like to hear the latest news.
I cut the enclosed from a sort of half-sporting, half-theatrical
paper our fellows get; no doubt the paragraph is true enough. And
I wish it was well over and done with, and she married out of
hand; for I know until that is so you will be torturing yourself
with all sorts of projects and fancies. Good-by old fellow. I
suppose when you offered me the gun, you thought your life had
collapsed altogether, and that you would have no further use for
anything. But no doubt, after the first shock, you have thought
better of that. How are the birds? I hear rather bad accounts
from Ross, but then he is always complaining about something.

"Yours sincerely, NORMAN OGILVIE."

And then he unfolded the newspaper cutting which Ogilvie had enclosed.
The paragraph of gossip announced that the Piccadilly Theatre would
shortly be closed for repairs; but that the projected provincial tour of
the company had been abandoned. On the re-opening of the theatre, a
play, which was now in preparation, written by Mr. Gregory Lemuel, would
be produced. "It is understood," continued the newsman, "that Miss
Gertrude White, the young and gifted actress who has been the chief
attraction at the Piccadilly Theatre for two years back, is shortly to
be married to Mr. L. Lemuel, the well-known artist; but the public have
no reason to fear the withdrawal from the stage of so popular a
favorite, for she has consented to take the chief role in the new play,
which is said to be of a tragic nature."

Macleod put the letter and its enclosure into his pocket, and rode on.
The hand that held the bridle shook somewhat; that was all.

He met Hamish.

"Oh, Hamish!" he cried, quite gayly. "Hamish, will you go to the
wedding?"

"What wedding, sir?" said the old man; but well he knew. If there was
any one blind to what had been going on, that was not Hamish; and again
and again he had in his heart cursed the English traitress who had
destroyed his master's peace.

"Why, do you not remember the English lady that was here not so long
ago? And she is going to be married. And would you like to go to the
wedding, Hamish!"

He scarcely seemed to know what he was saying in this wild way; there
was a strange look in his eyes, though apparently he was very merry. And
this was the first word he had uttered about Gertrude White to any
living being at Dare ever since his last retur