Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-10

II
piece, and, holding it up to the lad.
said:a III 70 G9E11A3IO&
This shall be yonrs If you'll tell what
you have to say to Bonnie Annie"
81 winnas haze your silier, an i Wilma
tell you?". said the brave boy, SIX
A sudden idea occurred to Odenel in
presence Of the obstinate visitor. 3 Z
'.Would you like to see Bonnie An
ME, then, if / can send her to you?"
Gay, would II" cried the boy, with
hope sparkling in his elfn eyes. -.
ssSit you down in this seat then, and
wait until she arrives. And here" he
continued, pluckiHg some applesfrom a
neighboring tree '.nere are some rosy
checked apples for You to MUNICH. You
know Bonnie Annie?" Ta. ts'~e
sNa, / danna ken her; but I ken she
is bonnie. / shall ken her by her cen
and hair"
''Rest there, then. and do not stir, in
case the great lady of the castle sees
you"
The boy promised obedience.
Odenel FASTENED to have a conference
with Meg Harraden, and certain plans
were quickly formed, Meg entering
heartily into the young mans scheme
the more when she saw and touched the
piece of gold which the red-haired lad
had refused.
The boy had waited over half an hour
when female entered the garden and
approached him. She was tall, gaunt,
coarse and forbidding, but dressed in
robes of the richest kind; with rings
about her dress. The boy was fright
ened rather, when asked in a husky
voice. in his own patOiS;
can sac, my wee Gallant, We want to
speak wi me?"
"Na, na," said the scared boy; 81
would see Bonnie anne"
Sam / ma bonnie, then?" inquired
the coarse kitchen wench. ''Look You
nv Draw claes."
''Braw claes," said the sharp boy,
''dinna gle air cen and bonnie looks;
but If We be indeed Bonnie Annie, you
should knaw the token bring for one
We sud well KEN"
Meg was at loss what to answer.
Pluck'ly recovering her self-possession.
however, she replied:
"There may be mair than ane token
atween us. May be its the locket wi
my hair in it;-maybe its the red stane
in IL. This time-maybe its the ring
this time"
This was an arrow shot at venture.
The boy was taken off his guard by
her assurance, and there was something
In his look at the mnment-a wavering
between doubt aud certainty-that
made Meg boldly add:
''This time its the goud ring"
as that it?" said the boy embassa-
dor bringing forth after much fumbling
about his dress, a small ring In which
was set a SAPPHIRE.
''Now tell me what was witt within?"
demanded the sharp boy.
But here his sharpness suddenly de-
serted him. He could not read and
had forgotten the love-mottO.
''Ye ken in yersel?" said Meg. fasten-
ing her cat-like eyes ON the ambassador
THAT do, answered the latter.
"Weel, then, Fast and True, said
Meg, with assurance. She had heard
of such posies, and spoke at random
TIE boy had been told to be fast on
his journey, and true to the one who
sent him. Coupling the two words,
snd confounding posie-words with
words of command, he yielded, though
not quite assured. He thought to him.
self, however:
eff thou be Bonnie Annie, I have
seen many a BONNER"
"And moo, what haze We to tell me?-
Be quick, my lady will be missingime,
and whites she is cankered when I'm
lang frae her side"
This was said imperatively.
81 must ma speak alood."
whisper it, then"
And Meg bowed down her ear, and
the message was delivered.
The boy rose to depart, when she
addressed him in terms of affability,
commenting his great fidelity, and
loading him with rosy checked apples,
seDt him on his way rejoicing in his
orchard treasure, but doubling rather
whether he had played well his part as
an ambassador.
"Ho, bo!" exclaimed Odenel, adding
to the exclamation a whistle, when Meg
had told him the message whispered
iuto her ear by the boy. "Whew-whew
and so our modest Bonnie Annie has her
leman and trysting treel In the Hazel
Glen, do you say?"
''Just sac, Master Odenel."
''And the houre"
"Fhe hour o cleaning"
''And who to meet?"
''That / did not speir; / forgat that. !"
"Stupid wench! but / shall discover
the wooer. Here Robin!' calling to a
huge groom, lettering in the court
yard.
Robin approached.
"Have three horses ready saddled to
depart at sunset"
1T shall be doom as We command,
Master Odenel; but please you, Meg
Harraden Wilma gle me anything to
eat?''
Meg's Indignation was fully reused,
and she felt as if she could speak with
freedom under the powerful protection
of the young master of Prudhoe.
"Qot, loon," said she-''oot, looni
You victual at sax in the morn, and at
nine in the morn, and at twal o. the
day, and at four hoors, and at each VIC
tual stoup o. the best the castle can
afford, besides whangs o. bread and
cheese between whites. Ye harry the
amry WI your greedy NAV. Got,
llonr'
Odenel went away laughing, allowing
Meg and Robin to settle their quarrel
as best they might.
In was in the afternoon of a fine day
in September that Bonnie Annie left
Prudhoe Castle TO visit her parents,