The Shasta courier., 1867-06-01
SH HASTA COURIER.
JOHNNIE MUIR.

III all the realm of Scotland there was none
so ialr as Jean Hamilton. the daughter of the
Earl OF Haddington, and she was beloved by
the fairest and bravest knight that ever rode
at tilt or tourney. But how seldom .: does
the course of true love run smooth :" and how
many hearts bleed and break beneath the
torment Of outraged and wronged affections
And so it was with Jean and her lover: for
wrong came between them-wrong that led
to crime and DEATH
Now, my daughter-my daughter Jean -
said the stout Earl of Haddngton. "think
no more of this young knight, Sir John
Muir, of Dunbar, for have chosen for thee
filter mate-one meeter for an EarPs
daughter-so rich in gold and land as thou
art; thou must wed the Earl of Cassilis
and think no more of Johnnie Muir"
- But, oh, my father p said the Lady
Jean, '' cannot break my troth to Johnnie
| cannot forget my love-I cannot wed this
Earl of Cassilis. | will wed my own knight
-JOhnie Muir; and my gold and my lands
will be sufficient for both"
Sore was the contest between love and duty
in the heart of Jean Hamilton sad were her
words. and many were her prayers that she
might be spared this cruel fate hut in vain
The father and daughter parted in anger and
IN tears; but the tears were poured unheed-
ed. and her heart was robbed of its love.
There was never wedding so gay in APP
pearance as that Of Jean Hamilton and the
Earl of Cassilis. All that wealth could buy
was there-ah the beauty of Edinburg was
gathered to the marriage; but there was
none to equal that of Jean; though pale as
the white roses in her hair, she moved among
them all.
Tho Eorl Of ,,-o- ~, e l.
title, and came of good old stock. lie was
a stern eovenanter, severe in aspect, plain
and short in speech there was nought in
him to win a lady's love. But he had
broad lands as well as noble name, and
pure descent; and as such the Earl of
Haddington chose him as bis daughters
husband, for he was himself but new
made lord, and he thought to raise his
family by this great connection. Cassilis
bad lands, and name and pure descent. and
noble blood-but he wanted gold and Had
dington gave his daughter rich dover, so
that all parties were satisfed-save the poor,
weeping bride. and the gallant knight, Sir
John Muir, Of Dunbar, who, though desert
ed, forgot not his lady love, and thought but
how to regain her.
Poor Jean went to her husbands home,
where for three long years they lived in
peace and quietness; for, though there
could be no love on her side, yet she became,
in course of time. attached to him and his
good qualities, his honest heart, his strong
mind, his rectitude of principle, his love of
truth and right, his high honor, his unblem-
ished faith; such qualities excited her
admiration and commanded her esteem, but
they could not force warmer sentiment
and, though repressing her true feeling with
all her strength, yet they rose ever in her
heart. pleading, with ceaseless yearning, for
her first love. Three years passed, and three
fair children, during that period, bloomed
around the hearth of Lord and Lady Gas
sils-thrcc lovely daughters, like rosobuds
in their beauty and similarity of appearance
each the image of its lovely mother.
Jean Hamilton begun to feel what happi-
ness was her affection turned itself to these
fair creatures, and on these she placed hope
signing only sometimes as she gazed on their
young faces, and thought, while she twined
her fingers amid their golden tresses, and
looked into their blue eyes. of him. who, in
all her early dreams Of bliss, had been the
chosen husband of her heart-the sharer of
her future life and love
The Earl Of Cassilis went for a three
days hunt in tie forests Of Tqnrin CHAM,
and his lady remained at home to tend her
and to sing to her soft lutte those
strains which all loved to hear,
they were so wild, so sweet. SO sad. The
Earl was attended by a gallant train of
knights and squires, and grooms, and kinds,
and huntsmen.
The third day of the chase arose-the
third sun shone over that gay assemblage,
now loaded with sp0ils, their white plumes
draggled and defaced by their
chase through tangled copswood and be-
meath low bending trees. their vests of Ken
dali green all stained with the blood of the
quarry.
Lady Jean was alone within her bower
She dressed her children in snow white
robes, and bound her long and golden hair
with pearl. Her waist was clasped with
shining gold, and pearls were in the clasps:
and every finger. white and taper, was deck.
ed with golden rings. Her Youngest babe
lay sleeping In the cradle, she took the others
to her side, and told them merry tales, or
sang them mournful songs, to while awav
the time while waiting for their father.
a sound was heard approaching the
house-a sound of many voices, loud LAUGHS
and snatehes of song the trampling of feet
the clang of iron heels-the murmurs and
the mingled noises of crowd drawing near
to the tower of Cassilis.
The lady and her children went to the
window to see what company was approach
ing. Through the long avenue came a merry
troop OF gipsies, their brown faces glowing
in the sunlight.
Up the long avenue they came. and on to
the broad, green lawn, and beneath the HUGE
plane tree they gathered they were manv
IN number, men, and women, and children.
singing, and shouting, and dancing, with n
hundred uncouth pranks and gestures.
Bonnie maidens were among them. with
Jet black hair, white glancing teeth. and
wltching smiles the dark locks, braided
with gay kerchiefs, scarlet, blue and rold
the white teeth, showing, with double bril-
llancy, between lips rosy red-the smiles,
playing over cheeks whose soft deep brown
was sutfused with richest crimson. There
were also many fine young men, and aged
creatures, bending beneath years and hard.