The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-01-25

clear complexion, and was always dress
"a a. for church whenever | had seen
her. Al least, in some dark stuff. which
seemed new, with sort u mob cap and
arrangement " muslin about her throat
and brows. snowy in hue and full 81
frilling and plaits. But this was merely
the framing for the lady herself. She
had such 4 bright eye and quick tongue.
was % decided in her opinions upon all
subjects and had so crisp = way
d stating them, that she made
the same lasting impression upon my
memory that new and sharply cut
die does when il j. stamped upon wax
And there was an energetic enforcement
Of herself upon you which You had no
wish 10 resist. Mrs. McGregor had
come from Scotland TO that frontier
country there was no telling how long
before: she had been married there was
no saving how often; she was possessed
Of nobody knew how much property,
besides the home she lived in BY herself.
Owing 10 long separation from the
church OF her childhood. she had, fear.
become somewhat negligent - 70 her
religious duties. A fact flashes upon me
this moment which had forgotten since
the day il occurred. Happening TO at
tend the funeral Of friend, she had
been so affected by the solemnities Of
the occasion that she had united herself
to my church, and the week after Ger
tain lady. also an old settler. had asked
me Did your voice tremble, sir, when
you read out her name from the pulpits
People say il did And then, with
mysterious meaning: II wouldn't
blame you,r
But this makes 1t necessary that
should make q word Of explanation be-
fore proceeding. A certain estimable
friend Of mine, General Murdoch, had
introduced me, on my first coming I'd
the place. 10 almost every inhabitant in
turn. After almost every such intro
duction he was sure 10 remark. a. soon
A. We were out OF hearing :" Now. TINT
j. = man who had history before com
inc here As his only explanation was
. A history, tell you. sirt'r was left
in the dark a. TO details He had GER
iainly had his history before coming, a.
| happened to know; but he was. ike
most Of the people there, that much the
better worth knowing. During years
III acquaintance L. At least, came 70 ike
them. too, the longer they were known
As = rule. the past was let alone there
True. when YOU were introduced 10 8
new conner. after asking = Where are
Won from, sir?' il was = standing joke
II add And what was il you did there.
sirs In the case. however Of Mrs. Me-
Gregor the reference was purely TO the
exercise Of 4 certain vigor on the good
lady's part in days past, for which she
Vas not more 10 be blamed than
are her countrymen for Ban
aockburn. II was impossible
not 10 become very much attached
70 Mrs McGregor Certainly a more
original person one does not often
mee.. She was 30 shrewdly sensible.
striking az the very heart IF matters in
All he said.
II was an event 10 dine with her. after
special invitation She lived in double
III cabin. il j. true: but il was white
washed until marble could not have been
whittier and the prim yard in front WAS
radiant with flowers. NO other house
keeper could make the oaken floors ~
clean the Redeemed fireplace 80 bright,
tiled A. il was in summer with ever
green's, the rag carpet and oval mats
woven Of nlanv-colored strips, 20
smooth. a. was the case in her house.
The door Of the corner cupboard In the
parlpr was ajar, 20 that you could see
now much silver there remained over
and above that used upon the table.
And what dinner i. was SO great
was the variety, every thing was cooked
- much better than anywhere else. She
Wa % impOrtunate in her hospitality
thar the choice was hard one To make
between Al illness from having already
INDUCED too freely and the risk 81 Of
Tending her by decling TO eat any more.
But the best IF the feast 70 me We're the
scotch words, which had never before
met with outside of Scott and Burns
words treasured BY her during all
these years, like old coins. more care
fully than were her teaspoons and the
fashions Of her caps and frills.
NJ pleasantest surprise was the night
VI her marriage. She was about the
same a. ever. for il was out Of the ques-
ton for her to be neater than she always
was but could hardly believe my ewes
when the old Squire stood up beside
her II was plain thar she had got him
ready for the ceremony herself You
could not have wished TO have seen q
more decent, even venerable man. HI
was cleanly shaven, for the first time il
~ years. and stood. with his flowing
white hair, erect, triumphant in his char
acter Of somewhat suddenly made
; John Anderson, my Joe, John"
Immediately after the marriage they
went on bridal tour to Scotland, tbs
! bride promising 70 bring back, II shs
Z ever came back, Highland plaid fol
~. lttsfa l..nr- Shn nrran zad h1sr.ltf -