Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-29
her passage out, which he hoped she would

| her voyage mignl De uelayeu elllii tic IAN
The good woman, with whom she had lod-
ged since her parents died had just lost hel
husband, and was in bad state of health,
and she begged Jeanne to stay with her un-
I'll her daughter could leave her service in
Edinburg and come to take charge OF the
house. This person had been a kind and
steadfast friend to Jeanie in all her troubles,
and had helped her nurse the old man in
his dying illness. | am sure it was Just
like Jeanie to act as she did. She hadsall
her life looked more to the comforts of 9TH
ers than to her ain. But Robertson was an
angry man when he got that letter, and
said If that was a the lo'e that Jeanie
Burns had for him, to prefer an auld wo-
mans comfort, who was naething to her,to
her betrothed husband, she might bide ava
as lang as she pleased, he would never
trouble himself to write to her again.
II did ma think that the man was in
earnest, an | demonstrated with him on his
folly and injustice. This ended in sharp
quarrel atween Us, and left him to gang
his ain gate, an went to live with my un-
Gle, who kept backsmith's forge in the
village.
"After while, we heard that Willie
Robertson was married to Canadian wo-
man-neither young nor good looking, and
very much his inferior in every way, but
she had a good lot of land in the rear of his
farm. OF course thought that il was all
broken off with pur Jeanie, and wondered
what she would sper at the marriage.
"It was early in June, and our Canadian
woods were in their first fash o green-an'
how green an lightsome they be IN their
spring dress-when Jeanie Burns landed in
Canada. She travelled her lane up the
country, wondering why Willie was not at
Montreal to meet her as he had promised
in the last letter he sent her. 1t was late in
the afternoon when the steamboat brought
her to c., and, without waiting to
ask any questions respecting him, she hir-
ed man and cart to take her and her lug
gage to NJ. The road through the
bush was very heavy, and it was night be-
fore they reached Robertson's clearing, and
with some difficulty the driver found his
way among the logs to the cabin-door.
Hearing the sound of wheels, the wife,
coarse, addressed slattern, came out to
see what could bring strangers to such an out
o'-the- way place al that late hour. Puir Jen.
lie! | can weel imagine the huttering O her
heart when she spier'd Of the woman for ane
Willie Robertson, and asked if he was at
hame."
eyes answered the wife grufly. But
he is not in from the fallow yet-you may
see him up yonder tending the blazing
logs
awhile Jeanie was striving to look in
the direction which the woman pointed out
and could ma see through the tears that
blinded her e'e, the driver jumped down
from the cart and asked the puir girl where
he should leave her trunks, as it was get
ting late, and he must be off?
"'You need not bring these big chests
in here,' said Mrs. Robertson have no
room in my house for strangers and their
luggage
"'Your housep grasped Jeane, catching
her arm. Did We ma tell me that he lived
here? and wherever Willie Robertson bides
Jeanie Burns sud be welcome guest
Tell him. she continued, trembling all O.
wer, for she told me afterwards that there
was something in the woman's look and
tone that made the cold chills run to her
heart, that an auld friend from Scotland
has ist come off laug wearisome journey
to see him.
"'You may speak for yourself!' cried
the woman angrily,'for my husband is now
coming down the clearing
"The word husband was scarcely out o
her mouth than puir Jeanne fell as ane
dead across the doorstep.
"The driver lifted up the unfortunate girl,
carried her into the cabin, and placed her
in char, regardless of the opposition of
Mrs. Robertson, whose jealousy was now
fairly aroused, and wko declared that the
bold huzze should not enter her doors,
"It was long time before the driver
succeeded in bringing Jeanie to herself, and
she had only Just Enclosed her eyes when
Willie came in.
"'Wife, he said, whose cart is this stand
ing at the door, and what do these people
want here ?
"'You know best cried the angry wo-
man, bursting into tears that creature is
no acquaintance of mine, and ifshe is suf-
fered to remain here will leave the house,
"'Forgi'e me, good woman, for having
unwitting ely offended ye,' said Jeanie rising.
But merciful Father how sud / ken that
Willie Robertson, my ain Willie, had a
wife Oh, Willie ! she cried, covering her
face IN her hands to hide all the agony that
was in her heart. I ha' come lang way,
an weary to see ye, an ye might ha
spared me the grief-the burning shame O
this. Farewell, Willie Robertson, l will
never mair trouble ye nor her WI my pres
ence, but this cruel deed of yours has bro.
ken my heart
"She went away weeping, and he had not
the courage to detain her, or say one word
to comfort her. or account for this strange
conduct; yet if l know him right, that must
ha' been the most sortowfu' moment in his
life.
sJeane was distant connection of my
uncle's, and she found US out that night, on
her return to the village, and told us all her
grief. My aunt who was kind, good wo-
man, was indignant at the Treatment she
had received and loved and cherished her
as if she had been her own child.
For two whole weeks she kept her bed,
and was so i'll that the doctor despared of
her life, and when she did come again a.
mong us, the color had faded from her
cheeks, and the light from her sweet blue
eyes, and she spoke in low, subdued voice,
but she never spoke Of him as the cause of
her grief.
"One day she called me aside and said
jamie, you know how lo'd and trust
ed him, an obeyed his ain wishes in comm
out 10 this strange country to be his wife.