River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-12
BONNIE BESSIE.

1t was spring day, sweet and bright,
even amid the shadowy soi;tudes of the
Highland hills, with delicious woodland
odors and fitiul CLEANS of sur shine, and
the tender beauty OF bursting bud and
opening flower.
Though the day was drawing to a
close, Bonnie Bessie" still fingered by
the Highland spring, q brooding look of
pain and regret, and half-formed re-
solve, in her great. dusky eyes. Every
one called her "Bonnie Bessie" from
Lady Janet of Duddlestone Castle, to
Rob, the herds lad, of Black Linn.
The minister himself q good, grave
nan, had given her the title when she
first appeared at Black Linn, a slim,
slip of a lass, with wild elf-lOcks and
cheeks like carnations.
As she grew up TO maidC nhood the
name chung to her. "Bonnie Bessie"
they all called her. and rightly enough;
for Of all Highland lassies who gathered
at the little kirk, Sabbath morning, not
one was half 50 beautiful and winning
as Bessie. Her young form was as slim
and supple, as tall willow; her voice
was the sweetest when she sang, ana the
charm of her soft dark eyes, and the
sweetsmile Of her red mouth, were ire
sistible.
Squire Renfrew. Of the Red Pass was
desperately i'll love with Bessie. and
sought to make her his wife, in spite of
difference in rank. The herds at the
Red Pass were the finest and largest in
the neighbOrhoOd, and the barn and
storehouses were well filed. He was
a bachelor something over two score
years, and he wanted Bonnie Bessie for
his BRIDE
If the lassie thinks she can like me-"
he said addressing Bess,e's grandmoth.
er, as he stood under the low brown
rafiers Of the little Black Linn cottage
hot flush mounting to the shining
crown of his bald head; ''if the lassie
thinks she can fancy me, the bargains
made. m willing and ready to 60 to
the kirk tomorrow, and if Il good, true
husband and some gold and silver will
make her happy she'll be as happy as
queen at Red Pass"
Bessie listened with wild startled eyes,
burning checks and quivering lips.
Her grandmother "auld Mither
Burns" as the neighbOr5 called her,
looked up with eager delight in every
feature of her hard, time worn old face.
Such an offer was more than she had
ever dared to dream OF for Bessie.
"rhe lassie will find no trouble about
ancying the likes O. you Squire Rem
frew," she answered, rubbing her hands
together and nodding her head up and
down. "She will jump at the chance
of making the Red Pass her home and
be willing to walk to the kirk wi you,
when ever you speak the word. Ill an
swer for that"
Bessie held her peace, standing
tail and slim, in a sort of stunned ST.
lence, until her passion was spent.
well It's DER now, and yell simmer
down and keep quiet mebbe," she said.
Then, still chuckling gieefully, Give let
We have your say, and now III have
mine. We're poor folks, me and YOU.
| found it hard to get bread, when had
but my own mouth to feed; since
have been burdened VII hunger. But
I've borne it all, an done my best, an
always been willing to give you share
o. my last crust"
ooh but don't ask me to do this"
pleaded Bessie.
"But | must. You've a chance now
TO show your gratitude, and to pay me
back. When you're mistress at the
Red Pass | shall have plenty Of good
victuals and a warm seat in the ingle-
side corner to the end OF my days, and
no need to lift q finger"
"But dearest grandma" began "Bon-
ME Bessie"
"Now, lookee here nay lass" inter
Iupted the old woman, lifting her bony
finger, and glowering tiercely upon
Bessie; "If ye are fule enOu' to refuse
this good for tim that ends it 'twixt us
two. You pack out of my house and
ne'er cross the threshold again"
Bessie was silent. The great world,
beyond 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,
winter, wailiug winds, and sudden
snow storms, rushing across the hills,
like white whirlwinds. Aud Mither
Burns fell i'll with rheumatism, and Rob,
the herds lad, got his arm broken, and
the mich cow sickened and died, and
Bessie went to bed supperlcss many q
night.
The constant drip of water wears
away the solid stone, and the constant
pressure of care, want and entreaty,
bends tie 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
filed with all sorts of comforts; and a
week thereafter fine garments of linen
and wool, and even silk, were being
made up for 'Bonnie Bessie" for in the
sprngtime she was to go to the kirk
with Squire Renfrew and be made his
wife.
The springtime had come, and the
wedding was close at hand, when, one
evening, Just before the cleaning, Bes-
sic went to Eli her pitcher, as usual, at
the rocky spring near by. She had ac-
complished her task, had lifted the
pitcher to her shoulder, and had started
for the cottage, her white, shaDely feet
twinkling prettily below the short pet
tcoat, rs she stepped from stone to
stone in crossing the little br4wllng
stream, when suddenly she uttered a
sitting scream, and, struggling to a
moss covered boulder, sat down and put
the pitcher on the ground beside her,
pressing nSI lidAlt Oll htl AShAb aAAO
trembling all over.
Its hrs ghaist, its his ghaist," she
cried, "and Oh, how sair he did look at
met
Whatever she had seen or fancied she
had seen, there vas nothing in sight
when she next looked up, however;
nothing except the overhanging rocks
of the glen, the brook shimmering in
the evening light and the white birch
trees swaying specially against the
sky.
''He has come from his grave" she
cried. glancing around. II dare ma,
dare ma do i. Oh forgive me, Jamie,
that l ever thought o it"
She drew s,lken cord that encir-
cIed her throat, from her bosom as she
spoke, and kissed the slender hoop of
silver which was suspended from it.
I'm never ha' peace il | marry the
SQUIRE, and ought not to ha' it; |
shall feel I'm a traitor. And oh Jamie,
after all | love no one but you and
never can And she broke down IN a
passionate weeping.
Il can't she sobbed; 81 can't keep
my promise. l would sooner die hrst.
am just like Aud Robin Gray. On