Whats Mines Mine, vol 3 | Page 6

he believed wrong. But why should you take it for
granted that Alister will think differently from you?"
"We don't always think alike."
"In matters of right and wrong, I never knew him or me think
differently from you, mother!"
"He is very fond of the girl!"
"And justly. I never saw one more in earnest, or more anxious to learn."
"She might well be teachable to such teachers!"
"I don't see that she has ever sought to commend herself to either of us,
mother. I believe her heart just opened to the realities she had never had
shown her before. Come what may, she will never forget the things we
have talked about."
"Nothing would make me trust her!"
"Why?"
"She comes of an' abominable breed."
"Is it your part, mother, to make her suffer for the sins of her fathers?"
"I make her suffer!"
"Certainly, mother--by changing your mind toward her, and suspecting
her, the moment you learn cause to condemn her father."
"The sins of the fathers are visited on the children!--You will not
dispute that?'
"I will grant more--that the sins of the fathers are often reproduced in
the children. But it is nowhere said, 'Thou shalt visit the sins of the
fathers on the children.' God puts no vengeance into our hands. I fear
you are in danger of being unjust to the girl, mother!--but then you do
not know her so well as we do!"
"Of course not! Every boy understands a woman better than his

mother!"
"The thing is exceedingly annoying, mother! Let us go and find Alister
at once!"
"He will take it like a man of sense, I trust!"
"He will. It will trouble him terribly, but he will do as he ought. Give
him time and I don't believe there is a man in the world to whom the
right comes out clearer than to Alister."
The mother answered only with a sigh.
"Many a man," remarked Ian, "has been saved through what men call
an unfortunate love affair!"
"Many a man has been lost by having his own way in one!" rejoined
the mother.
"As to LOST, I would not make up my mind about that for a few
centuries or so!" returned lan. ''A man may be allowed his own way for
the discipline to result from it."
"I trust, lan, you will not encourage him in any folly!"
"I shall have nothing to do but encourage him in his first resolve,
mother!"

CHAPTER III
HOW ALISTER TOOK IT.

They could not find Alister, who had gone to the smithy. It was
tea-time before he came home. As soon as he entered, his mother
handed him the letter.
He read it without a word, laid it on the table beside his plate, and
began to drink his tea, his eyes gleaming with a strange light, lan kept
silence also. Mrs. Macruadh cast a quick glance, now at the one, now at
the other. She was in great anxiety, and could scarce restrain herself.
She knew her boys full of inbred dignity and strong conscience, but
was nevertheless doubtful how they would act. They could not feel as
she felt, else would the hot blood of their race have at once boiled over!
Had she searched herself she might have discovered a latent dread that
they might be nearer the right than she. Painfully she watched them,

half conscious of a traitor in her bosom, judging the world's judgment
and not God's. Her sons seemed on the point of concluding as she
would not have them conclude: they would side with the young woman
against their mother!
The reward of parents who have tried to be good, may be to learn, with
a joyous humility from their children. Mrs. Macruadh was capable of
learning more, and was now going to have a lesson.
When Alister pushed back his chair and rose, she could refrain no
longer. She could not let him go in silence. She must understand
something of what was passing in his mind!
"What do you think of THAT, Alister?" she said.
He turned to her with a faint smile, and answered,
"I am glad to know it, mother."
"That is good. I was afraid it would hurt you!"
"Seeing the thing is so, I am glad to be made aware of it. The
information itself you cannot expect me to be pleased with!"
"No, indeed, my son! I am very sorry for you. After being so taken with
the young woman,--"
Alister looked straight in his mother's face.
"You do not imagine, mother," he said, "it will make any difference as
to Mercy?"
"Not make any difference!" echoed Mrs. Macruadh. "What is it
possible you can mean, Alister?"
The anger that glowed in her dark eyes