The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-10-31

He saw she was enraptured with his |
| music, and he was delighted when, at the
close of the festival, she asked him to
| proceed to her fathers house, where she
| wished to hear again his sweet strains
| She had an old piano-not very good
| one, but nevertheless one that gave her
pleasure; and she wished to try some of
| the tunes he had played to the dancers.
Jessies sisters were very much afraid she |
had compromised the family dignity by
| lancing with this stroller, and they
| grumbled about her asking him to their
home SO late in the evening.
He went, however, and after Jessie and
himself had discoursed music for con-
| siderable length of time, to the delight
of the old folks, who were rather proud
of Jessie's musical taste, he rose to
| leave.
/ They offered him a bed in the barn,
but he said he had to be miles away be-
fore daylight; so Jessie gave him piece
| of money and stuffed his pockets with
bread and beef and large piece of
cheese, at the same time begging of him,
| if he ever came that way again, to give
| them the pleasure of listening to his
minstrelsy.
Sir Malcolm returned to his own castle,
but he could not Danish the image of the
gentle Jessie from his heart. When he
slept or woke he always saw her as she
stood fixing the broken primroses in her
belt-leoking so sweet and pretty in her
white dress and blue ribbons, and her
ripping brown hair tossed by the even
ing breeze and by the dancing; and ut
length, when his mother renewed her at
tacks upon him about getting marriedi
he told her of the maiden he had learned
to love so we'll.
The lady was dumfounded Was her
darling son, the pride of her heart, to
wed a nameless, humble bride. But as
she pondered the matter over she be-
came more reconciled to it. If he loved
this maiden his happiness was concerned;
. and what was his true happiness was
hers So, after short silence, that al
most seemed years, she raised her head
! and asked Sir Malcolm if he had cause
, to think the maiden returned his love.
s:I dare not think she does, mother,
i he replied, ''yet I think she thought ten
: derby of the strolling musician. /
, think there was sigh of regret for his
: not being the son of neighbor farmer.
T I could read that in her dark gray eyes,
even when she was not the least conscious
r of it herself
"God bless you, my dear son, replied
the good lady. with tremor in her voice.
q |
y maiden must prove a sweet companion,
> and she must be in a measure accom-
!. plished, according to your statement;
o and if it is for your happiness, L am
reconciled."
! The young man kissed his mothers
3 hand with tenderness and gratitude; and
I he went at once to order out his carriage
. for the interesting journey. He attired
himself with great care, and finer look
ing man could seldom be seem.
9 His well knit limbs were 1.-the and
. hardy-looking, and showed the nimble
!. huntsman or the brave soldier, as occa-
. sion might demand. His dark hazel eye
\ was beautiful, and his curling hair of the
very sunniest shade of brown. His
: bushy whiskers were auburn, and the
9 habit of command gave dignity to his
8 presence that heightened the charm of
9 the whole.
Jessie's father saw the carriage ap-
/ proach the house in great surprise, for
\ he knew the yellow carriage, though he
had not seen it for years. He went, bon
net in hand, to meet the laird, while his
!. good wife hastily got on her best cap,
n her bread and cheese, in case he might
alight to rest his horses and get some re-
freshments as she had seen his excellent
9 father do.
:. Sir Malcolm leaped from the carriage
and gaily entered the old house, as if he
Z had been acquainted for years, to the
! great delight of the good farmer and his
\ wife. He partook of a glass of rich
= cream and piece of delicious oat-cake,
and then asked to see their family. They
o. came one by one, tall, blushing girls, and
2 stout, healthy-looking, awkward lads
2 all but Jessie; and Sir Malcom asked if
. these were all.
.'We have one other daughter, one
second eldest, but she is busy with some
household duties and unfit to come into
4 your presence; SO we hope you will ex-
= cuse her, Sir Malcolm" said the mother,
in decorous manner.
" ''Show me where to find her, then
,. will go to her." said Sir Malcolm, with a
Z strange culver of lip and voice.
q The mother was about to call the
q daughter, when one of the boys, hastily
: opening the door, pointed to the room
v v where Jessie was busily taking off the
= butter from the churn. She was arrayed
= in plain gray linen dress, neat and
= clean, and the curls that had hung so
! prettily about her face and neck at the
:, wedding, were fastened back with piece
= of bright blue ribbon; but the dropping
tall, lily-like figure, and the modest gray
a eyes were the same, and the expression
= that he thought SO angelic when she
!, gathered the broken primroses was still
y the same, also; indeed, as he gazed upon
>, her, he thought her more beautiful than
y ever. She looked bewildered at the fair
4 face of the young man, and he took her
: hand, saying:
! 81 have accepted your invitation, Jes-
. sic. You see have returned, though in
=. good sooth your eyes would speak a
= warmer welcome if I had come with my
=. tattered coat and my fiddle
4 Jessie stood speechless in astonish-
ment, for she saw. indeed, he was no
other than the strolling musician, for
. that hazel eye had left tender regret in
Jessie's heart, for which she had often
. child herself; and as it flashed across her
mind who he was, and how she had stuff
ed his pockets with bread and beef, she
), fell on her knees, crying:
Forgive me, sir; oh, forgive me I
knew not, indeed, you were any other
: than you represented yourself to be-
q Forgive you, Jessiei Yes, my fair
: girl, you have more need of forgiveness
= than you think, for you have stolen my
q peace of mind away. Will you be my
| L.