Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-03-21

round again. But we never spoke
about it the whole day long, though
none of the three thought of ANYTHING
else. Ny father pretended to be busy
in the field, my mither span, never let.
ting the thread out o. her hand; and
as FOR me, l wandered about the hills
from early morning, and only came
back when the dark night began. All
throug the lengthening hours we sat
and never spoke but sometimes my
father put fresh supply of peats upon
rhe fire, and stirred it up into a blaze
as if it pleased him to see the great
sparkles flying up the chimney. At
last my mlther, all ola sudden, ceased
her spinning, and said, 'H.rk do you
no hear somebody outside p And we
listened without getting up from our
Seats We heard sound as if some
body was slipping by on tip.toe on the
way to the Byre, and then we heard a
low. wailing sound, as if the person
was trying to restrain some great sor-
row, and Immediately we heard the
same footsteps, as if it were lost IN
snow, coming up to the house. My
mther stood up WI her hands stretch
ed out, and looked at the window Out
side the pane, where the rose-tree has
grown sac thick it half hides the lower
half, we heard rustling, as if some
body was putting aside the leaves, and
then, wien a sudden flicker O. the
flame threw its light upon the ca-ment,
we saw the faint image o. bonie pale
face, very sad to look on, VII lang tres
ses o. yellow hair hanging straight
down the cheeks, as if it was dripping
wet, and heard low, plaintive sobs. bu,
nothing that we could understand. MY
mither ran forward, as if to embrace
the visitor, and cried, Jane ! Jane
o, let me speak to you, my bairn ,!
But the fame suddenly died away in
the CRATE, and we saw nothing mar.
But we all knew now that Jane had
been drowned in Loch Luart. and that
she minded the promise she had made
to come and see the auld house upon
her birthday
Here the hoy poised in his narrative
for moment, and I felt his breath
coming and going very quick, as if his
strength was getting rapidly exhausted
Rest while, Willy,' and try, If
you can, to Sleep
But nothing could restrain him from
finishing his tale.
Ma. ma Gamma rest upon your arm
sir. | haze wark to do, and t maun
be done this night-wae's me didna
think, last year at this time, that ever
| wad bo here Ho looked round with
shudder at the coiling waves that rose
high at the side of the boat, and shut
ont the faint glimmer that still linger-
ed on the horizon line so Jane was
drowned, ye see,' he continued, 'and
couldna put foot inside-for a. they
can do is to look in and see what's
doing at the auld fireside through the
window. But even this was comfort
to my mither and as | saw how glad
it nude her to have this assurance that
she wasna forgotten, l made her the
same promise that Jane had done on
her birthday-ill or weel, happy or
miserable, in the body or in the spirit,
l wad find my way to the iarm house,
and gle her some sign that loved her
as | had always done. And now |
ken what they're doing as if | was at
hame. Tey're sitting sad and lonely
in the silent kitchen. My father puts
fresh peats upon the CRATE, and watch
es their fame as it leaps and crackles
up the f eplace, and my mither--Ah,
here he stretched forward as If to see
some object before him more distinct
ly-'ah, she's spinning, spinning as if
to keep herselffrom thinking, and tears
are running down her face and l see
the CHEEKY fire, and the heather bed in
the corner, and the round table in the
middle, and the picture o Abrham and
Isaac on the wall. and my fishing rod
hung up aboon the mantlepiece, and
my herdinq staff, and my old blue bon
| net. But how cold it is, SIR he went
on, turning to me L felt touch on
my shoulder just now that made me
creep a if the hand were ice and |
looked up and saw the same face we
had noticed last year; and | feel the
elammy fingers yet, and they go down.
ward, dow inward, chilling me a. the
way till my blood seems frozen, and l
canua speak. 0, for anither look at
the fire and the warm cozy room, and
my fathers white head, and my puir
auld mither's een.'
So saying he tried to rise, and seem
ed to be busy putting aside something
that interfered with his view. The
rose-tree,' be S id, 'it's thicker than
ever. and Gamma see clear At last
he appeared to get near the object he
sought, and, after altering his position,
as if to gain perfect sight, he said
4 see them again. o, mither! turn
your face this way, for We see ] I've
kept my word and we're both here.
James beside me, and very cold, and
we darena come in.' He watched for
about minute, still gszing intently
and then with JOYOUS scream, be ex-
claimed; She sees me, she sees me
Did ma ye hear her cry' 0. mither,
mitherl taxi me to your arms, for I'm
chilled VII the salt water, and naething
will make me warm again