, the beautiful words of the forty-third Psalm occurred to him, and he hummed them as he went along,—

• Why art tbou then cast down, my soul — What should discourage thee ? And why, with vexing thoughts, art thou Disquieted in me ? .Without well ''knowing wherefore, or having" any precise purpose in view, the student took the direct road to Edinburgh, and travelled with an energy corresponding to the excited state of his feelings. In a calmer mood, the low state of his finances would have made him pause, and, perhaps, adopt a different course j for all the money he possessed was the balance of a. five -pound note, which he had changed to pay his coach fare and some other matters before he left the city. His entire stock of cash did not now amount to much above the half of that trifling sum ; and how he was to obtain more .when it should be exhausted could not easily be imagined. He had, indeed, flattered himself with, the idea that he could earn a handsome income by private teaching ; but he well knew that the summer season, which was setting in, was not the time to seek such employment Still he went on at a round pace, as if he had a pressure of business impelling him forward aud a well-defined position to step into at his journey's end. ,- When he was several miles advanced on the road (for he intended to travel the whole way afoot for the sake of economy,) he saw at some distance before him, and proceeding in the same direction, a rustic whose gait and per- I son seemed familiar to his eye. ■ Th^ •pedestrian ,was not walking quite 1 so rapidly as our hero, . who accordingly . soon overtook him, and was equally ' surprised and'glad to recognise as : his t fellow-traveller no other,, than honest Robin Afleck. Robin was dressed in ! his Sunday clothes, and evidently bound on no short or trivial errand. *' Where away, Robin ?" was Mr Duncanson's first salutation to the ploughman ;— . " Where away, Robin ? — you look as if Y9} 1 . e j o . n _ a _ journey." " I'm gaun lillEmbro', Maister Jimes, and ye're like as ye were gaun there yoursel'." ; " Tndeed I am, Robin ; but I did hot anticipate the pleasure of having your company." --•><-

'* Aweel, sir, ye see ye ha'e your am luck ; for I'm gaun every fit o' the. road; and, what's mair, I'm gaun there to stay." " Nonsense ! — you must be joking, Robin r

"JSr«vi ; m jokin' nane; it's as shure's death."

•' And what, pray, do you intend to do, may I ask ?" " Ou ay, ye may speer what ye like, and I'll no tell ye a word o' a lee. I'm gau till Embro* to be a stewdent like yoursel'."; . ; , " The more fool you, Robin, unless you know better what to make of your learning." ' -

" O fegs, I ken fine what I'll mak' o't, I'll mak' mysel' a vet—veter—veterininary serjeant."

" A veterinary surgeon, you mean?" "Ay,- yes — in fack,.just a horsedoctor. But that ugly name, veter— veterininary, flights me warst o' a. I'm no fear't but I may manage a' the rest o't weel eneuch, but it wad be a daft like thing, ior a body no to be fit ito gi'e their am trade its learned name. But I'll be hanged if I can get my tongue aboot it, and I'm no shure if I'll ever be able," . ;

, ,". But this is not the - season for attendance at the veterinary, classes. You've mistaken the time by half-a--year.";/ ....'_■.■ -..- ; "■''_'•. | ._, "I'mno sac far mista'en, Maister Jimes. Iken this is no they time for the' public classes, but I want to -get some, lessons in a private .way .before the College, opens. \ f , for ; I'm but,. .^ . .rough * 'sovvt yet^ and, need a .Heap V an': kaimin'f before j eanjgang' deceniiy, , m.thejti^im^Xuiaiiir't|ial'B^,^ •in trainm'j alresidy^'/ 'j- r '. ",■;_, ;'^ '/:] j :-C£ " " Wey, Robin, tbeVe's 3pme .wisjipm in your plan, if you can carry J it out. 3ut what, Dtteans; have ' you to enable you to becbme^a ,' student ?^-T.what has induced you to 'ttiint ofHtt-^ariol how v can you get so suddenly clear.' of my aunt's service ?" " Faith, there's three questions abreast, nae less— and, tho' there's

nane o' them very kittlie, like Effectual Callin', it'll no be easy to answer them a 1 at ance. But, ye see, 1 have aye had a notion o' doctoring horse and l cattlej and it's allooed I ha'e some talons for the jpb A Then, sir, though ye maybe wadna think it, I have some bawbees in the bank ; for [ got the freck : o 1 fifty pouH&left me by & far- ! awa' freen', and I've gajthered my fee since ever I cam' to your auntie ; so I'm 1 no bare 6' siller. For a' that; I micht; maybe ne'er ha'e thoct o' spendin't on ; yedication if I had only had mysel' to! please; but, ye ken, there's somebody' else I whiles fash mysel' a wee abooi ?";

** O, Jean Brown, you mean ?" ; " Ay, yes, exackly, just her. Weel,ye see, I've been makin,' some progress wi' her since ye ; cam'hame, for her and, me had a, heap o' talk aboot you and Miss Migummery — and fegs, sir, X fand-it was-a grand opportunity^ to get; something said for mysel\ But the little gipsy's as ambitious as she's bonnie, and she's keen, as the Gentle Shepherd says, to Change her plaiden-coat for silk. She tauld me plainly that as lang as I was but a plewman she wad ha'e nathing ado wi me. This was plump and plain and a wee provokesome, but it let me see that. I micht come on wi' her after a', if I just could get abune days darging at the plewtail. She kent brawly o' the pickle siller, but that made nae difference. She was sharp eneuch to see that it was owre little to gang far in the way o' house plenishin', or house haudin, no to speak o' stockin' a farm. And fegs, sir, she tauld me to seek for a -wife wi' siller— or, if naebody wad please me but hersel', to gang and get intii some com-fortable-way o' leevin', and then she wad maybe think about takin' my case into consideration. That was en-; couragement ! : — was'tna? The cutty skirl'd and lauched when she said this, but T saw she was in earnest for a' ; e>6 I rummaged amang my head till I fand out this vet— veterininary scheme (hang that word !)~-and fegs, sir, she's highly pleased wit, and I'm no shure, noo, but I may consider her as gude as trystit." ■ ■ ■ ■ " Well, Robin, I am glad to hear it ; but you have not told me yet why you are in such a hurry, or hovr you have got away from my aunt on. such a short notice?" - : a That's f .easy explained. Ye see Jean and me made it a' tip yestreen, the time your auntie was in her tantrums. Forbye ither reasons for being '44 4 hurryy ' we : thdcht ! it ; as? weel-. for- me to gi'e Whinny side the' wind 6': my: heels withtfot loss o* time, in case I should be brocht owre the ;Co^is by Dr Snapperf dudgeon,; for. his whumble; intil r the 1 midden. No ; ito say. that J own I set the tup on him, it might be a black 'business. ■: And i faith; , sir, I r.haye my fears o' him, for he was at Whinnyside the time your auntie and you were .at the Big House, and though I keepit oo|t o' his gate)" he" questioned every anp abooc the placed and examined a', jlie fitsteps in the yard, and coonted and measured everj/* steddybaith a'the tup's feet and my tackety shoon. They tell, me he was lookin' grimmer than ordnar, and ye ken that's grini eneuch, so Jean and me thocht it best for me to get a bit oot p' his reach withootloss o' time. Everybody kens it's uncanny to ha'e a plea wi' him. The vera judges on the bench, I'm } tauld, are nae matches for him at the; law. And then as to the mistress, I kent fine how to manage her. Man, I would gar you laugh about your auntie ;if she didna justliappen to be your auntie ! . I had nae mair ado to get my leave than to pretend to steal a kiss frae Jean Broun this morning, just after yef gaed; away, and when I kent the mistress saw mje. That's a kind 6' faut your auntie, canna forgie-— partly, maybe, because naebody tries how she would like it herseP. At ony rate she brake- out ten times angrier than she was last night at you, paid doun my fee oh the dresser-head ,&t ance, and ordered me abpot my, business. And fack, sir* she wad hae dune the same lo Jean if she hadria had the sense to misca' me weel, and ieVbn to be just as ill pleased . as-.Jber ; mis^reajs. So ye see, MaisterJinaes, I'm here just as free as'yoursel', and I- think ye'il own I'm no just sic a confponded fule as folk wad tak' me for." j ** You have certainly, Robin, sho^n more of the rogue than the fool in this business." . . , "'" " 6u, no that inuckle -roguery, nei'therj gif ye please. Ye scie- the mistress can easy get anither band jin my Whenever Bhe iikesJ^ But jye do think I'm a wee; daft like, ; no to he just a fule, diyna ye?" said Robjn, stopping, short an 4 looking Mr Duncabedh gravely in the face. : : j •«Whht puts -that^ in^your he^d, ?c I'm sure I ne?er said:,so/.' re-^ plied-the : student. ; ■ „ / • i/-; i <4'\ *f Qu lr l just think Jbjr the kind p T way_ . folk : speaks it> tee'tbat Vm l consideije^j maybe to want a petny o; the shilling. But if I Jrad : ftnoe^y^ytit^veteij-r vetepinarary learning, 'l'll <be tUocht mair o' by a' body* -Jeanrßpq^.Jifersel 1 . may drap mak w'; ,fun o' me. Robin ms nae^mair I'm thinking pat ca' me M^ AJeck, just,t|»e same as ctfn.joii.M'f BuncaisDii" j . r £"t '.""' J *f!t6 be continued.) i