The Turn of the Road Part 14

I had o' coorse a will drawn up and signed by 'torney McAllan and was for lavin' ye nice an' comfortable when I was to be takin' away.

[He breaks down.]

Robbie, Robbie, my son, sure its not my heart you're for breakin'.

SAMUEL JAMES.

Coorse I heerd from one o' the judges, Robbie, at the Feis that you had the touch o' a master, and all that sort o' thing; but I advise ye--

[Here the grandfather shakes his stick at him threateningly.]

I advise ye--of coorse its hard to know.

GRANDFATHER.

[Looking angrily at Samuel James.]

Don't think o' that Robbie. Sure every man that plays a fiddle, thinks he's a genius. Don't be led astray son.

WILLIAM JOHN GRANAHAN.

[Coaxingly.]

Aye. Your grand-da has sense wi' him Robbie. After all what about it.

Man there's that bonny wee la.s.s waitin' for you over at Graemes. To the fire wi' it.

[Robbie John hesitates. The grandfather pats him approvingly. With bowed head he goes forward to place it on the fire.]

CURTAIN.

SCENE II.

The same scene. Ellen and Mrs. Granahan seated near fire.

ELLEN.

So Mr. Graeme is comin' over here to settle matters with father to-day do you say?

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Yes child, he's comin' to-day.

ELLEN.

What is it all about?

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Well I suppose he's anxious to see what money is comin' to Robbie John. He doesn't want to throw his daughter away without askin'

questions. I expeck she's well enough to do to marry anyone she likes, but he's a canny man.

ELLEN.

Well I suppose he's right. He must be anxious to see her well married.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Oh now between the two of them, Robbie John will be a sight better off, nor your father and I, Ellen when we married.

ELLEN.

Robbie's a lucky man too. I never seen anyone as fond of him as she is. I wonner when father will be goin' to see anyone about me?

MRS. GRANAHAN.

Oh whist child, your time's comin'. Who was it left ye home from John Graeme's temperance lecture?

ELLEN.

[Slily.]

That's a secret.

MRS. GRANAHAN.

[Knowingly.]

Not till me. He's a brave body anyway.

ELLEN.