The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-08-15

. | iLS anu spar D6lllu Il6E uCdu, BIC wal
conspicuous object and striking array
the studied neglect and squalor. No
that it was a proptious face, for not face
there gIoomed more determinedly but il
was the gloom of summer shower shrined
in rainbow; the pout of girl and a love
ly GIRL rustic beauty growing up spon-
taneously like the convolvulus on the sea
braes, with the same wonderful combination
of delicacy and wildness. A throat like a
swans, head like fawn's eyes like the
shy beautiful eyes of a game bird, and a
J mouth that spoke frank, rash, froward wor Is
of love and hate; delightful, bold, fear
less, trusting, tempting child's mouth, which
even as she br1dled aud frowned, burst apart,
and showed the glistening teeth in their
half appreciation and whole marvel at
grand spectacle, rare show in the town.
The entire figure was in holiday array, as
Montrose dressed for his execution, in silk
gown, worked apron, and gold chain with
keys dangling at the side lace stomacher,
and little lace cap laid flat, like the cap Of
Christ church boy, on the top of the over
flowing, crisp, girlish, dark hair.
A young officer with light step ro-
wing glance, and gay, thoughtless heart,
looked up and caught sight of the peerless
picture the one pleasant picture which the
town presented. "Good Morrow, my pretty
maid will you go with me?" he called out
of the undisciplined ranks, giving scrape
and swagger.
The blood rushed like fire over the beau
tiful young face; but as the other woman
screamed and fell back, she stretched further
forward, aad facing the bold man, she
drew ner two arched brows into one straight
black line, pressed her red lips together, and
uttered the bare monosy liable "No," with
an energetic rudeness that caused hoarse
laugh to rise and ring among the old rough
John Bull soldiers.
The young officer was man of rank Gas
they say, and would linger and parley at
will, though he kept his comrades waiting
"And why not, "he demanded in explanation
'Because you are no honest man." asserted
the daring, confding red lips, the wild eyes
looking without winking at his dangling
sword and silver mounted pistols, the white
throat swelling with fondness and fidelity
to his foe; while murmur and rustic of
fear, an 20, Mause, taxi tent and dinna
brag the sodger," shook like the wind
among the slim willows and the birches, the
group at her side.
The officer Redeemed a shade in
approach to the hue ''angry and brave of
his coat, but he put the best face he could
on the sharp retort, Chow do you know that,
my pretty maid?" he went on in mock de-
fiance.
'By the color of your coat" she answer
ed shortly, ''no honest man wears siccan
coat on his back, and she shut the win
dow with bang and ran from it in sudden
panic, as the commanding officer behind
cried 'Forwardl" and the loiterers advanced
in double-quick time. Not before Captain
Bernard, of Demands Court, i'll the wolds
of Yorkshire hailed passer-by: "who was
that lass that answered from the Window"
(He had learnt the term like the poor gal
liant Frenchifed lad who, with the two
words "bonnie lass" won the women's heart
of Scotland)
class !" grumbled the pawky gangrel,
''she's name of lass; she's the young Teddy
of Legs-my-lea, (ScottGce for Ecclesia Maria,
Church lands rechristened at the Reforma-
tion.) Mistress Mause MaiIin of Watergate
that was; the Laird of Legs-my-lea welded
and brought her home month syne for
him, you can speer word at her if we want
him, for he's game like the lave of
the men to the Goals, or the peats, or the
hay, or-aweel, the dell and their wives ken
whar."
| 1t happened that Captain Bernard was
left, much against his WILL to hold the town
with two scores of his men; and before
night the news was brought him that the
Laird of Legs.my-lea had been in tussIe
| Nth fha Ioxya1 1lifSo 81
at some miles distance, had been wounded
in the shoulder had trailed himself home
like wounded dog, md was lying hid in
his house in the town at that very moment.
'Legs-my-lea!" cried the Captain" by
George, that's the husband of that saucy lit
tie jade who spurned me.
The Laird of Legs-my- leas house in the
town was scant of room. People did not
want either space or privacy in those days,
but did the most exciting deeds, elbowing
each other in the centre of we'll informed
interested spectators, Then there was
trouble in the house, which makes a house
smaller. Last month bride had been
brought home by wildfire of laird, who
did not think ''going out and risking his
head" was sufficient business on his hands,
but must marry wife, and risk her tender
heart into the bargain. Now, a wounded
man lay, boots and all, on the top of the
quilt which Mause had patched, in the box
bed, that was not yet discarded from its po-
sition as a convenient article of furniture in
a private sitting room: 1t was highly con-
venient for Magnus the laird-the comey,
despotic, generous young giant, who was
not so much injured that he could not raise
| hfrocoIf he oIIo,, 60
on in domestic economy, and put in his
word when affairs went against his will, and
in the fever and irritation of his wound he
put In his word perpetually. 1t was horri-
bly, inconvenient for Mause-the lady, the
laird's mother and her sister, and the lady's
mother and her sster-alI of whom had ia
ken refuge in the one house of Legs-my- lea
for comfort and company to each other, de-
serted as they were by their natural rulers
and protectors.
{ The women had business Of their own to
which they did not want the man, over
ii whose unexpected return they had laughed
and cried three hours before, to be witness.
Mause was fretted in the nursing of her hus
{ band by the interference of SO many other
nurses rendering their advice unasked, as a
! right of kindred, though Magnus turned bis
back upon them and would allow no one to
put finger on him, not even his old mother,
none save his seventeen years old wife Of
six weeks.
In the meantime these good people took
their ease in the erroneous impression that
/ Cumbelland's soldiers had marched through
: the town, and over the hills and far away
} before Legs-my-lea's arrival. Engrossed
by their matter, they had not heard of Cap
, tain Bernard and his forty men coolly en-
sconced in the town house.
1t was low rooted, white panaied room
in which the family commotion prevailed
full Of the mingled simplicity and mystery
which our ancestors loved. Unsophisticatec
as the room looked, it was choke full Of SO
orets. The box bed opened like a cupboard
Il ho