, 1864-02-27

Sloducu III spirit, ana was troubled. lie
raised his head in agony, and, with voice
almost inarticulate with grief, exclaimed,
inquiringly, "My mothor!'
The wondering peasants started to their
feet, and in silence pointed to a lowly bed
lIehastened forward-he fell upon his knees
by the bedside. ar
"My mother! Oh, my mother ~ he ex-
claimed, "do not you, too, leave me! Look
at me--speak to INC ! am your own SON
your own Willie; have you, too, forgot me,
mother? 80
She, too, lay upon her dcatli-bed, ard tho
tide of life was fast ebbing; but the remem-
bercd voice of her beloved son drove IL back
for moment. She opened her eyes--she
attempted to raise her feeble hand, and it
fell upon his head. She spoke, but he alone
knew the words that she uttered; they
seemed accents Of mingled anguish, of Joy,
and Of blessing. For several minutes he
bent over the bed, and wept bitterly. lie
held her withcrcd hand in his; he started /;
and, as We approached him, the hand he
held was stiff and lifelcss. He wcpt no
longer-he gazed from the dead body of his
father to that of his mother; his eyes wan
dered wildly from the one to the other; he
smote his hand upon his brow, and threw
himself upon a chair, while misery trans
fixed him, as if thunderbolt had entered
his soul.
viii not give description Of the mel
lncholy funerals, and the solitary mourner.
The fathers obscquies were delayed, and the
soA laid both his parents in the same grave.
Several months passed away before l
gained information respecting the sequel Of
my little story. After his parents were laid
in the dust, William Campbell, with sad
and anxious heart, made inquiries after Jea-
ME Leslie, the object Of his early affections,
TO whom We have already alluded. For
several weeks his search was fruitless; but,
at length, he learned that considerable pro-
perty had been left to her father by dis
tant relative, and that he now resided some
where in Dumfriosshire. r..
In the same garb which l have already
described, the soldier set out upon his jour
ncy. With little difficulty he discovered
the house. 1t resembled such as are occu-
pied by the higher class Of farmers. The
front door stood open. He knocked, but no
one answered. lie proceeded along the
passage-he heard Voices in an apartment
on the right--again he knocked, but was
unheedcd. lie entered uninyited. \ group
were standing in the middle Of the floor ;
and, amongst them, minister commencing
the marriage service Of the Church Of Scot
land. The bride hung her head sorrowfully,
and tears were stealing down her checks
she was his own Jeanie Leslie. The cler-
gyman paused. The brides father stepped
forward angrily, aud inquired, "Wbat do
yc want, sirg" but, instantly recognizing
his features, he seized him by the breast,
and, in voice half chokcd with passion,
continued: "Sorrow tax ye fora seoundrel !.
What's brought W here, and the miair cspe-
cially at time like this? Get DOT o my
house, sir say, Willie Campbell, get oot
o my house, and never darken my door
again wi yer ne'er-do-weel countenance."
A sudden Shrek followed the mention ol
his name, and Jcanic Leslie fell into the
arms of her bridesmaid. ..,....- ...gr
"Pcace, Mr.. Leslie." said tho soldier,
pushing the old man aside. "Since matters
are thus, will only stop to say farewell, for
auld lang syne; you cannot deny me that"
lie passed towards the object Of his young
love. She spoke not--she moved not-he
took her hand but she seemed unconscious
Of what he did. And, as he again gazed
upon her beautiful countenance, absence be-
came as u dream upon her face. The very
language he had acquired during their sep
aration was laid aside. Nature triumphcd
over art, and he addressed her in the accents
in which he had first brcathed love and won
her heart. 81. ..s.-ar .1e.- aie.. = !. ..f'
"Jeaniew said he, pressing her hand be-
tween his, " its sair thing to say farewell,
but at present maun say it. Thisisa scene
I never expected to sec; for, o Jeanie l
could have trusted to your truth and to your
love as the farmer trusts to seed-timc and
to harvest, and is not disappointed. OJea-
nie, woman this is like separating the flesh
from the bones, and burning the marrow.
But We niaum be anithers now; farewell |.
fareweel y H'i
"Nol no! my ain Willie" she exclaimed,
recovering from the state Of stupefaction; ;
"my hand is still free, and my heart has aye
been yours save me, Willie! save me I"
And she threw herself into his arms,
The bridegroom looked from one to anO-
ther, imploring them to commence an attack
upon the intruder; but he looked in vain.
The father again seized the old grey coat Of
the soldier, and, almost rcnding it in twain,
discovered underneath, to tho astonished