Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
ONLY A LOUT.
A True Tale op Sutiierlandsuire Life.
By ROBINA FlNDLATEK.
ip^jUE Reay couuiry iu ibe beginuing of this
V^ centurj' had an atmosphere of life from
'^)^ without that mingled well with the
primitive habits of the natives, many of the
men having jbeen soldiers, and the gentlemen
retired ^officers, while^the poetic influence of
their bard, Rob Donn, was still felt among
them. But over and above all a cultivated anti
godly ministry drew out the inner and higlier
life of this mixed population. For they were
not all pure Celts, some being descended from
Norsemen who many generations bef(jre had
come on plundering expeditions. They settled
and married among the people, some of whom
still inherit the daring and impetuous instincts
of their progenitors. Though shut out friini
the world there was to be met with in all a
depth of nature, as well as vivacity, that
amounted to educated feeling.
Stuart Mill say.s that only among the most
educated English can be found that education of
the intellect through the emotions which we find
even among the poor iu continental nations.
Especially does this applj^ t(j the northern High-
lander. The mixing also of all classes in a
friendly way, especially at weddings and feasts,
gave a tone of refinement to the community, as
well as the feeling that many of them had, of
being descended from past chiefs, the conscious-
ness of which they had not lost through many
generations, though in many cases they had
fallen out of their worldly means and seemed
little better than cotters to those who knew
theia not. But these people felt intensely that
"a man's life cousisteth not in the multitude of
his possessions," consequently their life was
vital and interesting.
It was in one of these northern parishes that
Major Forest, after his retirement from the
army, held a farm. " Who is that? " asked the
said Major of one of his servants, as he shaded
his eyes with his hands. " Who is she of the
silver feet? They actually gleam on the shining-
sands as she runs." The Major was an elderly
man and a little deaf, or one of his farm-servants
would not have murmured loud enough for
others to hear — "They would not be shining
feet in your eyes, my good sir, if you knew
where they were going — but black as night."
Major Forest thus looked across the ferry at
Tongue, not knowing that his own daughter had
taken a little boat as far as the sea would float
her, and leaving it at a certain point had put off
her shoes and stockings, and with shaw'
covering her head hurried along the sands, love
quickening her steps on the one side, and the
advancing tide on the other. Who her lover
was will be seen iu the following story.
" I never had such a good conscientious
servant as Harry M.acLay," said Mr. Mackay,
the parish clergyman, to his wife. " He's worth
his weight in gold, though he looks such a lout."
"And that he is," replied Mrs. Mackay. She
was a smart travelled woman, keen and worldly,
but with an appreciation of excellence that
ioduced her, a wealthy widow, to cast in her
lot with this large hearted and enlightened man,
once an army chaplain, now the settled clergy-
maa of this sequestered parish.
" Harry is also a handy man," Mrs. Mackay
went on to say. " I must send hiui up to the
shelling to repair the huts after these storms."
" Look out for squalls then, my dear," and
directing his gaze across the ferry, where they
so often occurred, a look came over the good
man's face that might have made Mrs. Mackay
question him if she had not been too intent on
the practical ordering of her affairs to notice it,
and with key-basket in hand she left her
husband to his own cogitations. These were to
this effect ; —
" Lena Forest is the prettiest and most
refined girl iu all the country side. There are
four men in her own sphere who would wed her
to-morrow, and she is going to throw herself
away on my ploughman. Such an idea never
first entered into that great unselfish head and
heart, so unassuming too as he is. I must not
talk it over with my wife till I am certain of the
truth of the report. This affair must have
begun with Miss Lena herself, one of those
unaccountable prepossessions that occur in life
from time to time. I remember the beautiful
daughter of our Colonel who elojied with a
private in her father's regiment, but then he
was of rare good looks. Now this Harry,
though good and true, is not even gooil looking,
and carries him.self most awkwardly. The girl
is daft, poor thing, and has lost her mother. I
must go at once to her father," and buttoning up
his coat the very Rev. gentleman was soon
sitting in the return ferry boat on his way to
Major Forest's house on this side of the Kyle.
Meanwhile Lena Forest, clearing the sands on
the other side, put on her shoes and stockings
and ascended a slope where, under the shade of a
great boulder, stood a very tall working man.
As she advanced liis honest blue eyes brightened,
though he made no movement to meet her.
When, however, she stood beside him he threw
his plaid over her. '-Lena," said he, ''I have
been thinking this over; I am no match for you.
You know nothing of poverty and hard work.
Often as I have looked in church on you and