Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-19
Tales aud Sketehes.
A SAILORS YARN.

III
"My uncle lookit at me long and hard.
and grippit his hands tight.
II do" he said, at last.
A weight sprung off my heart.
'Uncle, did ever tell ye lee ?''
"Never, that KEN"
"Never-never kenned he wud come
back - said another voice.
1t was Aunt Tibbie, and she took me in
her arms. Il believed We to be innocent,
Sandy; and sac did Rab, and a many
more" she said, '.But where ha' ye
been ?''
Yen no believe me, GIN tell ye.
don't wonder at that. Ye can't believe it,
mebbe, but I'll tell ye."
''Its naething wrong, Sandy?' said
Aunt Tibbie.
Nae, naething but laziness, an l
couldna help that. I've been asleep, in a
trance-in a stupor-like a toad in stane,
for a these years, an have come to life
this vera day."
Then told them all about it; and sic
things as raunces-though not, maybe. to
last as lang as mine-had been heard O. be-
tore, and they could not but believe it ; but
they were AVA again to Rab's wedding,
frae which they'd come only to fetch sill
yer cup, that was to drink the healths o
the bride and bridegroom.
"Auntie. where's my silver mug, that
won at the games at the laird's hair'st? ?"
| asked.
Safe put away wi they clancy, lad,
an moo it's yours again
'Auntie. wad We tax it as my gift to
Maggie ? and, uncle, will We gle my mes
sage to Rab that I'll no. stay here to bring
an i'll name or suspicion on him or his;
but if he'd come an gle me his ham be-
fore I'm AVA? Twill be little to him and
much to me, though I've been true to him
for whole lifetime-what's game OF it, at
least"
So auntie took the silver mug. and they
both lett me, but not till had heard how,
two day after had game, David Preece
had been to Donald Miller's cottage. an
offered Maggie necklace O gaudy beads,
and how Maggie handed them back to
him, though he told her he was to leave
Slievochan next day. Aunt Tlbbie heard
O this. and when Maggie told what was
the like O the bauble there was a cry for
Preece till it was heard how Roy Smith
hadna' been seen for those three days,
aud that hadna' been found or heard O..
So. ye ken, it was which O us should
come back first wad be cad to find the
other twa.
sat brood-broodin'. waiting for aunt
and uncle to return. Eatin' and drinkin'
and smokin' (for there was beef an whis-
key and cold pie o auntie's making);
but | wadna' change my claes till they
should gaze wi me to the cliff face.
Before the sun was off the sea | heard
sound of voices outside, and in minute
had hand O. Rab and hand O Maggie
and her mither an half dozen O. our
fishers round us who'd known me from a
laddie, and then uncle said. "Now let us
AVA to the cliff path before any O. the
rest come back fra the wedding. While
they think Rab an Maggie haze gone off
on the sly, as indeed they haze, and are
ganging over to the island in the new
boat to Rab's cottie,"
Twas gran O ye, Rab, and O. ye too,
Maggie, to come to see me ON your
weddin' day." said. 'I'll no forget it
when I'm far AVA"
ut would ha' been no gran not to ha'
come said Rab, ''to tell our brither that
we stan against a that daur accuse him o.
wrang. Why need ye gae, SandyP Stay
aud tax the brunt O. it,
''An' for why, Rab? To bring trouble
an cold looks upo' them that Id as sune
die as cause grief to, an that when there's
no need O. me to work here. Nae, nae.
I'm AVA to sea. Rab an when come
hame only friends need know who 'tis,
except, indeed, suld find Roy Smith alive
in my travels; and who knows but what
| may find pur David Preece, and get my
necklace back"
"Dinna touch it l-dinna touch it !" said
Aunt Tibbie, shudderin.
So We a went to the cliff, and there,
standin' by the stane, in my withered claes
and puckered shoon, and wi my whitened
face an a, told them again; and we
men went down to the hole on the cliff
side, while the women sat on the stane
above, and we shook hands all round.
That same evening two boats shot out o
our little bay, the first one a new craft,
Rabs ain. vii gran flag flying. and
carrying him an his bonnie bride hame.
Auntie and Mistress Miller were with us
Uncle sitting by me while l stood at the
tiller and two men forward. Behind Il