Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-11

1
nestly, and her eyes meet those of her
father quite fearlessly.
| Annoyed and dissatisfied McWilliam
stands for a moment undecided. But al
ready his first glance at his daughter has
shown him that not to-day, at any rate,
can she rise up to become the bride of
McCluck; so, only saying pointedly,
"Weel, lass, see that you keep your word
the MORN" he quits the room, leaving the
girl once more alone.
In the little farm household one meal in
the day at least is partaken of at a fashion,
able hour; four O'Clock and tea are twin
incidents here as elsewhere. The danger
GUS nuptial hour is safely past nuptialless I;
and Nancy. declaring herself little bet
ter, requests to have a cup of tea and
some bread and butter brought to her
which is done. Half-past eight again
brings supper and Nancy is now so very
much better, and so hungry, that she must
have slice or two of cold meat and a
glass of her fathers toddy! She is an in
valid tonight. and tomorrow is to be a
bride. So her father and aunt alike unite
in little unwonted petting, which Nancy
accepts, along with the good things they
give her, calmly and cody demolishing
the latter with relish, and leaving not a
scrap behind and when, shortly after nine
O'Clock, the old folk come to bid her good
night, she looks almost herself again.
At ten the old clock strikes out the hour
amid perfect stiffness. Outside the dogs
slumber in their kennels, though watch
fully, ready at moments notice for any
strange conner. In the clubhouse. Donald,
the lad who assists John on the farm, snores
deeply; and in the byre the large ox-eyes
are all peacefully closed Inside the
house John McWiliam and his sister are
sleeping the deep sleep of the hard-work:s
ing.
The wind has fallen; yet, for wonder,
the rain holds off. No moon glorifies the
world to-night--the sky is black as ink,
and sfarless. 1t is an ugly threatening
night--not soul is abroad-darkness and
solitude brood over the country. At one
time only is the stiffness of the night bro
ken by hesitating doubtful bark from
one of the collies, which awakens none of
the sleepers, and by the sharp ringing
clang of horses hoofs as It gallops
southwark bearing double burden
Next norning-again Nancy's wedding
morn-breaks fair and pleasant; but alas,
the nest is found to be empty-the bird
has flown! Nancy has not waited for her
appointed bridegroom; a Drawer wooer
has cam doom the lang glen for her.
John McWilliam may storm as he lists
now; aunt Jean may scold on forever but
wild, self-willed Nancy, is
'.Ower the hills and Tar AVA
WI Jock o. Hazeldean."
All the world knows now how young
NJ r
bride; it is quite an old story, for it hap
pened many years ago. Every one knows
of the long, dark ride to Perth-of the
marriage performed there, at the earliest
available hour in the morning, by Scotch
minister-and of the second marriage &C
cording to the rites of the Church Of Eng
land, which took place in Carlisle Cathe-
dral.
For eighteen months the young couple
lived abroad; and wherever Nancy went
she took the world by storm. No matter
what the place or what the people-at
Paris, Nice, Florence or Rome-equally
amongst English, French or Italians
wherever she was seen-the beautiful Mrs.
Macgregor became the rage At Paris
they named her the 'Rose of Scotland, :"
and the sobriquet followed and chung to
her wherever she and her husband So
journed. And Nancy looked as if she had
been accustomed to it all her life, SO cool
ly did she conduct herself, causing her
young husband, in spite of all the admira-
ton and attention she received, never a
moments uneasiness-but few that met
them failed to perceive how entirely the
girls heart was given to its lawful keep
er. 4.UguW H... .,r
At Naples son and heir was born, and
shortly afterwards they returned to Eng
land. As it was abroad, so it was at home !;
the London world was completely fasci-
mated. Nancy was the beauty and favor
lite of the season and her husbands wild
owed mother-the stately Lady Eleanor
Macgregor-though at first not unnatural
ly displeased at her sons marriage, was
now only too proud to present and intro
duce so lovely and successful a daughter
in-law.
But it is in her Highland home that
Nancy is most popular. The great folk
of the county, for time rather undecided
as to how John McWilliams daughter
ought to be received when she should re-
turn as Mrs. Macgregor of Glenfern, were
soon instructed as to that by her success
III ATS anu LONDON. NOuld there be two
questions as to the manner of reception
by the county of the bosom friend Of the
young Countess of CamballOch?
But very soon Nancy was loved and re-
spected for her own sake; and in other
counties than that of Perthshire.
there is not just now more popular wos
man than 1.-THE beautiful Mrs. Macgregor."
Nancy was never ashamed of, nor neg
lected her old father and aunt. Wisely
making no attempt to take them from that
station in which they were happiest, vet
she took care that they wanted for nothing
that could make their life easy and COM
Portable. No; Nancy was never ashamed
of her father, and neither were her
friends.
Why, it was only the other day that she
and her great friend. the handsome Young
Countess, cantered their thorougHbreds
blithely down the lochside to pay John
McWilliams visit But then every one
knows that these two beautiful, spirited
young women can do just whatever they
like; and the world is quite content to
look on and admire
Nevertheless in this Nancy does we'll.