The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-30

fond of the cup which inebriates.
After rather lengthy conversation,
Marjory exultantly exclaimed, SI
ray, O. the Drums" Mr.. Thompson
Ipondered few minutes, aud then
expressed his approval. Being me-
thodically inclined both, it was re-
solved that tho business should be
completed at once; so the laird that
same afternoon, like another Cock
pen, ''took the gray mare, and rade
camille" towards the mansion of the
Murrays.
Fortune smiled upon him. When
the Drums was reached, he found
the family all out with the exception
of Miss Jessie, rosy-checked, bux-
ON damsel of six-and-twenty, who
received him very graciously.
II aD glad to see ye, laird. Como
in by; but faith my father and mither
are out" said she, giving him her
hand.
"Sae muc'lle the better" replied
the laird. "I hae come to see you
the day"
"To see me? Are ye come as a
laa?" langhingly returned his hostess.
"Weel, what if [ were?"
only that L would hae sensible,
guide heartit lad"
AN if were to ask yo to be my
wife?"
"Wcel, laird, may safely say I'd
marry ye, mich mt -" and the
fair speaker laughed mcrrily.
"Weel, Jessie, yc needua lauch !;
for I'm i'll earnest wlan I ask ye."
"Ic what? Hae yc been castin'
out wi Mallory"
"Na, hinnn," stoutiy returned
the worthy suitor, "and 1 am in car
nest. l hae resolved to marry, an
wnd like yc to be my wife"
There was little romance in this
counting, and less sentiment. IL was
conducted on strictly commercial
principles. BY rule Of poetry and
sentiment, Miss Murray should have
drawn herself to her full height, and
said, "Sir, you insult me. I loe
Jamie, your shepherd, and I wad
rather hae him, wi his staff in his
hand, than you with all your land
and treasure. She ought to have
bowed the laird to the door, then
rushed to her Jamie's arms and shell
tered herself on his manly breast
But Jessie was not sentimental, only
highly practical. She had given her
heart to no Jamie, and SO no one
could be grieved by her giving her
hand to this Robin Gray, and be-
coming queen of his mansion. So
she thought, and then said quite dis
passionately, "Verra weel, laird, yo
may hac me-"
Who shall say how much precious
true feeling lies hid in the most lone
ly of natures. The laird crossed the
room, sat himself down on the sofa
beside Jessie, and put his arms
around her very affectionately.
Jessie" he whispered in her ear,
'Tm an auld man; We MIGHT ersily
hne gotten younger anc; but yc
cndna hae gotten ane that wad hae
daen mair to max yc happy than l
will"
"Ge're no an auld man, Davie, "
she looked up in his face and bravcly
said, "an I'm sure Use be happy"
Then, l think, they kissed, and the
laird went away home in the gloam-
ing with a very light footstep and
hopeful heart. When he had gone,
his lady-love set her down, and wept
few tears at the thought she was to
have an elderly husband. Only a
few, and she recommended her work
and wien her parents returned she
told them very checrily what she had
done. In month Laird Thomson
and Jessie Murray were one flesh,
much to the delight of the laird's
sister and the brides relations.
But the Beatsons! How shall ]
describe their rage and anguish
How the neighbors sympathized
with them, and sarcastically reviled
the unnatural uncle! And how often
the old man drank bad luck to the
marriage! Their condition was
twenty times worse when, twelve
month afterwards, Mrs. Thomson
presented her lord and master with q
son. Then the last hope of the
Beatsons' family died. When these
tidings arrived, the father went direct
to the public" aud got drunk,
while his children fell to abusing