The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-05
it was my shroud they were working

- MY WIZ WI
at instead.
And one night the pain in nv heart
grew too great, and | went out among
the purple heather on the moor, and
there knelt down under the stars and
prayed to be taken away from this
world.
"For how can live without Evan?'
| said.
spoke the words aloud, and then
started up in alright, for there at my
side was an elfish little figure, and |
heard a cry that at first | scarcey
thought earthly. Yet it was but Scotch
Jennie who had followed me.
"Why do We call for your true love
nowP" she said. "Ye sent him fra We
for sake O. the young Squire"
Chow dare you follow and watch
me?''
But she caught my sleeve.
! "Dinna be vexed,' she said. ''Just
bide wee, an answer what | speer.
It's for love of you, for I've seen We
waste like the shaw wreath in the sun
sin the Squire wooed ye. Was it your
will the lad that loved the ground We
trod on should have his ring again?''
"What do you mean?" said 1.
"Tll speak gin l lose my place."
said Jennie. 81 rode with the mistress
to young DR.. Locke's place past the
moor, and there she lighted and gave
him ring, and what she said [ know
not, but it turned him the tint O. death,
and he said: "There's nea drop O.
true bluid in a woman gin shsis false
And he turned to the wall, ans covered
his eyes, an your grannie rode home.
There, It's all | ken. Wull it do?''
cay, Jennie" said l. Heaven
bless YOU
And had l the wings on my feet |
could not have come to the. cottage
door sooner.
Istood before my grandmother trem-
bling and white, and SAID: "Oh, don't
tell me, grannie, you have cheated me
and robbed me of my true love by a
lie. Did you steal the troth ring from
my neck and give it back to Evan as if
from me? You I've loved and honored
my life long-rd rather die than think
it,
She turned scarlet
True lover' said She you've
but one true love now-'Squire Tur-
ner.'
you've done it'' | cried. cts
written on your face"
And she looked down at that and fell
to weeping.
"My own true love was breaking his
heart" she said. my husband and |
had loved for fifty years. l did it to
save him. Could let girls fancy,
worth nothing, stand in my way, and
see him beggar in his old age? o,
girl, girlr'
And then | fell down at her feet like
a stone. | knew nothing for an hour
or more; but then, when [ was better,
and they left me with Jennie, l babe
her fetch my hood and cloak and her
own and come with me, and away l
went across the moor in the starlight,
to where the hall windows were ablaze
with light, and asked the housekeeper
to let me see the Squire.
She stared at me for my boldness no
wonder-but called him. So in a
moment he stood before me in his even
ing dress, with his cheeks flushed and
his eyes bright, and led me into little
room and seated me.
Agatha, my love, hope no mis-
chance brings you here" he began.
But l stopped him.
"Not your love, Squire Turner" |
said 81 thank you for thinking so
well of me, but even after all that has
could say no more. He took my
hand.
"Have 1 offended you, Agatha?" he
said
"Not you. The offence-the guilt
%, 1 have been sorely cheated"
and all | could do was to sob and think
he thought me mad.
At last strength came to me. / went
back to the first and told him all-how
we had been plighted to each other,
waiting only for better prospects to be
wed, and how, when he honored me
by the offer of his hand, | angered my
grandparents by owning to the truth,
and of the ring grannie had stolen
from my breast, and the false message
that had been sent my promised hus-
band from me. ..
"And though Iwould never see Evan
Locke again. said /, ''still, | can
never be another mans true love, for |
am his until die"
Then, as / looked, all the rich color
faded out of the 'Squire's face, and |
saw the sight we seldom see more than
once in a lifetime-a strong man in
tears.
At last he arose and came to me.
my little Agatha never loved me, "
he said. "Ah, me! The news is bad.
| thought she did. This comes of van
ity."
"Many higher and fairer have
hearts to give" l said. mine was
gone ere you saw me-"
And then, kind and gentle as though
had not grieved him, he gave me his
arm and saw me across the moor, and
at the gate paused and whispered:
''Be at rest, Agatha. The Canadian
ship Golden George has not sailed vet. :"
liked him better than | had ever
done before that night when 1 told
grannie that l would never wed him.
Eth! but he was fit to be a king-the
grandesU, kindest, best of living men,
who rode away with the break of the
morrow and never stopped till he