The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1875-01-02
THE SERJEANT.

the women were not quite SO sure about
it; some Of them hintin, that ,he was
red haired, others saying plainly
enough that she was pale faced. up
setting thing, that didna ken hoo tn
come into the kirk for pride; AMI what
was she, after all, but just auld JOHN
Morrison the bcdrals daughter.
So Nlenie' acas a bonnie lassir, a,d she
had been singularly fortunate; she ha
been good aud faithful servant tot
some years to an old maiden lady; who
had lately died, at the time our story
opens; and she had lett Alenie most oi
her wardrobe, and 9l0 III money. which
was accounted quite fortune a, Durn
foot. Moreover she was gnu. t. b
married to Richard Thompson, ii.
young blacksmith in the village. Il
steady, well doing lad, with good bu,i-
ness and comfortable house If his own
His mother lived with hi.u; and Iii ch
had promised to his father on his death
bed that the old woman shoul always
find home with him. TO most youn.
women this would have been draw
back, but Nlenie liked Ritclie al the
better for his kindness to his mother,
keeping in mind the old provcrb that
good son aye makes Il good husoaud
Now Ritchie had one failing that had
already brought him Into some serious
sciapes-he was tremendously jealous;
.Hhc thought that every man that even
locked Mt Mcnc must be il love with
her; and as sho was by no means disin,
clined Tor little fun and Irritation in
a5quict way, poor Ritchie had his hands
full. lie suve Sandy hason, the yonn.
znillcr up the water, two black eve, Tor
lingering about her father's house one
evening, trying to get speech Of hsr;
and q smart young Irishman, who hal
iatciy cuuio 10 tho 1iiids;c, having Sid
in Ritchic's hearing that he hal gond
mind to try to put the fcomcther' on
Ecr (whatcver that might bc), Le there
and then gave him such II thrashiny a
quite satis6cd him, although he was
an Irishman.
at the time our story opens it is the
lnenth Of May, and Ritchie and NIenie
had agreed to be married about Mich
aclmas, when Mrs. Gordon, one of yood
DR.. Leslie, the minister's dau;ht tiers
arrived at the manse with three child
rcn aud nursenald. Her husband, =
captain in regiment Of foot, was quar-.
tered in the neishboring town Of ].
with a recruiting party. AS the co
tage in which Miss Graham, Menic
late mistress, had lived, was to let
furnished, Mrs. Gordon took it for
three months; and Menie, after some
persuasion, for she was busy with he.
providing, agreeing to serve her for that
time. Richie was greatly annoyed at
this, as the Captain had smart .ldrer
servant coming about tie place; and
that heshould ever speak to Menie was
more than could be borne.
The household at Rose Bank Cottage
consisted of Mrs. Gordon, her three
children, Katy the nursemaid, ana
Nlenie. There was also spleudid tel
low Of cat, which serjeant of the
regiment had given the eldest boy; i.
was named after the donor, SERGEANT
Macdonald, and was great fnvoritr
with everybody. However, since they
camo to Rose Bank he had got into
dissipated habits, insisting on going out
at night and staying till morning, and
then scratching at the window Of the
room where Menie slept to be turned
in.
"Menie, I Gamma stand this" sa id
Ritchie one evening as they were part.
ding at the little gate behind the cottage
'ye maun leave this and come hame.
What RIGHT has that fallow to speak to
you in that manner ?" alluding to the
soldier servant who had just gone iuto
the house, and had passed somo joke
with Menie
aAnd what for should gang hame2"
said Menic; "are ye losing your seuses
ant;ralu R;tob;o Q