Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-21
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/" MARY. my DEAR said Mrs. Blair. ap
approaching her daughters bedside
early one morning Git was the morning O
the fair of Bucklyviein Sterlingshire. for
merly a very important one. rye manr
get up, and gang wi yer brother to tbs
fair the day. He's to sell the brown DO
ny: and We maun bring hame the %siller, as
he's gaun to Stirling after the fair, and
Wilma be hame for a day Or two, and
there's a bill to pay the morn
Delighted with the mission, Mary in
s~tantly arose and dressed herself; and
when she had done so, broad Scotland
could not have produced a more lovely OF
more captivating face and figure. Mary
| Blair was about nineteen years of age.
and though not tall of stature, her form
was perfect in its symmetry, while hel
countenance beamed with gentleness and
love. Many were the suitors who sought
to win her heart; but " there was ane, a
secret ane." who stood between them and
her affections, and rendered all their eff
forts fruitiess. But none knew who this
one was; nor did any one know aver thai
her love was already disposed of. She
burst not avow it: for the favored lover
was of a race, with any Of the indiyidu
ais of which it would have been rcckoned
foul disgrace to have held communion oil
any kind. This was not her opinion; but
it was the opinion Of the world, and she
was so far compelled to bow to it, as to
keep close locked up in her heart the Sc
cret Of her love.
Mary's mother who was a widow. ren.
ted a small farm in S~tirlingshire, and was
in comparatively easy circumstances
She held the land OF reasonable terms;
and the j%udicious management Of her on
II son. a ine young man Of about five and
twenty, enabled her to make the most oil
it, and to live, if not in ~afluence, at least
in plenty.
On the occasion with which our story
opens, Mary was mounted on the pony
which it was intended should be sold; and
accompanied hy her brother. who walked
by her side, they set N for Bucklyvie al
a suitable hour in the morning. The
young maiden who had never been at a
fair before. was in high spirits at such a
scene; every now and then playfully urg
ing on her pony, in order to put her
brother to his speed, and to laugh at his
efforts to keep pace with her. This emu.
lation soon brought them to their place
OF destination. On arriving at the scene
of the fair, the unsophisticated girl was
delighted with the joyous hustle and con
fusion which it exhibited. The shows the
music, the tents-everything pleased her
because everything was new to her; but
above all she was pleased and hatterod
by the attention shown her by her hume.
rous acquaintances whom she met. These
she encountered at every turn; and. be
ing an universal favorite. every one insis
ted on presenting her with a fairing, un
til she was literally loaded with gifts oil
various kinds. Having remained in the
crowd all the forenoon, and having seer
all that was worth seeing, Mary was con
Quoted by her brother to the house of q
friend, where he left her until he should
dispose of the pony, and return with ...ug
proceeds.
1t was some time before he came back
and when he did, it was to say that he
had sold the animal, but wonld not re
celve the price till towards the afternoon
and tnat his sister must. of necessity, wal
ill then. Mary was alarmed by the de-
lay; for it would thus he dark before sht
could reach home, and her own fears, ane
her mothers last injnnctions. warned hei
to be home with daylight. She mention
ed her uneasiness on this subject to hel
brother.
But there's no help for it Mary" wa
his reply: and besides you have nothing
to fear. Duncan M'Donald will see yol
safely home"
On this proposal, Mary made no reply
To the escort of MDonald she made M
objection to her brother. whom she knew
to entertain a very different opinion o
him from what she did. He was one 0
her numerous lovers, and being in good
circumstances, his addresses were favnsse,
by her brother. But Marv lnerself-ovc.
and above the reason already assigned 70
her rejecting the suits of her numerou
wooers, and Of aMaDonald among the res
had an inyincible aversion to him, Oh
accent Of his coarse manners, and ferc
1irascible temper; but her gentleness rem
dering her unwilling to have any differ
ence with her brother on this subject, sh,
made no objection to his proposal of NJ
Denald accompanying her,
In the course Of the evening. Mary
brother again called, and handed over tt
her the price Of the pony, which he hat
receivedi telling her. at the same time
that MDonald would call for her at eigh
o'clock. 1t was now about seven.
The hour appointed came. but M'Don
aid came not with it. Another half hon