The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-01-02
@ COUNCIL BLUFFs SATURDAY JANUARY 2 1858:

her for sans momeats, seated herself at the
foot Of 4 solitary mountain ash, or as
she hersen would haye called it, rowan
tree. Here she did not Dit long alone, though
quite long enough for tho slightest pout inn
aginable TO gather On her pretty lip, before
she was joined by the person for whom she
waited. This was q slender but well knit
young man, dressed in the usual attire CT q
peasant, but seeming, from his fine, intellect
ual face, as if that were not his proper hab-
ting.
ssbo you keep - your sweethearts wait
ing for you this gait s'' said Mary. starting
to her feet when her lover came forward. -
:sThey would need to like you well, else they
wadna tryste to meet you second time"
"And SO you do like me well, Mary, . said
the youth, slipping, with very inefficient
repulse, his arm round the maiden,s waist
ssat least you should do it, Mary, for you
know how truly, how deeply love you."
ssIt does not seem soc, Edward, J" replied
the miller's daughter, not yet, altogether
pleased, orprobahly indulging little in that
strange peculiarly Of lovers which leads
them, m the absence Of any great cause Of
offence, to make the most of any little one
that occurs, for the mere plcasuDc Of asking
or being asked forgiveness. !. s''iisa'9.4 !
In the present instance, however, when
Mary's lover informed her that his delay
was caused principally by d slight illness Of
his mother, NIL the pouting disappeared at
once, and the pair, restored to the confding
tone which marked their feelings with re-
spect to each other, began to speak Of their
situation and prospects. In explanation Of
these, we may inform the render, that the
miller had set his heart on having for SON.
in-l law, person familiarly known as Win
Elliot, Of Castlehill, whose free manners and
show Of substance had taken Andrew Tod's
fancy. Castlchill was small but strong
tower or keep, with considerable piece Of
land attached to it, and situated at distance
of mile or little more from the mill Of
Kirkton. Elliot, who was tenant of this
place, was a man Of about thirty FIVE years
Of age, Of rowing, staggering manner, and
lavish, on all occasions, of his money. He
had not been many years a resident in the
Vale of Manor, and, it was supposed, had
brought great deal of wealth with him, as
it was plain that the small farm which he had
now occupied could not maintain his expen-
diture. He kept set Of fine horses, and
plenty of servants about him; and, by being
a good customer to the miller, and spending
whole days about the mill, lounging and
jesting with him, he had found the way, as
we said, to Andrews good graces; and when
he opened proposal for Il marriage, the
| miller was not ayerse to it. "He's rowing
kind o. chiId,'' thought Andrew Tod, "but
Mary wad max onybody into good hus-
band" @ #'z'* ''.4
The news Of Elliot having opened his ad-
dresses to her with her fathers cordial con-
sent, were told BY Mary to Edward Burnet
! at the trysting rowan-tree. go Mary" said
the lover, 81 aye thought something like this
wad happen. Your father is rich man,
and has little o. the pride that ever gangs
along wiz riches. But you must promise me- p
continued he, speaking with great earnest
| ncss-ssyou must promise me, Mary, what
ever becomes O. myself, that You never will
tax VIII Elliot as your husband. He is a
bad man, and wad soon break heart like
yours" Observing that the young maiden
only smiled at this, he repeated with great
earnestness: stDo not think that this is mere
| ly jealously on my part, Mary. Elliot is a
| bad man, and it will be seen and known, may
be, some day before his death yet. You must
promise me, Mary, not to think o. him." ~
Mary, notwithstanding his vehemcnce,
could not help smiling still, but she laid her
! hand on his arm at the same time, and snid
with seriousness: ssIIaye not gi'en my troth,
Edward, to you? Are you gaun to desert me,
that you tell me what am to do regarding
other men? THEY'LL be A. alike to me thcn,''
said she, with simple feeling.
Burnet's reply to this was such as might
be expected from lover so to be addressed.
But what more passed at this interview it
does not seem to us necessary to repeat /;
suffice it to SAY, that after short time they
separated, Mary having first assured her low
or of her confidence that her father would
not hurry her into match against her will.
Leaving Mary to wend her way to her
abode, let US beg the reader to accompany
US to Cast,ehill, the dwelling Of the husband
whom the miller had chosen for his daugh-
ter. The keep of Cnstlehill was situated on
an eminence, formed by the rounded angle
Of a hill, projecting into the Vale of Manor,
and the tower thus commanded view both
up and down the whole strath. The interior
Of the house had exceedingly little accom-
modasion; but in those days, the whole
household, master and servants, mingled so
freely together that less room was necessary.
This appeared to be particularly the case
large room, on the evening in question, the
master, VIII Elliot, not only sat at one board,
but appeared to be on terms, in every re-
spect, Of perfect equality with his depend
ents. Half dozen men, dressed as farm
servants, occupied places at the table and
were at this time plying Justify at some ale
which stood in Aagons before them. S'Ha,
my lads, said Elliot, "isitnot better rowing
by night here, where we are never suspect
ed, than risking our necks every night, rs
we did at Teviotdale ?'' ,ai& .FttE-77 a'ss3
81 ara no sac sure, Will Elliot, but some
of the neighbors will soon suspect US. The
last raik we took o'er the hill to Dawick was
by guide moonlight, and am muckle mis-
ta'en if wha. Tam took for ghost wasna
the livin' body o. Ned Burnet, coming up
frae seeing the miller's daughter"
"Curse the brat p' said Elliot, I'll spoil
his wooing for him. But, lads, dye think
j. was s.l light enough for him to ken u.s. if it
Some Of the men said no, others said yes,
SO that their master, or rather their leader,
could not come to any decision on the sub
iect. "Never mind,'' said he, at last; 81
can tell you of something new, something
better than lifting sheepor two; for there's
aye risk at the selling o. them, when ane
wants a mickle hard cash. Has any o. you
noticed the gentleman that hunts alone some.
times about the hills ?fy 81 ~ astl
81 sawa gentleman wiz a green hunting.
dress,o replied the man who spoke before,
shut there was servant wiz him.
''He is oftener alone, though, !" said Elliot,
"and that man, lads, is a prize. He must
bo one o. tho rich young mobiles that are
staying VIZ the young king at Smithfeld
Cnstle, for ! saw him pay q boy for pointing
out his road out o. a large purse filed wiz
the queens best coin. That purse must be
ours-ay, though we should gle his neck q
twist for it. Drink to our success, lads."
More conversation Of the same nature
passed between the outlaw-for such was
his true character-and his midnight follow
ers; but it is not essential to our purpose to
repeat all that took place. The result Of
the consultation was, that three of the men,
and the outlaw among them, should several-
ly post themselves, as much disguised as
possible, at those parts Of the hunting track
where they were likeliest to meet with the
object Of their cupidity.
"A few days after this, during which moth
ing Of interest occurred to Mary. her lover,