Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-09-19

y S"io VI iAho t1uSShoCi . maj
she was listening for the knock which
should tell of her lovers approach,
and of the coming interview which
must settle her life for veal or woe.
The knock came at last-a moment
| OF suspense, and John McNair stood
iu the doorway, wipipg from his
broad bonnet the flakes of snow which
clung TO it. Before old Hugh, dumb
with rage and surprise, could find
speech to warn off his unwelcome
visitor the intruder spoke slowly and
firmly, like man in desperation:
Hugh Paton," he said, sits lang
syne we bidme come nae mair to
Byrie, speering for your docther, bat
l. m sPeering the moo after my wife,"
and he reached out an open Bible to
the astonished eyes of the old man.
Coldly and silently Hugh took the
book. read the written lines that dash
ed his airy castle to the earth, then
as quickly giving it back to the mill
er, he turned to Etiie, where she
stock pale and trembling by the fire
side. "Ye'il be wanting hame, ma
dam" was all he said; ''syne your
mans come for we, I'll no twain man
and wife. Nae doot but ye bath
such NIGHT as ye deserve, aud ye
can be moving"
The lovers stared at the hard, white
face; then John broke silence. "Do
you tell me, Hugh Patton, that you
turn out your docther, and my wife,
on sich nieht, with the snaw COM
ing, and the wind fit to freeze a body's
very heart!"
But the rage in Hugh's heart leapt
suddenly to his eyes and his lips.
Take your mrdam where We will,
John McNair, take her lest l curse
her; we're decent folks here, there S
nae room in my house for your fisk
nahoy.''
Poor trembling Effic had found
shelter at her husbands side, before
that cruel speech raised her pale face
from MS broad breast, to stare wildly
at the speaker, but she hid her eyes
again from the infiexible gaze that
met her, and Johns strong arm drew
more closely round her as turning
from the farmer, he spoke the words
with which our tale commenced.
Then he took her PLAID from where it
hung, and wrapping her in it, he led
his young bride, with an air of great
authority, out into the night, and as
the desr latch clicked behind them,
Hugh Patton gaZed once more into
the fire, and not muscle stirred in
his set face as the white wares foot
steps told of their departure.
Oh, it was a bleak New Years
Eve! The snow that had held off all
day was beginning to coIe down
now, and the rising wind howled
cheerlessly as the old white mare set
out on her journey-Eilie, well wrap
ped in a plaid, on her back, and
John guiding her. So they paced
forth, and neither of them said much
TO the other, unless it was word of
greeting now and again, and the snow
came thicker and faster, until in the
middle of a waste, white space, they
came to stop.
Then, after a moments pause,
John turned and said, "Efiie, woman,
we've gotten the wrang road. Keep
up your heart, Effie, we'll win through
yeti"
Very quietly she said, ''Nae doot
but ye're richt, John, well win
through -
Then they both stared out through
the thick night that was SO much
blacker for the white sheet that was
covering all things, and John shouted
with might and main. But there
came no answer. How should there
come an answer out on that wild
bleak moor? The snow came thick
er and faster, the white mare shiver
ed as it rose around her feet, bat
Eftie never moaned or cried-only at
last she slid with sudden slide down
off the beasts back, and lay there
upon the cold earth, while her hus-
band knelt beside her, chatting the
cold hands, and praying her TO speak
to him for any sake! There was no
taEswer.
Z Then John threw him self across the
form that had been his living love,
and tried to wrap his plaid about her
and the white mare wandered off, mas
lterless, to freeze to death in that Bit
ter night, and the snow came down,
When two days were past the
neighbors came to- Hugh Patton
house with reyerent faces, and one OF
them, ssfouter of heart than the 9th.
ers, SAID, "Mr. Patton, ha' we heard
aucht O your dochtcr and John
Men air 2" h~
He started and stammered as he
answered, ''There is little to hear
I'm thinking
But they told him how the snow
had been Effie's bride bed, and how
her strong husband lay, shielding
her in death as in life; and the ole
man, stricken with sudden palsy, fel
beside the hearth, from which he ha6
driven his daughter forth to hel
death.