The MYSTERY OF GLENMOHR

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 18, Issue 42, 24 May 1907, Page 2

The MYSTERY OF GLENMOHR

Xtf/5- ( Copyright.)

By Eric St C. K Ross.

DART 8. CHAPTER XXL 'A CLUE TO THE TRUTH. Tho Goldwing was at last ready for sea, and Dir. Malcolm Monteith, much as he grieved over the continued mystery of his cousin's disappearance, expressed his reluctant determination to "sail away,” for h« bad neglected business too long. There was a trial trip for tho purpose of proving Ike yacht’s seatv or.kiness. It will not be forgotten that Donald MTver had stated that the old masts were too lofty and h avy for the vessel, and as Dreamer, the ship’s carpenter, agreed with Donald, spars of more modest dimen- , sions had been fitted in. Thu day of (his trial was a gala day in Strattunohr, and will, no ioubt, be as long remembered as the New Year’s Day when the whole ox was cooked upon the frozen surface of the loch. As usual, Donald M'lver was the hero of the nautical occasion Many of the fishermen were able to pilot their own boats out through the narrow channel, but Donald and his sons, and perhaps Evan Mackay, were tho only ocean-going seamen who were competent to handle a vessel of any size through such a dan- I g "nils Pas'ago. I Patriarchal rule is too much observed to this day in Scotland to imagine for one moment that on such an occasion the plaee of honour —and emolument— could be taken out of Hie hands of the fittest. Therefore Donald Driver became tho au 1 ocrt.it of the day's proceedings. A fresh breeze was • blowing from the west, and as soon a.s tho ladies were on board, the flags in which the yacht had been dressed all the morning were run down, with the exception of the blue ensign at the gaff. Then it was that Donald was seen to th- greatest advantage, as the captain conducted him to the place of honour on the bridge, which crossed the deck-house just forward of the mainmast. Quietly, and as if following instructions already received. David M’lver took up the position of chief officer on the forecastle, Hamish filling the place, of the second mate on the quarter-deck, while Harold, in a modest but masterful manner, took hold of (he spokes of th: yvhoel, and after casting his eyes aloft, he fixed litem upon His grandsiro, who took in the whole situation at a glance. Agnes St. (Alair, and Jessie Mackay in (he most approved sea-going costumes, sat on the seats flanking tho cabin skylight, attended by (ho maid of (he Conner—Annie Rose. Dir. Mackay, Hie colonel, Ronald, and Hector wore in the close vicinity, while Hew nud Malcolm Monteith were below arranging some mailers that had ovidintlv just cropped up. ‘‘Up anchor,” said Donald, to the captain; ami that gmtlemau repeated the order to the men, who wore already “.standing by ” at the capstan bars, A.s soon as the able-bodied fellows began to run round with the light weight—the starboard anchor having been raised—Donald, glancing round said, with something like an affectionate smile to his grandson, something very brief, and at the same time, significant 1 . "Do you hear that, St. Clair?” asked Dir. Mackay of the colonel, i “Hear what ?” : “Donald said to his grandson just now—Ml seems there’s another Queen’s officer on board besides yo.uratilf;’ and he nodded at the ensign.” i “Of course tho captain belongs to the Royal Naval Reserve, and for that reason is entitled to jloat the blue.”' v “Yes, that’s all right; but Donald said Harold also could do that." ‘‘Nonsense!” cried the colonel. “I have no doubt, he meant that I was a Queen’s officer, and, of course, your son Hector is another.” ‘‘There's some mystery here,” cried tho minister, “and 1 am hound to solve it.” Ho (hen went over to Harold, and said in Gaelic; “Look 1 acre, young son of Donald, it appears to me that thou art in the habit of hiding thy light under a bushel. Do you belong to the Royal Naval Reserve?” “I do, Mr. .Mackay,” ha replied, with his eyes steadily fixed upon his grandfather.” “But, you never told ue before!” “When there arc scores of fisherawn along the coast “Who are naval volunteer*,” corrected the minister. “It’s the same thing, sir.” “Your grandfather distinctly said, “There's another Queen’s officer on board besides yourself. Don't tell me that 1 don't know my own language youßgslcr. Came, confess! Aiv you nut an officer of the Royal Naval Reserve?” “1 am, sir.” confessed Harold. “I am a lieutenant in the Reserve, but I beseech yen don't let it be known everywhere. My friends would cease speaking to me.” “J will not. since you wish it,” returned the parish minister, “but 1 promise you I shall be compelled to have a loug talk wi-lh you and auld Donald. You roused my, auspicious tm New Year's nicht when you joined the skaters, and afterwards performed Hiat fine old dance. Well, well, don’t he offended! The blood rises to your face as if you were the Cameron or the M’Leod himself. Still, I must say, I take it very unkindly that you keep an oukl t’riond oot in the dark when you have any good imjws.” “If there was anything to confide,” sa'd Harold, “you, sir, would be the to know it. 1 have been success-

ful ns a seaman beyond my expoota- i tions or deserts, and it becomes a | Scotsman and a sailor not to be I owre proud o' his progress in the I world.” Just so,” returned the minister, taking n pinch oi‘ snuff. “You’re rpiite rieht, Harold, my lad, and I dinna ken but Huiti you are no teaching mo a lesson. However, I’ll leave you now, an' I hope you'll forgive me for committing the deadly offence of talking to the man at the wheel.” I nkiiown to the speakers, Jessie Dlnckay, whoso mother tongue, was (laelic, was rapidly translating into Engl Eh for Agnes what passed between her father and Harold, perfectly unconscious of the fact that the Cousins Mouteilh had come on deck and were close behind them. The imormation thus overheard by the latter had different, effects upon them. Hew, whose mind was of the most romantic nature, looked with ; interest upon the young sailor, but .Malcolm DLonteith gazed with troubled eyes upon the steersman of the mum. iit, for he remembered the alfect his appearance had upon Mr. Spachdale I’ocklinglon, and, being the possessor of a guilty secret, it was only natural he should now look with suspicion— not umnixod with an indescribable fear—upon this handsome ami mysterious grandson of a by no nuaiis satisfactory or common grand- I lather. Then, as his cousin I lew I walked by his side, and turned al- | most alongside “the i man at the i wheel ” and cast Ids eyes aloft, lie { ! uttered a sudden cry of amazement, > | which drew the attention of the lad- j ies to him, ! j i ‘‘What is (he matter, Mr. -11011- j j toilb?” asked Miss St. Clair, with a j j winsome smile. j “Matter, miss. Look—look, at the wonderful resemblance these men j hear to each other.” \ Sho looked, and we know that she had already been surprised by the likeness. Now it was more striking than ever, but only for a moment. For a brief interval both men wore in exactly the same posture. Both leaned backwards to gaze at the ‘-now-white canvas that was now' being rapidly set. When one moved the illusion seemed to pass away, and the idea of it might no doubt, have seemed accidental by people who were not students of character or physiognomy, or were only superficial observers, The disclosures made through Mr. Mackay so innocently had the effect of making Hew Monteith think very deeply, and the method of his pondering might bo roughly described in the following words: "From the very beginning Donald M’lver asserted that there was no murder, and that Muriel would be found all right. Does the old follow know where she is concealed?—and is this young seaman—this lieutenant of the Royal Naval Reserve—the person with whom she has disappeared? Having arrived thus far he suddenly remembered the fete on the ice—Haold'a skating as the partner of his sister, and the minuet that followed. ‘Tin!” he mentally exclaimed ‘‘at last I am on the right track, and I shall not leave Stralhmohr until I solve the mystery. Something already prompts me not to sail with the Goldwing tomorrow, and now I jam resolved that nothing shall induce me to leave this spot until the young scoundrel speaks out. No, no ! I don’t believe he’s a scoundrel; and I not only think that he can keep a secret, but it is plain he is not the kind of man to be bullied. Perhaps he thinks himself ‘a bom lover,’ and wishes to secure the affections of my poor Mury before letting her friends know where she is. Well, no matter how it may be, I must make him my friend, and it will go hard with me if I ;dp not penetrate his secret. I’ll invite&mysclf to Donald Driver's to-morrow night, and then we shall see what we shall see.” The young fellow walked forward very nyteh relieved in his mind from pondering over his now ideas, but many minutes did not pass before he relapsed back to the old melancholy belief that Muriel was dead, and that her body lay neglected in some remote ravine, outraged by the great .birds of prey which could be seen daily hovering over the mountain lops, and croaking hoarsely in the opaque shadows of the terrible rocky channel they were now about to enI t°rj If the reader gives what wo have just described a little consideration, j ho—or she—will conclude that a Very j brief space of time elapsed from the moment that Mr, Mackay addressed | ‘‘the man at the wheel ” until Hew 1 arrived at the conclusion which led j him to make the resolution described. I The transmission of the electric curj rent upon the telegraphic wires has ■ been thousands of limes described as ■ I quick as thought. Now, during Mr. j (Muckay's brief conversation with j I Harold MTver and the evolution of j j Hew’s ideas Donald MTver succeeded j with the aid of the crew, in making j ! wonderful progress towards clearing j j the vessel of the loch. The captain [ had proposed having the Goldwing j ; towed out to sea, but Donald laugh- j j ed him to scorn, saying : j i “If you wull be towed oot, (here j ■ was* only, wan man as wull keep ; 1 your ship's bottom off the sharp j rocks, and that wass myself. That i ! wall Ink' much lime and much lab- | I our, an’ cost a deal of cash mivover. 1 No, I wull tak’ you oot like a gull, jor a swan or a young pottle-nosed 1 whale whatefer, before you can say | ‘Here’s to you, Donald.’ So no more : of your towsing oot in less time ass ! I plow my nose and here the old ■ fellow blew such a formidable blast i as might have been heard across the ! loch if the wind had been in that ’direction. And now Donald was doing as he promised, to the groat adj miration of every seaman on board ! the yacht, and on the shore. S Having concluded to sail imraod- ’ lately after high-water—that is, at ! the beginning of the ebb—the yacht •of course, lay "stern on ” to the ’ channel. The wind was coming over ‘ the low land ami the shoulder of i Hen Orrery with robust power, so

■ by setting the flying jib as soon as the anchor was clear of the bottom, the wind gradually brought the ■yacht's head round in the direction desired. As soon as this was accomplished, the old seaman gave the ! signal to the captain, and he, in his

tura shoutcifl ‘"All sail!”- when i.u an instant tho beautiful craft appeared magically clad like a young; bride in spoOuss white. The crew- was not only a large one, but being mostly past-time nran-o’-warsmeu. their work was done with man-o’-war precision. The canvas was no sooner shown than the sails bellied out, and the yacht began io forge ahead with such promise as actually delighted the. hearts of those in charge of her. From the point of her anchorage to the mouth of the channel would be quite half a mile, and the '.'way ” got on the vessel in this space was what Donald depended upon to cuvry him through the passage, and lie had not calculated wrongly. Before describing tins passage, however, we must describo an occurrence which may appear trifling in itself, but which bore the closest relationship to the principal and most powerful features of this momentous and authentic narrative. The Yacht's head had scarcely, been brought round to seaward than a horseman was seen leaving tho “big house.” “Papa, what can the matter be?” asked Agnes, turning to her father. “The matter ! Where?” ‘‘A horseman has just left the house,” she returned. “You will see he is just passing Evan Mackay's, and will soon reach the Driver’s bouse.” I lew silently handed a pair of fieldglasses to the colonel, who adjusted I hem, and after gazing a few minutes cried : “IPs Rory with the mail-bag slung over his shoulders. There must he some important nows or Dugald would never have despatched him with it.” "And what can he do with it?” asked Malcolm Dtonteiih. "Do with it!” cried the colonel. “He’ll be at the Head by the lime we are below, and he would be a poor shot who would miss the deck of a vessel this size.” This information added a now interest to the expedition. “Besides,”- continued the 1 colonel, “Donald perceives his object and he will sec that the old fellow brings the Goldwing so close to the upright face of the cliff that missing would be a miracle.”Ami this was perfectly fulfilled. The yacht was such a hue sailer that her progress was rapid enough before reaching the channel Vo make the sharp cut-water turn ovit from it two curling foamy wavelets, a-nd the sound of these falling away could now be distinctly heard on the quar-ter-deck. Donald stood with his face to the bows, and whatever alteration in the narrow course he wished Harold to make was clearly indicated by what seemed to the uninitiated the slightest movements of the lingers or hand. AVhen Hie vessel came within tho shadow of Bon Orrery, tho wind was rapidly taken out of the sails. The rapidity of movement, however, was not checked, but she ran so close to the adamantine face of Hie cliff that, had she been cross-rigged, her yards, unless closely braced .home would be sure to come into contact with the rocks. It was not only awkward, but physically painful to look up to such a height as the headland. Neither Agnes, Jessie, Ronald, nor Hew could gaze there without betraying emotion for the rescue of tho latter at the breaking of the ice was still fresh in their memories, although the mystery of Glcnmohr had robbed it of its intenscst interest. Tho patriarch Driver stood at the starboard extremity of the bridge just as the line of tho flagstaff far above would bo twenty yards ahead. ‘‘Throw her off. Rory, ahoy!” presently burst from between his hands, which he had placed, trumpet fashion to his mouth. For an instant tho people on deck could see a round something about the size of a cricket ball defined against the blue sky over the edge of the cliff. This, no doubt, was Rory, the groom’s head. As tho vessel forged forward, a brown square thing was soon circling through- the air, and it seemed to turn and flutter until it fell at the feet of the head of the house of DlTvor. 1 The Southern seamen could not i restrain the expression of their admiration at such a line calculation on the part of their ancient pilot. As seamen they knew that tho “way” of the ship and the length of time the voice would take to travel must both be taken into consideration in such a case; and tho success was so complete and tho aim so accurate, that they could hardly restrain from cheering the old man. Mrs. Bruce had a key of the bag, but the colonel and Ronald also carried one attached to each of their watch-guards. Although both were curious enough to open the leathern receptacle of news, they forebore until they t.saw how Donald would manoeuvre the ship, not only out through the channel, but clear of the numerous sunken and other rocks which seemed placed by Nature to guard the entrance to Catanach Loch Finn of nerve and steady of eye indeed were the men in whose hands the vessel was at this crucial moment. As the jibboom appeared outside the sharply-defined perpendicular cliff forming the outer boundary of the base of Bon Orrery, the western breeze was liable to catch the foremost sails, and throw the vessel upon the sharp edges of one of those terrors of the Northern sea—the sunken rocks. But Donald knew the force of the wind, the yielding quality of the vessel, and the distance he could fall away, and Donald's grandson could read the movement of his grandsire's wrinkled hand as truly as the most explicitedly expressed sentences ever printed from the largest type. i For two or three silent, minutes ' the crew stood watching the beautij ful craft take her sinuous way through tho long, rocky course. Honest admiration beamed on every simple, child-like face as the men I gazed upon pilot and steersman, and I at last, when the sha-p, daw-like ■ rock lying farthest out, with the ! water dashing and booming over and ; around it, was passed, they felt for ! the first time, unimpeded by such • submarine dangers, the long swell of j the Atlantic Ocean, and know that there was nothing more of that na--1 ture to fear. Just then Donald, with

a wave of bis hand, saifT; “Now, captain, tin* ship wass in your cave, and if you want to see us ponny a sicht as never wass. steer nor’-east by oast, air it wall soon bo before the ladies and alien Homans.” ‘‘l’ve bixm at sea four-and-thirty years, and I've sailed in every part of the world, and i must say that 1 never in all my life saw a liner bit o’ seamanship,” came from the lips of the skipper, evidently involuntarily; and the seamen—thc most undemonstrative people in the world—gave a shout that endorsed the opinion unreservedly. And now the most glorious and health-giving of all. earthly pleasures came to those on board the Goldwing The sun shone brightly overhead in a Pale blue sky. The freshening breeze caused the beautiful vessel to lie well over to leeward as she began to race across the rising and falling waves. The phosphorescent glinting and gloaming of the rolling billows gave glimpses of endless variety to those who had the soul to appreciate the never-ceasing tints to be found in the everlasting ocean. Agnes St. Clair and Jessie Mackay, as they stood by the rail-of the windward quarter of (he Goldwing, thoroughly enjoyed the movement of the yacht. Now they found themselves high in the air as a mighty wave raised the stern, and (lie stem was still in the trough of the sea ; then they descended into the same spacious hollow while the wind swept the spray from the rounded crest of the next gigantic roller right into their now highly-coloured- and all the more beautiful faces. Presently Jessie uttered a cry of alarm. They were down in a miniature valley of wuto", and the quarter sank as the bows rose in the air. At the very instant that they imagined i they could almost touch the water, ! they were amazed by a sudden rush in their dose vicinity. A sharp lin was seen to cut tljnfhgh the surface and then disappear, the fish turningin its bowilderingly rapid progress, and displaying the silver belly of the playful porpoise. They si ood for a few minutes watching the gambols of those remarkable fish of prey, and the pleasant surroundings made them forget the shadows hanging over I their homes through the loss of one who had become very dear to them. Presently they won l both attracted by a cry of surprise coming from the lips of the colonel. Turning (hey saw him standing with a large official loiter in one hand and a parch-ment-looking document in the other. He had opened the bag, and had handed letters to Hector Mackay, (Ronald, the two Monteiths and the officers of the vessel. A seaman had taken Harold M’lvor’s place, and the latter was standing alone on the lea quarter and gazing intently eastward, while Donald Mlvor was looking as earnestly in the same direction. '■What news, ray son?” asked Mr. Mackay. ‘‘Orders to Join at once. Must be in Aldershot on Monday at latest,” cried Hector looking sadly and halfreproachfully in the direction of Agnes. "Ah, my lad, I envy you,” cried the colonel. "I shall never forget when I first received the 'route.' Well well, I look back with some sorrow, but a great deal of pleasure. I thought that I had finished with the sei-vico for ever, but I find myself under orders just like you, Hector, and the time at my disposal is about the. same as you have at yours.”"Oh, what has happened, papa?” pleaded Agues taking his arm and endeavouring half-playfully, hal f-tear-fully to draw the letter from his hand. "Och, yes, kurnol! Wass there anysing wrong happened whatefer ?” "Yes, Donald,” cried the colonel, mock tragically. "Something has happened—something very serious.” "It wass not that they have cashiered you at my time of life?” said the irrepressible Donald. "Not quite, Donald, my man. No, sir; they have not cashiered me, hut they have done something perhaps equally blameworthy. They have promoted me.” I "Promoted you ! They wass not able to mak’ yon a better man than you wass,” said Donald doggedly. "Thank you for your good opinion. They cannot make mo a better man, Donald—you are right there. Knowing this they have made me a majorgenera I. “A general kurnol.”. "No, not a general-kurnel but a major-general.” "Well, T wall not ken much aboot that whatefer; but wass it that you wull be going to the wars, because I I wull be sinking I should like a shot ! at them Rooshians myself.” ! "Rest yourself content, Donald,” said the general. "I’m on the retired list, and my fighting days are over I'm afraid.” "Och ! Let ns lif in houps. Wha kens, we micht a’ haf to go yet. The duke’s people haf not treated the Hielan' mans well; but they wull always do their duty, an’ fecht till they die for the Queen. An’ she has made you a sheneral-major ? Weel I always thocht she wass a sensible womans; hut it wull bo more sensible still if she wass coming to the Reay I country—or Tongue or Assynt mir--1 ofer, instead of living in Aberdeen. I | never kenned a M'lver yet who wud- ! na fecht wi’ five or four Gordons an’ j Macphersons. There nefer wass one I of them, nor a Forbes, or a Fraser, j mirovor, who had a poat of hiss own j "And a man who has not a boat of his own is not much to think ! about, Donald, I suppose?” 1 Vile iss not, kurnel—no, I wull call I you sheneral. And if you wass not | going to (he wars, wass you going, ; mebbe to see the Queen’s Majesty | herself.” : “I am ordered to London at once and I might have the honour of soej ing her Majesty.” "Going to London, papa!” cried Agues. "Not to remain there, I hope?”I "No, no, my darling. I am too i fond of the old home to think of ] such a thing. No; I am requested to ; come up to give evidence before a ; Royal Commission now sitting to | take Army Reform into consideraj lion.” , "I should like the reform some of I 'K-sc sanw anm. reformers,” remark-

ed ITew Montemr. ,r T was introduced to a gonei al once, sir. who had passed four years trying to invent a now regimental button.”

I liere are men with no end of insane 'fads ’—fellows as a rule who ‘never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a .battle knows more than a spinster —if I may misquote the Divine William,” the general went on. “A Royal Commission was formed before the end of last session for the purpose of considering a scheme for the localization to districts of the different regiments. While we are speaking we see a great civil war raging in America, and immense bodies of men successfully handled by men who may, from the condition of things, be called amateur generals simply because none of them, have ever before been used to handling large numbers 6f men. These armies arc fighting for sentiOne side will die for the preservation of the Union; the other are equally ready to perish for the right of secession or self-government. In our old armies we hata simply patriotism first, and the sentiment of ‘esprit do corps ’ to follow. Some wiseacres advocate the bringing of all our line regiments to one dull, uniform level only to bo distinguishable by numbers, like convicts in a prison.”

“Suicidal from a national point of view, and disgraceful at a period when every man is improving in moral character, intelligence, and actual education,” said Hew Monteith warmly.

"I am glad you agree with mo,” said the newly-made general warmly. “Well, I do not wish to dwell on the subject, but I must,say this; With the exception of the ten years 1 served in the Greys, all my lengthened term of service was passed in what may, be called crack class regiments. When the authorities threatened to rob the Black Watch of their feathered bonnets, the men mutinied, and the officers turned ‘right about face’ so that they might not he able to bear witness that they saw thur men lay down their arms. The Government soon came to their senses. What they did then every Highland regiment will do now if (hey deprive them of their kilts, distinct nomenclature, and separate traditions. 1 wrote something to this effect to (he dukes secretary. It was Jack and Jim between us two. Now his Royal Highness wants (ho weight of my evidence against the War Office so-called reforms, and much as I dislike leaving home I feel impelled to obey the summons—in fact I cannot see how 1 can get out of going,”

“Yhy should you object?” asked Mr. Malcolm Monteith, to whom the sight of Agnes on board his yacht, and the nows just under consideration, had suggested an idea. 1 “Oh, I have my own affairs, and I have grown to bo very much attached to my ain fireside. Resides why should I contribute to the creation of jealousies among old comrades since there is no liklihood of my commanding an army or a division in any great fight ? Most of all I dislike travelling, and from Strathmohr to Inverness—beyond whirl: city the railway has not yet been extended—is as difficult and troublesome as all the rest of the journey to London.” “Well,” said Mr. Malcolm Monteith thoughtfully, “I think we told you, General St. Clair, that when we started from Glasgow we proposed going round these islands, calling at such places as Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Hull, London, Portsmouth, &c., on our way. Of course our misfortunes have modified the manner of our purpose. However, wc shall follow the some programme if we call at fewer places, and stop for shorter periods at (hose we do call at. I shall be glad if you will permit mo to convey you without any trouble to Aberdeen, or Leith, that you may join the railway system for the purpose of reaching London. or—and this would give me the greatest satisfaction—l should like 1o make up a party who will do me the honour of being my guests, and I shall land you and them in the Thames by whatever date you may name, if that is at all within the range of possibility. Please do not answer me now. Take till the evening to consider it, and do not hesitate to express exactly what you would desire. Remember,” continued the dapper little man, as he prepared to leave them, “we owe our lives to you and we shall be only too glad at any time to acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe you in any, substantial manner.” Having said this, Mr. Malcolm Monteith glanced pathetically in the direction of Miss St. Clair, and bowed himself out of the presence of the group of friends and down the companionway to sec how M. Borin was progressing with the luncheon.

Once out of the sight of the friends the cunning owner of the Goldwing began to rub his little white hands gleefully. His cousin Hew had just told him his determination to* remain in Strathmohr until he could find some trace of his sister. If he could prevail upon General St. Clair and his daughter to take this trip, the lady would be got away from the influence of his brilliant cousin. Mr. Mackay and his daughter would, no doubt, like to accompany Hector in this way, and altogether the trip would be a very enjoyable one. There was another reason why he proposed this arrangement, and" set his mind on “pulling it off.” Hew in the inaccessible North of Scotland, would permit him to deal more expeditiously, successfully, and profitably with Mr, Spachdale Pocklington and his astute partner, Murgaby. The plan was excellent and everything seemed to be working into his hand for the complete accomplishment 'of his most secret desires.

CHAPTER XXII

THE SECRETS OF THE MTVERS. The trial trip of the Gold wing was of such a pleasant natu-e that Agnes St. Clair would have dearly loved to have gone to Leith or London with her. A family consultation however, led to the conclusion that as the house farm required the superintendence of the colonel or his son both could not be absent together; and the young lady felt that she was not ureoared with costumes fur a

metropolitan visit, so she concluded to remain behind also. When (he departure of (he beautiful yacht came, then, it was arranged (hat Jessie Mackay would come to Strathmohr House during (he abrence of her father, since he had concluded to accompany Hector to Aldershot, where he was (o join his .regiment. The parish minister had little difficulty in getting, his pulpit tilled by a. probationer, and the colonel and he felt all (ho more inclined to go in company on this occasion, since it had come out in conversation that the clergyman was the college companion of the newlyappointed Lord Advocate, and it was resolved that the gentlemen should wait upon this powerful functionary, and, if possible, press upon him the necessity of solving what seemed the strangely neglected mystery of Glenmohr. The weather was again magnificently fine, and it was no wonder that nearly the whole of the inhabitants turned out along the shore of the loch and on Thorvon Head to see the handsome craft sail away. The farmer left his fields and the fisherman threw aside his nets ho was ■ mending. It had been arranged before, that i Ronald should accompany his friend Hector to join his regiment, but the tragical occurrence at Glenmohr altered all that. The strong character of (he brother of Agnes was of a peculiar nature. At the first realization of his loss he gave vent to his grief in the fiercest manner, but after a day or two.be had settled down into a deep gloom which nevertheless did not prevent his determination to lose no opportunity of finding out what had become of the corpse of the woman he had come to love so deeply. j Another phase of the young gentleman's character was totally unlike anything to lie found in those of his lather or sister. He had the old Highland temper—a desire for rej vengo; and his determination would I bo as implacable as destiny., j Perhaps the most unreasonable ■ thing about him rose from that pride | of race which is so characteristic of j the families in the far North. Until j he fell in love with Muriel he looked | with little favour upon the cousins j Monteilh. i The first, if wealthy, was "comj mercial,” and the second, if handj some and accomplished, was merely ! a newspaper fellow—a Bohemian of no stable character—a nomad who would pass out of their lives just as erratically as he entered upon their acquaintance. Another matter must also be taken into consideration, in view of future events. He entertained an aristocratic belief, not confined to Scotland by any means; it was a part of his untaught creed that if a gentleman married a lady of inferior rank, that the act raised her to his level. On (he other hand, if a man of inferior rank married a lady superior to himselt, (he former dragged (ho latter down to his level, and that never occurred but once in (he family of the St. Clams; and then it ended in a bloody tragedy, of which the most devout of the race appeared to be rather proud. The interpretation of all this was, i that while it would he the most natural and honourable thing in the world for him to marry the unfortunate Muriel, it would never do to permit his sister to receive the addresses of such an impossible person as Hew Monteilh. Just after the Montoilhs had become tenants of Glenmohr, Konald had warned his father of such a possibility as that this penniless journalist might make love to his daughter—a girl in whoso veins coursed the. noblest blood in Scotland. Whether the colonel thought his daughter "could do no wrong,” or that ho saw nothing to justify the suspicions of his son, it is impossible to say. This alone is certain; he considered it the most natural thing in the world for the brother of the murdered or missing girl to remain behind to solve the mystery, and that it was one of the most sacred duties for his son in his absence to aid him in his melancholy search, * And so it came to pass that when the Goldwing sailed away everything was completely and amicably nrran,ged. Ronald had dismissed his suspicions of Hew, while his desire for vengeance filled his whole heart ami mind. The partings between Colonel St. Clair, and his son and daughter—between Jessie and her brother and father were . not so demonstrative as similar separations would he in England or Ireland, but the affection existing between all the parties was no loss deep on that account. As friends, schoolfellows, playmates, and partners in all kinds of boyish joys and sorrows the adieus between Hector and Ronald were none the less heartfelt because almost silent. Ronald’s last wo”ds were very characteristic of the man : | “I can trust you, Hector, laddie, |as I could trust myself,” he said, i “If ever you get into a close cornel', t remember poor old Scotland, and : what your friends in the North ex- | pect from the Hieland bonnets.” A kind of wall had grown up between Agnes and Hector since the advent of Hew Monteith, and although she was more than conscious !of it, it cannot be said that she | would have altered the conditions of ; affairs if she could.' She pitied Hoc- ; Is true, but she did not be--1 lieve that his love was other than a j boyish fancy that would fade away ; "hen he became familiar with other ; scenes and other faces. There had : never been any formal betrothal or | engagement between any *of the f young people, but there was a kind •of tacit understanding between the j parents that they would come tot gether in good time, t Mr, Mackay had been a soldier in ! his youth, and was a man of some means. In addition to that, he belonged to the noble family of Reay, just as the colonel was a scion of the noble house of Caithness; the latter having been created an earldom in 3455, and the former a barony in 1628—dates that look ancient even in the eyes of the Howards Talbots, St. Maurs, and Stanleys of England.

! Noticing that .fleeter was some-

what embarrassed by the publicity of the .quarter-deck, Agnes considerately: drew Jessie down into the saloon where Hector quickly followed. The farewell was a brief one, but it was nevertheless, most affecting. At last the young Highlander said ; “Farewell, Agnes ! I. must not breathe the words 1 once thought f should ho permitted to utter. You may never know how dear you have been and must continue to be to me. But you know that .tour true happiness is my first desire, and if, in attaining that, your path leads you away from mo, bo sure I shall never complain. One kiss,” ho continued in a voice tremulous with emotion. Then a beautiful smile illuminated his noble countenance, as he relapsed into the words of the'Poet of Love—

"Ae fond kiss, an’ then we sever.”

He bent and pressed his lips to her brow for one moment, gazed into her face and then with a hasty, inarticulate exclamation he turned upon his lleel as if he wore on parade at the Royal Military College and resolutely marched up the companionway.

Jessie was sobbing violently on the crimson velvet cushion of an ottoman, her face hidden in her hands, and presently Agnes, in trying to comfort her, became a s distressed as herself.

After this there was no delay in parting. Hamish and Awo or three sailors went into the whale-boat, shipped the mast and 'set the sails. The water being exceptionally smooth the ladies received the final kisses from their fathers, and Jessie from Hector; then came the final handshakes, and as Donald and Hew and Agnes and Jessie took their places in the stern-sheets of the boat Donald took the tiller behind them,' the painter was cast off from the yacht and was coiled in by Hamish —who took his place at the main sheet immediately—and then the boat’s head turned away gracefully, to the wind; and as she dipped her head over the last roller and then dropped her stern behind it, it looked as if the beautiful craft bowed a last silent adieu, and then both took their appointed courses.

They grew silent as they approached the beach in the front of Strathmohr, and when the girls leaped ashore in the twilight, and flitted up to the house like birds, the broad disc of the moon appeared over the edge of the gap of Cairndhuna, and the two men looking into each other’s eyes, beheld that one thought moved them. Instinctively they clasped hands, and Ronald said : “Your sister Muriel has been lost in my country. It is our duty to find her.” “Agreed ! And I have a plan "And 1 another—but not mature.’*! “Mine also requires consideration, ami I shall at once go home and think it out.” "Go home where?” asked Ronald. "To Glenmohr. It is better that 1 should retain it until the mystery is cleared up.” “It "’ill be bettor,” returned Ronald; and the handshake became warmer, for notwithstanding the motherly and vigilance of Mrs. Bruce, the brother thought it a delicate consideration on How’s part no longer to remain under the same roof as his sister in the absence of their father.'

“But you must dine with us—we shall be so lonely to-night.” “Better left to yourselves to-night” returned Hew. "You have all three parted with loved ones. Mine is an old grief now—comparatively, at least. Make my excuses to the ladies, and ‘Good-night.’ ’■’•

"Had you not better ride?” "I would rather walk. My head is full of an idea.” “May it boar good fruit.” "Amen ! Good-night!” "Good-night!” and so they parted,

A narrow deeply-rutted road or lane ran between the fields which separated the Glenmohr road from the Bruachan road. This crossed behind the grounds of Strathmohr House, and came out below the hill on which the parish church stood, and above the manse. The continuation of the Bruachan road, in the vicinity of the loch, was the shore road leading to Donald MTvcr’s cottage. Unseen and unnoticed Hew traversed this indirect way, and presently knocked at Donald’s door. To be Continued.