A middle-aged man, with a sober, honest Scotch face, in decent farmer dress, and carrying a satchel in his hand, was among the first to alight.
“You’re a gude leddy, as weel’s a bonny ane, Miss Miriam,” he said, hurrying toward her. “I’m no ill pleased to forego the pleasure o’ a tramp through the cauld and ower the frozen, rough roads.”
“I thought you would come back tired, Sandy,” she returned, resigning the reins to him as he took the seat by her side, having already bestowed his satchel in the bottom of the buggy. “Besides, it will be safer, in case—”
“Wait a wee, Miss Miriam,” he interrupted, in an undertone. “Along wi’ ye! lively now, Robin!” to the horse, who at once set off at a brisk trot in the direction of home.
O’Rourke had watched the little scene with a sort of covert eagerness, and as the buggy whirled away up the road his eyes followed it with a look of lurking triumph and greed.
Neither of its occupants spoke again till quite clear of the town. Then, having first sent a cautious glance from side to side, Sandy, again speaking in a low key, as if fearful of being overheard, said: “It’s gude news I bring ye, Miss Miriam; by the blessing o’ Providence the wheat sold uncommon weel, and they paid doon; so that I hae a matter o’ $1500 for ye—a trifle o’ odd dollars ower that.”
“Oh, Sandy, that is good!” she cried, joyously. “But I wish it were safe in the bank. If we could only have got it here in time!”
“Three hours sooner. I wish it could have been done, Miss Miriam. But we’ll try to tak’ care o’t the night, and deposit it betimes i’ the morn.”
“Oh, if we only can, Sandy! Just think; we shall be able at once to pay off the interest on the mortgage and half the principal; and another such year will give us the place entirely free from incumbrance,” she said, her eyes shining.
Sandy McAllister was her right-hand man on the farm, working with steady industry for day’s wages; her true and trusted friend as well, knowing her affairs almost as intimately as she did herself, and taking a fatherly interest in her success and the prosperity of the whole family.