SCOTTY'S FIRST ROMANCE 6i
Annie/' said the Captain to his wife after the family had retired for the night. "I want to look out a little for our Scotty. He seems to need a guardian."
Scotty, though a characteristic specimen of the educated Scotchman, was a loyal adherent of the institutions of his adopted country. He had been a member of the constitutional conventions of two border States, and was known as a writer and orator of no mean ability. But, like many another brilliant man, he had passed his fortieth year without acquiring a home, a family, or a competence. He was well versed in the "Rise and Fall of Republics," and had travelled much in foreign lands, — themes of which he never tired. But he could never reduce ox-driving to a science.
Captain Ranger rode to the top of the bluflfs, where he leisurely contemplated the scene. Lights reflected from town and river danced and gleamed, but barely made the darkness visible in the muddy streets. Church bells rang, steamers whistled, and longshoremen tugged at heavy loads. Powerful horses propelled great, clumsy freightwagons through the unpaved streets. Foot passengers picked their way through slop and mud.
"Railroads will come here some day," said the Captain to himself. "They will compete with the river traffic and cripple it. Other towns, like Chicago, will divert the trade, and there is no telling what the end will be. What a busy, bustling world it is, anyhow!" Halloa, Captain!" Well, Tm blanked if it isn't Scotty!"
"I Ve been to call upon the widows we met in the beginning of our journey, sir, and I Ve been thinking it would be a handsome thing for you to do if you'd take them into our company. Captain Ranger."
"We'll see about it, Scotty; but I 'm afraid you won't earn your salt if I let them join us. I s'pose I'll have to risk it, though."
