Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-10
Newer. father. never-neither to-mor-

"IIoots. John!'' interrupts aunt Jean.
1--WE can shut her up in her room, We
KEN
"Hold your tongue, Jean, my woman
Nancy shall hear me once and for all. l
won't have my girl the talk of the country
side. Ay, you may look. lass-thats
what you've made yourself. l forbade
You to speak again wi the young Laird,
and you've disobeyed; you were seen wi
him yesterday, doom by Sput Truin.
Never any good comes when gentleman
talks up wi lass like you. Ye think he
marry We, nae doot. 4 Bruce Macgregor
% Glenfern-the proodest, auldest family
in the coonty-wed wi John McWilliam's
daughter? Ma. ma The lion didna walk
/ into the ark wi the rabbit; he went wi
| his kline. and the rabbit wi his kline. Ma.
lass he'll no marry We, Lairds wed wi
! leddies. And you've putten AVA a the
| ithers sac I've hidden Master Campbell
for three O'Clock the morn, and he II buckle
You and Sandy the either. or you'll walk
DOT o the hose rs sure as | stan here :
| In this manner John McWilliam lets off a
| little of his steam.
| At the first mention of the Laird Nancy
turns her face away, to hide the flush
which rises to her cheek, and which, grad
ually subsiding, leaves her pale. Mean
while the bridegroom presumptive stands,
awkward and unhappy, in the background,
longing to come forward and plead his
own cause, but too much depressed in
| spirit to do so, owing to the severity of
the criticism so lately passed upon his
body. For few minutes after John ends
no one speaks; and the ticking of the
large old clock in the corner is the only
sound that breaks the silence then Nancy,
rising with pale cheeks and cleaning
eyes, answers her father.
VERY weel then, father-let it be as
you wish; certainly wouldn't like to be
turned DOT o. the hoose''
That's right, Nance ~ cries John, at
once restored to good humor and show
ing it by slappng the girl heartily on the
back. al knew you were too sensible a
lass no to ken on which side your bread
was buttered, Here. Sandy. man, come
and gle her a kiss and max things plees-
anti
Immediately the enamoured McCluck
advances with view to this agreeable
proceeding, looking redly bashfully de-
lighted. Nancy allows him to approach
within a few yards of her, and then,
catching up wet towel which hangs on
chair close at hand, she sends it spinning
through the air against his face.
"Oh,ye let us all be pleasant together ~
she cries, her eyes flashing, her cheeks
burning, and, bursting into a ringing
laugh, runs out of the room. leaving her
father and aunt to pacify and sOothe as
best they may the wounded feelings of her
luckless swain.
That night there is splendid moon in
the heavens, and the stars are countless.
The world is flooded with the wondrous
light; it lies in dream-like beauty upon
the deep, silent loch, and only the dark
fir forests look black. The little white
cottage is shut up for the night, and its in
mates are wrapped in slumber.
But are all the occupants of the cottage
asleepp If so, who, then, is this that
comes stealing down the road, keeping
close to the dark hedge, as if DESTROYS to
escape notice--a small, slight figure
wrapped in a plaidp Down the white
road it moves, noiselessly, swiftly at times
hidden altogether under the shadow of an
occasional tree at a certain point, fitting
through the white light across to the other
side, it picks out with the ease of custom
a little path through the bracken and tall
tangled grass, and runs lightly down to
the loch-side-runs down to one who is
waiting. ...
Under the shade of the trees, where the
deep waters look mysterious and black, a
small boat is drawn up close to the bank,
wherein its owner stands, kicking his
heels impatiently among the dewy wet
grass, the boat-chain dangling loosely from
one hand, the other thrust into the pocket
Of his jacket. An opening in the foliage
overhead allows the fine silvery light to
stream down on the bekilted form of a
remarkably good-looking young man. His
| figure, above the medium in height, is
slight, and, apparently, he is little more
than twenty but strength shows in the
breadth of chest, and in the muscle, much
used and well developed, in the comedy
limbs left exposed by his dress. As the
sound of light footstep and the swish of
petticoats against the bracken is borne to
his ears on the Silly night, he takes the
segar from his mouth and losses it into the
loch, where with fiery kiss to the cold
surface, it disappears then, with eager
eyes watches through the gloom for the
first glimpse. Thus does Hay Bruce Mac
gregor, the proud young laird of Glenfern,
await his sweetheart.
In moment the small, slight form be-
comes visible, and Immediately, Nancy
Pretty stands within the radius of white
light, yard or two from her lover. But,
though his bold blue eyes flash with ten
der welcome, and though his arms are
outstretched to clasp his dear Highland
lassie to his breast, Nancy remains apart,
provokingly. tantalizingly, apart looking
into his face, smile curling on her love-
ly mouth, mischief sparkling in her eyes
drop your arms, Hay'' she cries.
mo use to wave them like windmill
any more can't ever come to meet
you any more We must never kiss each
other again, for I'm going to be married
tomorrow So speaks the girl to her
lover, with demure face and tones.
"All right, my darling; you know I'm
quite ready. Twas you that wouldn't
hear of it yet" answers young Macgregor
bright, confident smile playing on his
handsome mouth--a mouth, the short up
per lip of which is only shaded. as yet,
by the soft dark thrown hair. Come to
me, Nance !'''
As he speaks, he puts forth an authorita-