HIS FINIS. 389 



collection of past days — the Yule e'en not many years 

 ago when you were Breeta's wooer, and one she liked 

 well." 



"Stop!" Yaspard cried sternly, "remember you 

 speak of your sister, and that we are now searching 

 for her husband. Let the shadow of death, if nothing 

 else will, bridle your tongue, man. Such words are 

 not seemly." 



" It is a vain search we are upon," replied Breeta's 

 brother, " a hopeless search ! and we may as well go 

 on to Gertson's house now, since we are nigh it. In 

 the morning perhaps some clue to his whereabouts 

 may be found." Then the three young men turned 

 towards the lonely dwelling where Breeta sat waiting. 



Her feelings towards her hard, unloving husband, 

 had been considerably softened since fears for his 

 safety had arisen. Also, perhaps, Gertson's little 

 daughter, clinging fondly to Breeta's bosom, bespoke 

 the woman's forgiveness and love for its father, seeing 

 that in almost every case, 



" The child, too, clothes the father with a deamess not his due." 



And Breeta was not a girl of resentful cast of mind. 



When her brothers and Yaspard came in, their 

 grave looks said that her fears had been too well 

 grounded, and she could not ask a question. Yaspard 

 was the first to speak. He said, "James Gertson 

 should have been here long ere now. I fear he 

 has not come in our absence ? " Breeta shook her 

 head in answer. "We cannot think where he has 



