The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-05-08
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
THE WIFE EOR THE MUDDY.
BT s0HN MAcgAx WILSON.


/ requested an Interview Win Der tatnef
which being granted, after respectful.
rendering obeisance before him, she said
$50, father, understand that i is you
pleasure that | shall this DAY become IN
Wit o young Scott o Harden. think, sir
that Il il due TO the daughter o. Murray D
Ehbank, that she should be eourted beior
she gies her hand. The your man hA
never seen me; he kens rsetbing concerninI
me; an never will ser dochter dIsgrace v
by gieing her hand to man who only Ao
cepted it to save ais neck from q hempeI
cord. Father, lf it be YOUR Command that
am to marry hlm, viii au' must marry him
but, before last m Ike a venture upon hiu
for better for worse, an for life, wad lik
to hAe some sma' acqualntanee WI him, u
see what sort o. a LAD he is. and what kin
o temper he has; and, therefore, father,
humbiy crave that Ye will pul of the dealt
or the marriage Tor week, al least, that
may hae an OPP 1rtunity O. Judging 70
myself how far II would be prude Il or fe
coming IN me to consent 10 be his " sfe. !"
"Gie me your hand, Meg" cried the oil
knight; II didus think ye had as muekl
spirit and gumptiOn in We as TO say wuat y
Lac said. But your request is useless; 70
ne tas already, P blank, refused 10 ha'
We; and there is naethIug left for him, bat
before sunset, to strike hts heels against tn
bark u the auld elm Tree"
"Say not hat, father said she-"let M
al least hae four days 70 become acqaalnt,
vi him, and II, IA that time, be doesna nal
a request TO you TO marry me without dow
ry, then will say that look even wau
than get the name o. DOING"
ale shall have four days, Meg" cried tn
old knight; ''for your sake he shall hsv
them. but If, at the end o. four days, h
shall refuse TO take We, he shall hang betor
this window. and bis poor, hsit-crazsd com
pa ion shall bear him Company
With this assurance, Agnes, a., as she va
called, Me-, left her father, aud betboush
her Of how she might save The prisoners an
secure a husbana.
The mother Of the laird sat 10 the mids
OF her daughters, mourning for him. AMI
look ng iron the window Of the tower, a
though, IN every form that appeared IN
distance, she expected TO see hun, or at leas
to gather tidlngs regarding him, when ia
formation was brought 90 her that he wa
the prisoner Of Murray Of Eiibauk.
"TheB," cried sne, and wept, "the DAYS 0
my wiDsOme Willie are numbered, aad hi
death il determined on; TOR often has 81
Gideon declared he would gle AL the land
o. Enbauk for his lead. Nv Willie j. M
only son, my frs. born, and ny hearts hop
and treasure; and, OF, if lose him now, j
sisll never bear his kindly voice say mo
Mer = nor stroke down bis yellow bam--AI
him that has made me sOniess ! shall hse
day y lang and feaTfu' reckoning-cau
shall be the hear .hstOne in the house o
many a.Murrsy, and loui their lamentaIloB.' :
Her daughters wept with her for thei
brothers fate; but they wIst not how t
comfort her; and waile they sat mIngIinl
their tears together, it was announced q
them that hunt +. maiden, bearing a mess
sge from the captive laird, desired TO spesI
with her.
"Snow her in take me to her I" erie,
the mother, imp .tIenhy. " Where is she
what does sue sa, !--or what does IA
Willie say Z" And the maiden wh
mas been mentioned as having visited tn
laird m his prison, IS usnered into he
presence.
"Come to me, lAssie-come and tell M
az cried the old LADY; what message doe
Willie Scott send 90 his heart-broken mO
ther p
"He has sent you this bat pscke', ma'am,
replied The bearer; "and l shall be right Els'
to take back TO him whatever answer We ma,
hae TO send.'
And wba are ye, young woman p in
quired the lady, ''that speaks sac kindly Il
mother, an takes sn interest in the iale 0
my Willie n
A despissd lassie," was the reply. bu
Ane that would risk her ain life 10 saV
ither yours or his"
'BIess you for the woTdsl" replied Lady
Scott, as she broke the seal Of her sons let
4 ter, and read -
"My mother my honoured mother,-Fa
has delivered me into the power Of MURRAY
Of Eubank, the enemy Of our house. lie Ia
doomed me to death, and die tomorrow
but SIT not down to mourn for me, aud use
lessly TO wiring the hands and tear the hair
but rouse every Scott upon the Berders b
nv ayeuser. Ifye bewail the loss o. sor
let them spare o. the Murrays neither son O
daughter. r use ye, and let q mother
vengeance nerve your arm Poor Simon 0
Yarrow-foot is to be my companion in death
and he whines 10 meet his tate with th,
weakness Of a womsa, and yearns perpei u
al earaing for his wife aud baIrns. "a thai
account torge him the want o. heart auC
determination which he manilests; bat So,
ye to them, and take care that they be pro
vided for. A for me, shall mee my uoon
VI disdain for my enemy in my eyes anC
on my tongue. Even in oeath, be shall fee
tnat desplse him; and proof y this hav,
given him already, tor he has offered 10 sav,
my life, providing would marry his daugh
ter, Meikle-mou bed Meg But have scorn
ed bis proposal -
"Ye were right, Willie ye were right
lad ~ exclaimed his mother, while the lette
shook 10 her hana; but, suddenly burstin,
Into tears, she continued-"No, no ml
bairn was wrong wrong. Lite il
precious, and at all times desirable
AID, for his poor, heart-broken mo
ther's sake. he ought to have married tn
lsssie, whate'er she RAY be like" And
turning to the bearer Of the letter, inqaHet
-"Aud what ike may the Teddy be, th
marrying O. whom would save my Willie
lies
aye have nae doubt heard, my Teddy,
replied the stranger, ''that she isns what tn
world considers 70 be likely lass-though
take her ~ she is, and ye might find han
tie worse wives than poor Meg would make
and, as 70 her features, may cay that 80
looks much the same 80 | do, am II she does
ma appear better, she at least doesna lool
ony Waur."
'Then, If she be as ye say and look as y
say" continued the lady, "my poor, seaa
strong Willie ought to marry her But, oh
" eel do ken that in everything be Is jos
bis father over again, anu ye might as wee
think o. moving the Eildon hills as force biz
Ito onything"
She perused tbe concluding part Of he
sons letter, in which be spoke enthusiast
eaEY of the kindness shown him by the 'fai
MESSENGER. Rrld Of the promise aha had ID. d