1868.]
DA LLA S GA LBRAITH.
a moment Dallas came down into the road, falling into his usual grave compo sure when he saw who had summoned him. “ You are late abroad, Doctor Pritch ard ?" resting his hand on the whip-rest of the buggy. “Yes; but the night is the same as the day to me. It will be to you when you are as old a campaigner. I—l’m afraid we will have rain to-morrow.” “ It is likely.” “ Yes; those woolly clouds are a bad sign.” Then the Doctor flicked his
589
it all on my judgment of your face, Gal braith. Convict or not, I’ll take you with me to-morrow, if you will go.” The respect which he felt for the young
man betrayed itself involuntarily in his tone more than his words.
I
“ Yes, I will go. I am glad you trusted me.” There was a heartiness and feeling in his voice which took the Doctor by assault. “Give me your hand, boy !” suddenly, stooping forward. “I believe your story,
every syllable.
Some men have damna
ble usage in this world.
I’ll do what I
whip, and finding a knot in the lash
can to set it right for you.”
picked it out, while Dallas watched him. He could not help it that his heart beat fast or his breath choked him. What if the road was going to open level before his feet? What if, after all the fierce temptation, he had done right and yet not lost his chance? “I drove over purposely to see you, Galbraith,” hesitated the Doctor. Dallas nodded in silence. “I was going to the Indian Queen,
The men shook hands, and then, as men do when a word of earnest feeling escapes them, began, in a hasty, ashamed
but I heard you up there.
You must
carry a light heart, lilting in that fashion in the middle of the night. Well, I've been thinking over that matter—the story you told me, eh?”
way, to talk of the horse and the chances of rain. “‘We’ll make an early start,” said Pritchard. “ I’ll take this road and call for you at the Queen by eight o’clock —sharp. Well, good-bye,” pulling his reins. “ Don't leave your voice behind you, either. It’s good company on a long day’s tramp—-a tenor voice like your’s. I know; I have heard good music in my time. Well, good-night!” looking back, after he had driven a little
way, with a nod and smile again to re assure the young fellow.
Dallas stroked the old horse softly. “ I’m glad to find you are in a better mood, Galbraith. You were angry and disrespectful this morning. A young man, first of all, should master his tem per. You prevented me from seeing the thing clearly. Now, when I came to think it over—” “ You determined to trust me,” quietly suggested Dallas when the pause grew
awkward.
“I do not think you will re
pent it.” “I have determined to trust myself,” hastily. “I never found my judgment mislead me yet. And Mr. Galbraith has formed the same opinion of you ; though that weighs but little with me. He’s a phrenologist. ‘There was Colonel Lad doun—as clever, gentlemanly a fellow as ever lived—yet the Galbraiths would have none of him. No: James Gal braith’s opinion does not count for much with me. But l’ve determined to risk
CHAPTER XXII
MR. DOUR, the next morning, rose as usual with the dawn, for the young man was in reality a hard-plodding student. Gerty, as fresh and sweet as a spice
pink, always was the first of the house hold to break in on him in the library; but to-day Miss Dundas came in for a book. Paul sprang to meet her, per
suading himself he was glad of the rare chance, for his suit was lagging in this quarter; but Miss Dundas was pre
occupied and grave, in haste to get a book from the top shelf, which proved to be I-Iumboldt’s “ Cosmos,” and two or three others which she thought she would need for reference. She was as worn and her eyes were as sunken as though she had spent all night over
