J. J. Bell

“ But—but, ye see, Jess, I hadna the hert to tell him. He's a dacent man, Donald Binnie, an' he's served me weel since he cam' to Kinlochan."
"I know that," she freely allowed. "But there's no work for him just now, is there?"
"Weel, there's no' muckle, to tell ye the truth, lass," he admitted, slowly, adding, more cheerfully: "But ye never can tell when the work 'll come again. An' Donald Binnie's a dacent man. ”

“ From the road she could see nothing, but when she reached the water's edge—how she passed over the rough beach, burdened and without stumbling, she could never afterwards tell—she perceived through the mist a dim, dark, monstrous shape like the back of a whale, and, her nerves giving way, she screamed loudly. ”

“ IX Figures, but Not All Dry IN the garden, David Houston, bending over a beautifully kept plot of choice pansies, whistled softly his intense satisfaction. "I've never done better," was his thought, by which he meant that he had never done so well.
In the parlor his wife, bending over the page of a neatly kept ledger, sighed and murmured, "If I could only tell him some things without telling him everything!"
In the cradle by her side her baby stirred slightly, but did not waken. Her face lightened as she stooped towards the child ”

“ But I've been having a look at the books, and I—I wanted to ask you about something."
"Jist that, lass," he returned, agreeably, trying not to look disappointed. "Weel, I'll shin be feenished ootbye, an' then we'll ha'e a crack aboot the books. Come awa' for a meenit an' see the pansies that 'll lift the first prize at the show on Setturday. Come awa', Jess—jist for a meenit. Ye're no' gaun ootbye enough the noo. Never heed the books. They'll keep."
"They won't keep themselves," she said, good-humoredly. ”

“ Whaur's the wee yin?"
"Aunt Wallace has got her in the parlor. I've put a fire on there, so go and get toasted."
"A fire this time o' the year?"
"Tits! Davie, don't ask questions and you'll be told no lies!" she cried, with affected impatience. "Away to the parlor till I get you some supper." ”

“ But I'll see aboot gi'ein' Donald notice. It's a peety, for he's a dacent man, an'—"
"You'll tell him to-morrow?"
"Ay; I'll likely see him the morn—if he doesna tak' anither day aff. I tell't him he didna need to come in the morn unless he had naethin' better to dae. He's got a lass at Fairport, ye ken. But it's like rain the nicht, an' I think he'll be back the morn's mornin'. Are ye no' pleased, Jess?"
Mrs. Houston hesitated, but was not lost. "Davie," she said, calmly, "sit down there." She indicated the chair she had vacated some little time ago.
David smiled inquiringly, but sat down. ”

“ Jess looked sympathetic. "No, it isn't, Davie. But what can we do? You're paying old Angus for doing nothing, and you can't afford to pay Donald, too. Besides, Donald's a clever lad, and he'll soon get another place. ”

“ The young man is being taken care of."
"But wull ye no' get him up to the hoose, Jess?"
"No, no, Davie. We'll luk efter him. Ye've plenty to dae lukin' efter yersel'," put in a couple of neighbors, eying him proudly.
"Come, Davie, come! You'll get cold, if you stand here," said his wife. "Thank you, kindly," she went on, taking her baby from the woman who had been holding her. "I don't know—I don't remember how you came to have Katie, but thank you.... Davie, run to the house and strip at once!"
David obeyed, and she followed him as swiftly as she could. Near the gate she encountered Mrs. ”