The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

1 he HigJilaiid Monthly.
1 never saw Walsh again. It was, I believe, some weeks
ere he recovered his good looks, and then he departed by
the night coach for his native Ireland, leaving this interest-
ing document behind him as my legacy."
*' Quite a romantic scrape, father, though the wind up is
rather prosaic. If this Walsh would now turn up, and
insist upon his revenge, the story would be more complete,
and enhanced fifty per cent, in interest."
"That would, indeed, be a strange eventuality. But I
believe more in human nature, even should he be alive, than
that it should be capable of harbouring a youthful grudge
for 35 long years."
" It is possible—revenge is a feature in human character
more enduring than love, and less forgiving."
" Well, well, my boy, he is welcome to have his revenge
upon an old man, if he can take it. In the meantime we
will burn this unique document, as an emblem of the fate
its author deserves, should he again cross my path with
revengeful motives.
"Where is Richard this morning?" asked the laird,
sauntering to the window, which looked down upon a
beautifully gardenered lawn, " I see Flora pottering among
the flowers all alone."
"At the Hall, I doubt not ; he seems to have taken a
strong fancy to its new tenaiit—the Professor they call him,
though what he is Professor of beats me to find out."
" He is a strange creature, quite unlike his daughter.
She appears to be rather amiable, and besides, she has
good looks to recommend her."
" Both in appearance and manner the Professor is a
mystery. He is evidently determined to make friends with
no one of our family but Richard. I hear that he is wealthy,
even as Americans go. I cannot think what earthly object
he could have in view to take such a fine place as the Hall^
seeing he keeps no company and rarely handles a gun."
" An eccentricity of wealth, no doubt."
After a short pause, the laird wheeled suddenly round
and faced his son.