Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-01-30
eeTho 1.s.ia will find no trouble about

she answered. rubbing her hands together
and nodding her head up and down. "She
will iump at the chance Of making the
Red Pass her home, and be willing to walk
to the kirk VII you, speak the word. Iii
answer for that.
Bessie held her peace, standing tall and /
slim, in sort of stunned silence, anu
there wept until her passion was spent.
"Well. tits DER now, and yell simmer
down. and keep quiet mebbe,' she said
Then, still chuckling gleefully, i've let
ye have your say, and now III have mine.
We're poor folk, me and you. found it
hard to get bread, when had but my |
own mouth to feed; and since have been
burdened VII hunger. But I've borne it
ALL an done my best, an always been will
ing to give you shafe o. my last crust
s.Oh! but don't ask me to do this,
pleaded Bessie.
.But I must. You've chance now to
show your gratitude, and topay meback.
When YOU re mistress at the Red Pass,
shall have plenty of good victuals, and a
warm seat in the ingleside corner to the
end of my days, and no need to lift
finger"
"But dearest grandma" began Bonnie
Bessie. I @4
"Now, lookee here. my lass" interrupt
ed the old woman, lifting her bony finger.
and glowering fercely upon Bessie; II
YOU are fuie enou' to refuse this good for
tin, that ends it twixt us two. You pack
out of my house, and ne'er cross the
threshold agin."
Bessie was silent. The great world, be-
yond the highland peaks, seemed so dim
and far away, and the old home scenes
were so familiar.
The autumn DAYS drifted on, and winter
set in. A wild, white. cruel, highland
winter Leaden skies, and lonesome,
wailing winds, and sudden snow storms,
rushing across the hills, like white whirl-
:. winds. And Mither Burns fell ill with
rheumatism, and Bob, the herds lad, got
his arm broken, and the mich cow sick
ened and died, and Bessie went to bed
supperless many night.
The constant drip of water wears away
the solid stone, and the constant pressure
of care, and want, and entreaty, bends the
stoutest will. Bessie yielded at last, and
one wild night, when Squire Renfrew came
down to Black Linn, she suffered him TO
put ring on her finger.
The very next day the cottage was filled
with all sorts of comforts; and week
thereafter fine garments Of linen, and OF
wool and even silk, were being made up
for Bonnie Bessie;" for in the spring
time she was to 60 to the kirk. with Squire
Renfrew and be made his wife.
The spring time had come, and the wed
ding day close at hand, when, one evening
lust before the cleaning, BESSIE went to
fill her pitcher, as Usual at the rocky spring
NEAR BY She had accomplished her task
had lifted the pitcher to her shoulder. and
had started for the cottage, her white
shapely feet twinkling, prettily, below the
short petticoat,5 as she stepped from stone
to stone III crossing the little Drawing
stream, when suddenly she uttered stifiet
scream, and staggering to moss coveret
boulder, sat down, and put the pitcher OF
the ground beside her, pressing her hant
on her heart, and trembling all over.
Its Lis ghaist, it's his ghaist.'' sh'
cried. land oh, how sair he did look q
me!''
Whatever she had seen or fancied sh'
had seen, there was.nothing IN sight, whel
she next looked up. however; nothing ex
cept the overhanging rocks OF the glen
the brook simmering in the evening hight
and the white birch trees swaylng spec
trally against the sky.
HE has come from his grave" she CT
ed. plancing around. II dare ma do it
Oh! forgive me, Jamie, that ever though
O. it,"
She drew a silken cord, which enclrcle
/ her throat, from her bosom as she spoke
and kissed the slender hoop ofsilver whlc
suspended from it. ''I'll never ha' peac
if marry the SQUIRE" she said; land
fought ma to ha' it; 1 shall feel I'm tran
1t, or. And oh Jamie, after all love n
he one but you and never can" And sh
nd broke down in passionate weeping.
nd II can't,' she sobbed, Il can't Keep No
nd promise. 1 would sooner die first, al
lust like Aud Robin Grey" on. Jaml
'se forgive me that ever thought OF IT,"
~ The sunset fires died out. and the WIN
nd began to chill. yet she sat there still vi
Ter conscious alike of her neglected pltche
er and of her pet dog, who watched her
OF wlstfully. The twilight itself faded, IL
ad crescent moon came out above; ana u
bubbling of the highland spring filled
lie, with silence. 1881 .Hs32
Suddenly she rose with resolution STAN
nd ed on every feature. f8 sis4a
II must give the squire his ring again
'he she said, brushing the last tears from b
icy eyes. ut is hard for him; but there is
of other way. Then, Jamie then you WI
al forgive me-
me Leaving her pitcher there, she toss'
es- back her abundant locks, as she .hnlsh'
up this admiration, and went speeding ava
ice through the falling darkness, with u
ne light foot of the chamois. j. e. = E.1.
The When she reached the Red Pass, t
'is- bright glow of the warm ingleside lit Il
windows. She approached the nearest o
vas and pressed her sad, tired, yet resolu
gnu face against the glass.
nee The squire sat within, pretty, tastef
ere things all around him, a happy muslng
cd, preston on his plain fatherly face. Bes'
avs watched him FOR minute, choaking do'
ing fierce sob.
ted He'd be as good to me as Aud Hot
Grey" she said half aloud; "but l-l-e
ne heaven help me, / can't bear to THINK
as it,"
A minute and she tapped lightly agall
uSn the glass; The squire turned quick
'aio stared and then started to his feet.
ncy IT -, ho+,s tho ma.