The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-18

the
where his meals were invariably taken; and in ad-
dition to the wonderful amount of polemical paa-
yer we have limited at, wonderful amount of
whisky ytoddy did the worthy minister and his
guest contrive to swallow in the heat of their argu
ments
Many time and oft did good, innocent Miss
Henny Comyn declare, that when the shake hands
hours arrived, Mr.. Bruce, "puir man, seemed to
toddle of to his coSle bedde at Dave Bans
yelOusy full of the spirit ~ True it was but the
ancient virgin guessed not in her guileessness
that the spirit evil one, and elected by man
and fire from the unsuspecting barley-corn.
At last, as we have said, Mr.. Comyn spoke out
his wish-nay, his commands-that Barbara should
prepare to receive Mr.. Bruce as a bridegroom in
six months thereafter. And now Mr. Bruce him
self, shy and dour at other times found
courage day, after dinner, to express his
love" he really called it, and so we suppose
must we, in our extreme ignorance Of the precise
category OF nomenclature to Which the feelings
that actuated him belonged Honest man bigoted
and selfish as he was, he was neither cruel by ma
ture nor cross-grained and he moved by
the pathetic and frank avowal which Barbara made
to him of the state of her heart.
But, though touched by her tears, he understood
them not, treating them but the natural nav
kishness OF grlish sentlmentallty had her as
surances, that she could never love any but her
cousin John, power to dissuade him from the pros
sscution Of his suit He was void of all decacy of
confessed Partially for another, but satisfied himself
by quoting, and utterly pervertng Scripture and
concluded by assuring her that it her bouuden
duty to obey her father before marriage-her hus-
band after. He had doubt she would be very
happy as his wife for d" he was rich and steady
Presbyterian And with this declaratIon threat
enlug return in six months to claim her hand
which he had the audaCity to kiss-he left her for
his Glasgow warehouses.
In this dire dilemma, the poor Iassie knew not
what course to pursue Her aunt, although kind,
nduIgent and plying her, (for in youth she had
experience of a blghted affection, and no woman
heart, that is not naturally sour, passes through
such trial without becoming sweeter) was bound in
complete seridom to her brother, and was quite un-
able to suggest any means or likelihood of release
so Barbara wrote full account OF her predicament
to her lover. Not long atterward, Ceverly dis
gused by dress to deceive even herself Perci-
val was again at Aberdeen-determine should all
other methods tall, TO carry oil his kInswOman on
the very Of the bridal aud many a twilight
evening, when the minister sat his books or
took his atter-dinner nap, did these two young
creatures meet, unnOtCed and unsuspected, on the
banks of the Dee But these meetings must soon
end, for SIX months have passed, and Mr.. Bruce
more lodged in the house of Davy Bain-is
come to wed and take home his reluctant bride.
One eveniug-lt was cloudy and threatened foul
weather, though the summer air was warm and
surcharged with Hover sCeuts-John Percival be-
took himself usual to the customary trysting
ol,ca It ,,,as g. tbicL cors. Of I,,aI y, y,L;ES
besd b,, tt - P"a. " MN I
shrubbery ended, formed dark, deep pool, so gar
1,iraJ tLa ran,o 81 t6a Nrt'boI pI - ~;
IooI Law the road IN tho r,ansa. k,,t ' ',La ,
here ceasej to oTsr aoanooI,,ort q, ,r 'n' NJ.
tree hole became the limits to Percival's at
tendance on his cousin in her way homeward.
was still unoccpnied and he beG,n ~ fssl tb,t
something had transnired to nreyent ber fra,,,
coming 1t was no use 10 listen for the sounds of
of her LIGHT advancing footstens for the Dec 1sI
so loud and lncessant sough as it tumbled from
the steep bank that helped to form the Nut-boIe.
that it drowned all lesser sounds,
He was however som made conscio,s that
there were sounds which no sough of fumbjing
waters could drown: for, on a sudden, neither
remote nor suppressed, fierce, pitiful cry, like
that OF one in some dread Hfe.periI, struck upon
his ears succeeded by the breaking asunJer of the
boughs of trees, and then plunge in the water
a heavy plunge. that made itself heard above the
monotonous murrnur OF the falling flood. Aston
ished almost alarmed, he rose and was Aastenipg
through the thicket towards the Nut-hoe, whence
the noise had proceeded when, as he was about
to Cross the track that led from the manse to the
main road to Aberdeen he beheld Aying towards
him, dark mantled figure he knew it at once.
Her hands stretched towards him, her face ghastly
with the death-whiteness Of intense horror Barbara
staggered toward him, and with sharp, short gasp,
II she dreaded to give utteranCe to deep fear by
a louder sound she tainted at his feet
He thought no more of the Nu-thole or what
might have happened there, absorbed in his solci-
tude for his beloved cousin, but his endeavors to
restore her to animation were fruitIess. The manse
lay not two hundred yards distant; so, at such
iuncture, regardless OF what might be the conse-
quences to himself, he bore her in his arms, and
not without some difficulty for the track was mar
row and broken up, and the night had darkened
with falling rain. He reached the house. Fortu-
nately, there was no one in the pa,lor but Miss
Henny and the startled maiden. seeinp a STRANGER
bearing the body of her niece. would have scream
ed, had he not at once whispered his own name,
briefly explained what had happened and entreated
her to befrend them,
" Cae ava, gae ava addie" said she as she
quickly brought some vinegar from the sideboard,
and bathed her neces brow with the refreshing
liquid.
My brither maunna see you nor, if we can
help It, sail he know acht O. this. Cae ava ,
Johnny dear. he II he hack haIiava Sbo's L,,,;r
IT. =; ro,.;n, IN ~, 1 -"
W T'i'o' get llc' 10 Deui ana tel MN
she's too i'll to attend prayers. God bless you, INV
ain dawtie what's n, This 2n che ,JJsd isyir, II a
brow of the Girl, whose ewes onened to perceive
the retiring form of her cousin
If Barbara Comyn revealed to her good aunt the
cause of her fright and consequent illness il is verv
certain that Miss Hennv kept the secret Next
morning, indeed though with a wan face. Barbara
appeared at PRAYERS and Mr., Comvn had concluded
reading portion of the Gospel when a paper fall
ing out of the Bible arrested his attant;on for =,
moment. Only for a nomeut bo,yever for mon
tally suppcating forgiveness for that involnntaT,
wandering of his thoughts from the act Of ,yorsbin
in which he was enga9ed the GOOD ma, tr.It ,5
prayed with fervor. This sacred duty terminated,