one who would love me sincerely, and-and-ever cherish a feeling of gratitude for giving her a home."

"And the priceless treasure of a manly heart,” added Graham with emphasis, the ring of his voice attesting his sincerity.

"I wish I were going with you, David; we'd have such fun together. Well, at anyrate, after you have spied out the beauties of the land, I shall be delighted to hear all about them. If the attractions prove anything worth, and if there be a nice, snug inn up at Rathie, why, you know, I could easily arrange, next time I am at Lochdale or Redmuir, to walk up to Rathie and spend from Saturday till Monday there. Ah, you can't tell how keenly I enjoy a quiet Sabbath in the country."

any event,

I have some idea. I shall write to you, of course, in and I do hope I shall have something pleasant to report."

On nearing Glasgow, our two friends were joined by a gentleman to whom they had both been introduced by Marchmont some time ago-a Mr. Wilkie, who hailed from Redmuir: the gentleman who had been at school with Jonathan Weathercock, and to whom our friends were chiefly indebted for what they knew of Jonathan's private history.

Mr. Wilkie this evening, on learning that Graham was shortly to start for the north, and was to pass through Redmuir on his way to Rathie, indicated where he would find the house of Weathercock's father; and that if he had any curiosity to see the old man, he might be seen any day promenading in front of his house, or along the central walk of his garden, which ran close to and parallel with the Rathie road. Graham was keen to behold the sire of so original a son, and took a careful note of the address.

Mr. Wilkie (singular how this name should also begin with W!) related a few more characteristic facts about Weathercock's father, which will be referred to when Graham arrives in Redmuir. But as to Jonathan, he could say nothing of him since his memorable flight to London.

Graham enquired if there was not a woman at the bottom of Jonathan's escapade, it being well known what an ardent admirer he was of the fair sex, although all his attachments were believed to be purely platonic.

Mr. Wilkie had heard Mrs. Smillie, his landlady, assigned as one reason for Jonathan's leaving Glasgow: the aim of the brisk widow's very kind, but obtrusive and gratuitous, attentions was

becoming too obvious, and as he did not care a straw for her he wished to get out of her clutches.

"Was there not a Miss Wilson-a teacher-a very handsome girl-for whom Jonathan had a passionate admiration?"

"Miss Wilson? Oh, very likely-very likely, Mr. Graham. I am not aware of the fact, but I know there is a Miss Wilson, or rather there was a Miss Wilson, from Redmuir, attending one of the Normal schools—a tall and strikingly handsome girl, they told me, for I did not know her personally. You see" (smiling), “unfortunately, I was born a generation before her."

This bit of news was sensational in a high degree to Graham. He suddenly concluded that this lady was the "My dear Miss W.," the queen of Weathercock's poetic affections; and, for aught he knew, she might turn out to be his own Miss W.

"And so Jonathan's dulcinea actually belongs to Redmuir?" said Graham, very anxious to know more about her.

"Oh, there is no doubt of it. I know her father very well by sight; he has a good business, as a provision merchant, in Redmuir, and supplies the most of the gentry. I remember his marriage; there was a lot of talk about it at the time, and two or three of the Redmuir damsels, whose parents were good customers of his, were bitterly disappointed at being overlooked by Mr. Wilson-he was such a frank, fine-looking man, as well as a prosperous. You see, he married an Englishwoman, who happened to be one of the upper servants at Rathie Castle."

Graham was getting very excited, but as they were walking in the lamp-light, Mr. Wilkie did not observe how intensely interesting was his information.

"Was she good-looking?" asked Graham quietly, as if quite unconcerned, though it took an effort to subdue his voice.

"She was a strapping woman, I can tell you; so it was only natural that their first-born child-a girl-should be very handsome." "So it was," assented Graham. "Have you any idea where she is?" "Where she is now? Well, the chances are, this being the school vacation, that she is at home with her parents in Redmuir. But I have heard she went to a situation in Montrose."

In Montrose! More sensation for Graham. No need to ask Mr. Wilkie anything further. He was now next to morally certain that the lady they were talking about could be none other than his own Miss W. All the facts pointed in that direction.

Graham expressed himself as having been exceedingly pleased at meeting Mr. Wilkie, and thanked him warmly, adding that the information he had kindly supplied would considerably heighten the interest of his journey to Rathie. And well it might!

Clearly our hero was in great glee about his forthcoming holidays. No wonder healthy, happy, fairly prosperous, and highly cultivated-with such rich well-springs of joy, who would not envy him? But was there no shadow in his bright prospect? no fly in his precious box of ointment? There was. The shadow in his bright prospect-the fly in his precious box of ointment-was the junior partner of Mercer & Co., Thomas Bringlow by name (a name of ill omen), a person to whom the honourable title of gentleman would be misapplied. Happily, however, for Graham, there was another partner-Mr. James Barnhill, to whom the grand old name of gentleman was instinctively given by everybody who knew him.

It was at Bringlow's special desire that Graham gave up his holidays last year, and yet when he reminded him the other day that he was promised three weeks this year, Bringlow looked at him with blank astonishment; and on putting the question whether he might take the double holidays, the unworthy junior, in a dry and surly manner, blurted out, "I suppose so," then turning on his heel walked away. Now, if he had given a gracious reply, as he ought to have done, it would have helped greatly to set the young man on his way rejoicing.

Graham was thankful he had Mr. Barnhill, whom he considered his friend, to fall back upon for comfort. This gentleman, like our hero, was a native of Lochdale, and through him Graham obtained the situation in Mercer & Co.'s. But Bringlow for some considerable time had been jealous of the good feeling that existed between Mr. Barnhill and Graham, and had tried in various ways to find fault with the latter: indeed, Graham shrewdly suspected afterwards that the request to forego the much-prized holidays last year was only an experiment to try his temper. Bringlow, however, made nothing by the subterfuge; for Graham acquiesced with the utmost good nature, having previously resolved to be always studiously civil towards his troublesome master, and thus avoid an open rupture.

(To be continued).

X

In Memoriam

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

BORN 13th NOVEMBER, 1850;

DIED 3rd DECEMBER, 1894.

Caledonia mourns her darling son!

What though "meet nurse for a poetic child," For him, alas! her clime too "stern and wild." From all true hearts, in every land, he won Deep love for all that he had wrote and done With manly courage-wondrous rare and high.

Far from his motherland, by fate exiled,

How sweetly he his banishment beguiled!

Far, far from home, thus would he gently sigh

66

My heart untravelled fondly turns to thee:"

Oft was this our loving patriot's cry—

"O Scotland's hills! and Scotland's dales for me!"

Brave soul! thy body sleeps in Pala's height,

But we shall aye enjoy thy genius bright.

JAMES STURROCK.