THE BEADS OF TASMER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 103, 2 May 1891, Page 6

THE BEADS OF TASMER.

BY AMELIA E. BARR, Author of ' Friend Olivia.

CHAPTER IX.

FATHER MATTHEW FOR THE PEOPLE. Donald's dismission was curb and authoritative, and he showed plainly hia sense of offence in ib. He saw that his opposition bad but confirmed Sir Rolte in his intentions. He feared that he had spoken unwisely ; perhaps he ought to have temporisad, havo yielded a little here, in orde r thab bo mighb have gained a little there ; thab, in short, compromise would have served tho interests of all better than reproaches and opposition. But a young man of twenty-two, who knows _ how to arrange bis cloak to suit tbe wind, 18 simply not a young man at all. He went with burning cheeks and uplifted head through the long, shivery passages, and down the gloomy stairs. A here was a fire burning in tbe mam hall, bub the sticks were green and wet, and Fergus was growling at the wrong wind and the damp air, as bo tried in various ways to coax the smoke ud tbe wide chimney. • There ia nob a screen nor a draught to please the fire this morning, whabeffer. 1* iss out, ib will baf to go. A fire that will nob burn ; ib is out, ib is out, lb Will have to go. No fire ab all will be bebtor than ono thab iss smoking.' .__.._,',_, Donald scarcely answered the old man, but his words made an unpleasant impression on him. People in trouble and perplexity are apt bo go back bo augury ana to take as oracles first utterances and signs. So, Donald felt bhab as no screen or draught would make the fire burn, no entreaties or arguments would make Sir Rolfe feel as he felt. The fire would have to be put oub. Ec would have to give up his efforbs. And if no firo was better than smoke, 60 also, silence would be better than hopeless quar'Vonfebhing like this train of thought was in his mind; but, as yet, his mind was only a whirl of angry and sorrowful thoughts. He longed for Sara. She waa nob clever, and she did not always agree with him, bub they talked together on terms of familiar confidence. While reasoning with her ho was really reasoning with himself, and he generally felt satisfied and composed alter talking over any event with her. Bub Sara was nob only lar away, she was engrossed, altogether engrossed, by the brilliant life she was leading. He took her lasb letter and re-read it. Fine dress, line entertainments, rich and noble lovers, these were its topics ; and Donald felt how useless ib would be to trouble her gay hours wibh his own perplexities and sorrows. The carry of the storm was directly northward ; he 3tood mournfully ab the window and watched it. The rain, driven furiously before a mad wind, was steaming through tbe air in disordered ranks; the clouds were flying rapidly in great grotesque masses, touching the tops of bhe fir-brees like a gloomy veil; bhe black ocean was tossing and raging as if a battle woro going on among its billows. His thoughts, fleeter than the wind, yet troubled as the waters, flew swiftly to the small grey manse at Ellorlocb. How well he could see the girl be loved in it! Her haadaome face grave and tender with bhoughbs of him. Her slim, tall figure, her busy hands, her cleasant voice—nob be who raised theshade of Helen had a greater power than this true lover, for be thought of Roborta until she seemed presenb with him; until the thought like an actual presence soothed and comforted him. The lebter brought by Angus had been his last communication from her. For bwo weeks he had been unable to send any message; the wind had been so constantly adverse, that even Angus had been afraid to risk the journey. Bub Donald was not troubled by any of the doubts or silly jealousies that some lovers delight, in encouraging. He brusted Roberta as he trusbed himself. He knew bhab she understood how rare and precious communication must be; and ib had been'decided that letters by the ordinary mail would bo useless and irritating—the village postmaster being a deacon in Mr Balfour's church—a man who neither for gold nor pity would favour love disallowed by a parent on such religious grounds. Still he did write to her. Ib was impossible to bind affection so strong in bands of silence. He told her of his love, bis hopes and doubts and loneliness, in long, long epistles, which were dated and put away, until the happy opportunity came for sending them. Angus was watching for ib; he had the precious packet in his possession ; bhe boat was ready to slip her anchor ab the first flurry of favourable wind, and toward sundown there appeared a prospect of it. In tho wesb there was a streak of crimson; the wind had fallen aud shifted southerly ; the rain was nearly over. Donald hastily finished the letter in hand, and went down to tbe village to give it to Angus, for he thought it likely he could leave with the turn of the tide. He fancied that Helen Mackenzie received him with constraint; that oven Angus was not quite like himself. How could he expect it, if bhey had heard of Sir Rolfe's intensions ? And bow were bhey to know that he was not to blame in the matter ? Yeb he could not defend himself wibboub blaming Sir Rolfe, and he did nob dare, wibhoub good reason, to hurry any such justification. On his return to the castle, he called ab bhe rectory to see Fabher Contach, for Helen Mackenzie's coolneea wounded him very much, and he felb the need of comfort and advice. The father beard him silently and patiently, his white, intellectual face Growing finer as he listened. Once, when Donald alluded to the removal of the whole people, his cboeks crimsoned, but he instantly laid bis hand over the cross upon his breast, and suffered nob himself to apeak. Indeed, after Donald had ceased, the silence was for some minutes unbroken : bull the young man understood the_ -pause, anil communed solemnly with his own heart during it. ,_.;.. ~,, ,".'. With a sigh, Father Matthew lifted his head and looked at Donald. He sympathised keenly with his sen&e of shame and wrong, bub ib was his duty to assume the "calmness he was Tory far from feeling. •My son, What is your anger about I he asked. 'Because you are likely iff be spoken evil of when you do nob deserve it. lb is, indeed, mortifying bo your sensitive nature, but one of the best penances ■which the heart can offer is to endure a continual cross and abnegabioa of selflove.' • Is ib right for me to be made the tool of oppression ? No; I will not disgrace my manhood by burning these people out of their homes. They have as much right to them as I have.' ' Stop, Donald. Can they show any legal rio-hbto bhem? Alas! No.' «Because thoy trusbed to the Torquil, they have the moral right. Is nob that sufficient?' ~_,,,,. ' If this earth were heaven, if God s Kingdom bad come, if His will were done, the moral rights would be the stnngesb of all • I cannot rest, Father. Helen Mackenzie has made me thoroughly miserable. Come with me to Tasmer, and speak to Sir "Rolfe for me.' , T ' Yes ; I will go. I have spoken once. I will speak again. Idid not think the matter was to be hurried on so rapidly. The families in Easter-Torqml are to be franied to leave ab Whitsuntide. There are

thirty-Bix families, numbering nearly two hundred people; what is to become of them? Perhaps I ought to speak to them ; will they give up the grazing if I ask them ?' ' They cannot live without grazing land. They have nob the sea to help them when the sou fails. t 0 refuao them grazing is virtually to expel them from their cottages and crofts. There is no need to serve them with a notice of dispossession.' 'I know, an d they are our own race and blood. They won the lands we call ours to-day. Father, you musb prevent this great wrong. Sir Rolfo is ab presenb under tho influence of Simon Lovab; he is nob hard-hearted. He loves*piety and virtue. He will listen to you,who are his guide and confessor.'

•Alas, my son ! They who listen not to the witness which is within every man's breast are not likely to hoed either the law or the prophets ; no, nor yeb listen though one came from the dead. I hope thab you were patient and respectful to Sir Rolfe ; reproaches will only make him more determined to carry oub his plans in spite of you.' 'I was angry, bub I said little. Ib was hard to bo pabienb, and I fear I shall not be able to restrain myself when we speak aga i?-'_ ' Hide the cross of our Lord within your breast. As long as you firmly clasp ib in your hand, surely the enemy will be ab your feet.' As bo spoke they left the rectory together. Tho nighb was dark and the walk was nob a cheerful one. Tbe drops of rain from tho firs wet them like a shower, and the wind ran through the old trees with thoso pitiful, sinister wails ib learns one knows nob where. The old grey castle looked unusually gloomy. There was the dull glow of tho fire in tho parlour bub all the windows upstairs, except those in tho Torquil's room, wero blank and dark. Fergus was long in coming to open tho door. He had been in tho kitchen discussing with tbe women tho strange, sad news Which had only jusb become known to them. When be "saw Father Matthew, he probably divined on what errand of mercy ho had como ; for be looked into his face and then suddenly covered hia eyes and began to cry like a child.

Donald could nob bear ib. He benb bis head, and bis moubh was bwitching with suppressed emotion. He did nob waib to hear whab requesb the old man was making amid hia passionate sobs. He knew that he had daughters and grandchildren in Easter-Torquil, and thab his son farmed and fished in the village below, and be understood the anxiety and fear that were in his hearb. Bub he would nob waib to hear it voiced, lest he should speak vvords that he might regret; and so, lifting a candle hastily, he went to his room. The fire had been allowed, to go out. Donald never remembered such inabtention before. Ib said more to him bhan any words of complainb could have done. Fergus musb indeed have been utterly miserable to neglect a duty so necessary to his comforb.

Indeed, Fergus had never before known such sorrow. The Celt has many faults, bub he has a hearb overflowing with the tenderest domestic affections. He, of all fathers on the earth, can best understand thab passionabe wish of Hebrew parental woe—' Ob, my son ! Would to God that I had died for thee !' Fergus could not endure the thought of his children and their babies —wanderers, seeking a homo. He felt bhat ab leasb he musb share their sorrow and desolation; and yeb he had been fifty years in Tasmer, and ib was no light personal grief to break bonds of such long growth, and to forsake the roof that had been, in the main, such a happy shel ter. He said nob a word of this condition of affairs, but the almost childlike condition of helplessness and grief in the old man's face was sufficient. Father Matthew understood it all, and the good priest went into the presence of the master of Tasmer with a heart burning with jusb anger. Sir Rolfe was sitting brooding over tho fire. Occasionally he lifted his eyes to the open door of tho oratory, whispering when he did so, somo audible prayer ; for in bhe fainblylib gloom the great white cross was solemnly visible. . _ ' _ . Ib was the first object thab met. abher Matthew's vision, and with a rapid step he passed Sir Rolfe, and for a few moments silently prostrated himself in that Bilent presence. His face was almost a3 pale a3 the lifted cross when he re-entored tho room and set his chair upon tbe hearth, and Sir Rolfe waa compelled to notice the intense feeling in the usually placid countenance. The subject was immediabely opened, and with an indisputable affection and authority, bhe priesb pleaded for his little congregation. He went over bhe arguments which Donaldhadeuggested but nob dared topress. He spoke of the Highlandman's intense love for his own land : ' They cling to these bens and straths like Alpine trees to their rocks,' he said. 'How can you tear up whole families by their roots, and pub the torch bo so many happy, pious, little homes? They are dear to them as Tasmer is to you. Is nob one libble Highland child worth all the land in Kintail and Lochaber? You are a soldier, Sir Rolfe. You know whab bhe Highland soldier is. You have seen the 42nd and bhe 93rd in babble. They have possessed and defended these mountains from immemorial time. They have filled the world with the glory of their deeds. Have pity on your comrades in arms ! They are the children of the Mosb High. Have pity upon those who kneel ab tho same altar wibh you!' 'Fabher, I have bhoughb of all these things. The past is past. We are como to an entirely new era of development The law of progress is that it must bread under foot feelings hibherto held sacred. These people have lived in semi-barbarism and been content with ib. When the '3agle thinks it time for her young to take to their own wings [and provide for themselves she tears up the nest. I, and you, have seen the wise birds do ib. If I now destroy these antiquated hubs, and send their inhabibants into the world, they will learn thab life has objects and hopes, yes, and pleasures, they had nob dreamed of. In a few years, bhey will bhank me. I can wait for my .uabifaca'Yoa will send them from the pure, healthy life of bhese ancient Mils, to the great Citios, whore disease, degradation poverty and death await them. The oldest men and women amongst them are but chil-dren-simple pious children. They are nob fit for the world. Have pity on them I ' if any wish to go to Canada I will do all I can to help them.' x_„ ofW •Are you able to send them all together there ?'. ' The idea is absurd. I mighb help some young, Btrong fellow, who was able to make good use of help; but—■ • Then you wouid only furbher break to pieces the shattered homos William Rufus brought on himself a violent death and the execration of centuries for depopulating the New Forest in order to make a huntingDark That was an act done in days of cruelty and darkness. You and other Hi e hland gentlemen, in an age of high civilisation, are aboub to turn ten counties over to wild animals. Very soon, it will be forests from the south border of Perthshire to the sea-board of Ross. From Deeside to Speyside we shall find nothing but deer ; no men, no women no children, no homes. 1 ■ 'Father, I do not interfere in your * But you would have the right to interfere in them if I were to violate my duty as you are now violating yours. Every peasant in Torquil would have the right to call me to account.' «Listen to me. Therois right on my side, also.' 1 Surely I will listen.' ' I have immense de6r forests. Hitherto they have been lying idle. I can make six

thousands pounds a year out of them alone. Havo I nob a right to make it ? «What barm do tho few crofters do on the fringe of these forests ?' 'They are forever quarrelling with gamekeepers, and forever claiming rights on the hills which disturb the deer. Thoir shooting ranges will be let entirely to rich Englishmen. They havo none of our traditional interests in the peasantry and the clans ; bub they have all an Englishman's ideas with regard to the sacredness of property. They will not rent a shoobing unless these troublesome peasants, with their antiquated notions of their own dignity and rights, are removed. Father, your ideas would disorganise society; thoy are simply socialistic'

1 And I am a socialist in the sense' in which Christ Jesus taught socialism. So is every priest ab the altar. So is every religious in our fraternities and sisterhoods. He allowed only one claim to power ; that of a man serving his fellows. " Leb him thab would bo first among you be servant of all.'" * You aro my friend, my counsellor and my confessor. In mabbers of pioby I defer entirely to you. In worldly matters, Father, you are nob able to judge for me. Are you not in tbe world, yeb nob of tho world ? A living man, and yeb, aa regards all thab makes daily life,' a dead man V ' No, no, no ! It is you, Sir P„olfe, that aro dead.' Then, passing quickly to within the door of the oratory, he stretched ou*> his arms to tho Christ upon tho cross, and cried oub in an ecstasy : * I live ; yet not I, hut Christ lizctli in me !' Sir Rolfe was profoundly aii'ectod, bub ho was nob convinced. He rose, and, baking tho priest's hands, said humbly : 'Do nob judge me with so verity. My intentions are good. I have heard you say there is no sin without intention. One of the dearest objects I have is to rebuild and to beautify tho church ab Torquil.' ' Alas ! Alas 1 Can you give stone and mortar as a ransom for the souls of men ? For tho living atones you are going to pull down and break in piocos and scatter abroad ?' Ho went away with tho words; leaving the masber of Tasmer to ponder the eolemn question he bad asked. (To bt Continued.)