Puck — May 21, 1879 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PUCK. 171 "ARCHIE GASCOYNE, A ROMANCE OF SKYE. WRITTEN EXFRESSLY FOR PUCK, BY JOHN FRASER, «Effie: a Tale of Two Worlds;” “Fair Fragoletta; AUTHOR oF Essays from the Westminster; “Duncan Fenwick’s Daughter; ” “Scottish Chapbooks;” ‘*A Dream of a Life; “ Legends of Lorne;" “ Lone Glengartney,” ete., etc., ete. (Continued.) N reaching the old building Gascoyne discharged the cab, and passing in with Bob, called at the janitor’s, whose quar- ters were on the left-hand side of the arched entrance, to inquire if there were any letters for him, and to bid that jolliest and acutest of stately Bedelli good-bye; a ceremony in which his companion heartily joined, confining his attentions, howevor, mainly to the janitor’s very pretty and very popular daughter, Jeannie, with whom Bob, of course, was on particularly good terms. These little matters attended to, and a not inconsiderable souvenir slipped into the janito- rial palm, the two young fellows passed into the first quadrangle, the noise of their feet on the stone flags startling the court into a thou- sand echoes, for, the session being over, the place was virtually abandoned. Even the few medicals who remained for the brief summer session had gone home for a few days preparatory to recommencing their ar- duous labors in beer-swilling, bone-sawing and billiard-playing, and the courts and halls that but a day or two before had swarmed with red gowns and rung with the lusty shout and ring- ing laughter of some two thousand lads, were now lone and deserted as the historically fa- mous halls of Tara, Our friends, however, hardly thought of these things, as they entered the Natural Phi- losophy rooms and passed into the laboratory, where, amid a wild confusion of chemicals, bottles, retorts, glass tubes of all sorts and sizes, &c., &c., they found the object of their search, “Hullo, Gascoyne, you here! and you, Doctor! a hearty welcome to both of you. I'm very glad you've turned up, as I was afraid I might not see you before I left town. But, be seated—if you can find such a thing as a va- cant chair.” “ Thank you,” said Gascoyne, as he shook his friend’s hand warmly, “ but we have little time to spare. The Doctor and myself have called on a small matter of business, and if you've half an hour at your disposal, we could “Half an hour! certainly—five halves, if you like, so long as the ‘halves’ are confined to hours. I have just finished putting things to rights against my going north "— “So you are going north, after all?” “Yes; as both of you know, I didn’t mean to go at first, but I think I see my way clearly now, and my father is anxious to see me. But we're wasting time. If you'll allow me just five minutes while I write out an advertise- ment and give it to MacPherson for the Herald and Scotsman, \'ll be completely at your dis- “An advertisement,” laughed Bob; ‘ you don’t mean to say you are going to turn Bene- dict! The Matrimonial best medium.” “No, Doctor, no. I have too much respect for women to wish to inflict my boorish pre- Jews would be your sence on them for a lifetime. I’m in search of something more prosaic—at least my father is—a tutor.” “A tutor!” “Yes, a tutor, most noble Sassenach; and wherefore not? ‘Thinkest thou that Misty Skye is so barbaric an island that it can afford no shelter for the Muses and Culture and class- ical philology ?” “Not for a moment, my dear Mac,” replied his friend, “ but it happens, curiously enough, that we—for Bob is in my confidence—have come to get your advice and help about this very thing—a tutor.” ‘Thereupon, as briefly as he could, Gascoyne told him the whole story. The Professor heard him through in silence, though not without a curious, half-amused smile on his face, and when he had finished said, after a brief pause: “Well, Archie, I hardly know what to ad- vise. Like the Doctor, I think you are quite right in refusing to alienate the farm, and like him, I also think you are quite wrong in refus- ing to go home for the summer. As to the money difficulty, that will come all right, and need not trouble you so mightily at present. Yes, I know what you are going to say, but permit me to finish. Knowing you as I do— your pride and obstinacy —don't be offended, you know what I mean—and certain high-flown notions you have inherited from who shall say how many generations—I think your proposal is not a bad one, At any rate, bad or good, there is no use opposing it, for you'll have your own way. Yes; I am nearly done—have pa- tience, Besides, a little hard, independent work, and the wholesome lessons of self-control and discipline you are likely to learn as tutor, will do you no harm—on the contrary, may beneficially tame and moderate and subdue that somewhat turbulent and self-willed spirit of yours. So, if you are really bent on making an ass of yourself—why, come to Skye, and try your hand as intellectual mentor and men- tal trainer of that untamed, uncurbed, fiery and ignorant younger brother of mine, who seems to have got into some trouble with the petticoats and needs a strong hand to break him in.” “A thousand thanks,” cried Gascoyne, as he seized his friend's hands, ‘I could wish no- thing better, though, as I hinted, for various reasons, I should prefer to drop the Gascoyne and assume my mother’s name, Campbell. I don’t wish to annoy Sir John, and if it did come to his ears that I was tutoring, 1 know he'd be savage. Besides 1 have an indistinct recollection that he and your father were old friends—college chums, or something of that sort, So, you see, my dear Mac, you must humor this little weakness of mine, and pro- mise not to divulge the secret to any one—even your father.” The Professor only half relished the idea, but it was in vain that he tried to argue Gas- coyne out of it, especialy as the latter. was backed up by the Doctor, and after a fruitless struggle he gave in. “Well, now that’s settled,” exclaimed the mercurial Bob, “what shall we do next? I suppose there is nothing left for me now but to wish you good-bye, and return to the maternal bosom in Ballinaslowboy?” e nae, Cone for that, Doctor,” cried the rofessor. ‘‘ Seeing Gascoyne—I beg his par- don, Mr. Campbell—and 1 are going north, why not accompany us? The way és Tong and the seas are rough—occasionally—and thou, friend Robertus, art somewhat spherical, not to say Falstaffian, in thy proportions, and’ lov- est dearly to have thine ease; but sturdy old Dr. Johnson, when over sixty years of age, and grievously wounded in mind and body, didst brave the dangers of the journey—worse then a hundred times than now. Say, Doctor, is it a bargain?” Bob's face literally glowed with delight; his eyes moistened; visions of beautiful bare- footed Highland maidens, gigantic deer, enor- mous salmon, grouse, whiskey, &c., &c., floated before his enraptured imagination. Without a moment's hesitation he seized his kindly friend’s hand, and cried: “A bargain! begorrah and that it is, and it’s meself that will drink long life and prosperity to the Macdonald's of Skye in the first stoup of poteen that comes in the way.” “Well, that being disposed of,” continued Macdonald, ‘we had better complete our ar- rangements, This is—let me see—Thursday. I can be ready to leave,say,on Monday. How would that suit you, gentlemen?” “ Suit me to a T,” replied Bob. “And me admirably,” said Gascoyne. “Well, then, gentlemen, in case anything should happen to prevent us meeting before Monday, let's agree to meet then, at 7 A.M., at the Broomielaw, where the Iona lies, and will take us to Ardrishaig. And, by the way, you had better provide yourselves with fishing- tackle, and if you have guns, take them. Also water-proof leggings; but we'll see each other before we leave and attend to all that.” “ Agreed,” cried the doctor. “And now I'll bid you an affectionate au revoir. You two have doubtless certain little details to arrange —(alluding to the terms of the tutorship, &c.) —and I have an appointment at two.” “All right,” replied Gascoyne, ‘I'll be at the Club at six, and, if you're passing that way, should like to see you. For the present, ta ta.” The two friends, being left together, lost no time in competing their negotiations, Gas- coyne was, of course, to live with the family, and receive £200 for his half year’s tutoring; while the Professor was to write his father by first post, and explain that he had engaged an intimate college friend as tutor, having pre- vailed upon him with great difficulty to accept the post. They—accompanied by a mutual friend —would leave Glasgow on Monday, and be at Portree, in all probability,on Wednesday. So everything was satisfactorily settled at last, and Gascoyne wrote home to the, baronet to say that he had arranged to spend a few weeks in the Highlands with a friend, and would not be home for an indefinite period. Meanwhile any letters for him could be sent to him at the college, care of Mr. McPherson, janitor. CHAPTER VI. It’s a far cry to Loch Awe.”” —Old Proverb. “I passed Loch Awe as tourists do, Catching Glimpses here and there Of the scenes we posted through ; With companions full of care About the comforts of the inns, And about to-morrows fare. ‘Thus the soul, to try it, wins Glimpses of its Paradise. ‘Twas a judgment for my sins.” —P. G. Hamerton, comicbooks.com