Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-07-03
& gelerteh gtury.
From The Aldine for July.
"A STAMPEDE IN 1921

The questioner was tall, hand
some man, though somewhat worn
looking, and decidedly shame-faced.-
The person he addressed was WIN
some lassie of some seventeen years,
who had come to the well-head, where
a small stream of pure water trickled
through a rude spout inserted in a
crevice of the rock. Elsie had put
down her pitcher and was waiting for
it to fill, leaning meanwhile with both
arms on the rude stone wall which
protected the spring from the en-
croachments of the cattle, and look
ing everywhere but at the speaker.
"You'll no even look at me- repeat
ed Duncan Scott, wistfully, ''and this
perhaps the last time we'll ever meet
by the well-side, where we have spent
so many hours. Won't you speak to
me, Elsie -
"That will | no." answered Elsie,
turning on him with womanly indig-
nation and more than womanly incon-
sistency. "That will l no, Duncan
Scott! 1 wonder you dare so much
as look at me after what you said, and
what you evened me to the last time
we met here. | think it shame that
ever | cared for the likes of YOU"
To Judge from his face, Duncan
seemed to find comfort even in these
sharp words: .'But, Elsie, woman-"
'I'll hear nothing, Duncan-not a
wordw interrupted Elsie, her blue
eyes flashing fire at the remembrance
of her wrongs. 'Ill never wed a
jealous-pated fool. And jealous Of
whom?" she asked in tone of the ut
most scorn: "Of my own foster-broth-
er that was nursed at the breast of my
mother! l wonder you did ma think
of Habbie, or poor witless Michael in
Hhe ingle-nook.
'But, Elsie, would you but listen"
"No, I'll no listen. For what suld
I listen?'
"But you might tell me how it was,
Elsie? You might say a word to ex
plain what you were doing with young
Ferniehurst so late at e'en:"
Again Elsie turned On him.
Explain ?-and what for suld | ex-
plain, or what right have You to think
any explanation needed: Is not Fer
niehurst my own foster brother, as |
told you, and as you knew well enough:
And is not that the same as mine own
brother, and more? But | will ex-
plain" said the poor girl, forcing back
the tears which were too ready to run
over: "Ferniehurst loves bonny Ma
ry, Harden's daughter, that's away in
Edinboro' with her aunt for safety:
and knowing me to be an old friend
and playmate of the young leddy's, he
gave me letter and token for her, a.
gainst her coming home, knowing that
no mans life is safe for day, with the
English camped here in our very midst.
So there ye have the tale, and much
good may it do you. No, no. You
needn't try to come round me that
gate, Duncan she added, in firm
but scornful tone, Withdrawing the
hand that Duncan would have taken.
Calls over between us. | have borne
much ere this from your jealous hui
NOR, but I'll bear no more. I'll have
naught to say to any man who can call
me what you called me that night
Go your ways-with whom you will.
| wish you no i'll, but all the good in
the world; but You are no more aught
to me nor I to you. Fare ye well..'
So saying, Elsie took up her pitch
er, which had been for some time
brimming over, and walked down
the path, without SO much as casting
a look behind. Duncan seemed to feel
that his cause was hopeless, for he fol-
lowed sorrowfully enough, and did
not even attempt to speak again.
Tweeddale, in Scotland, at no time
before the eighteenth century a very
safe or quiet place Of residence, was
peculiarly unhappy in the year 1924
The English army, under Surry, was
encamped near Jedburgh, which place
the Admiral so sorely burned and
wasted that no garrison nor none 9TH
er should be lodged there. From
their camps the English made forays
and incursions on all sides, burning,
wasting and plundering all that came
in their way. The Scots, seven their
enemies themselves being Judges .