Daily Republican., 1880-01-23

she said and ought not to ha' 1t,
shall feel Pm q traitor. Aud poo
jamie, after all love no one but you
and never taa. Ard she tsyan weep
ing.
81 can't" she sobbed; | can't keel
my promise. | would sooner die first
Oh, Jamie, forgive me that ! ever forgo
it," e..
The sunset fires died out, and thu
wind began TO chill, yet she sat there
still unconscious alike Of her neglected
pitcher and OF her pet dog, who watch.
cd her so wistfully. The twilight it.
self failed the crescent moon came
above and the bubbling of the spring
filed the silence.
Suddenly she arose with resolution
stamped on every feature.
~ must give the squire his ring
again, she said, brushing the last tears
from her eyes. "It is hard for him (;
but there is no other way. Then, James,
then will forgive me-"
Leaving her pitcher there she tossed
back her abundant locks, as she finish
ed this adjuration, and went sweeping
away, through the falling darkness,
with the light foot Of the chamois.
When she reached the Red Pass, the
bright glow of the ingleside lit the win
dows. She approached the nearest one,
and placed her sad, tired, yet re5olute
face against the glass.
The squire sat within, pretty, taste
ful things all around him. happy
musing expression on his plain, faith
erly face. Bessie watched him for a
minute, choking down a fierce sob.
"He'd be as good to me as 'Auld
Robin Grey" she said, half aloud; but
I-I-oh Heaven help me, l. can't
bear to think Of it,"
A minute, and she tapped lightly
against the glass. The Squire turned
quickly, stared and then started to his
feet.
"Well, now, well, now, what's the
meaning of this ?" he cried, rushing
acIoss the room and throwing up the
window. "Bessie Wha. has hap
pened ~
Something that never should ha'
happened" she answered, looking at
him with sort of desperate defiance,
and drawing the gold ring from her
finger, as she spoke, 'I've come to give
this bask to you, Squire Renfrew. |
was wrong ever to let you put it on"
"Why, child, what do you mean ?"
"Take your ring. You have he Lrd |
of 'AaId Robin Grey, maybe, have you
not ?"
Eyes, | have. But what then ?"
Well, had a jamie once" she
went on, clutching at the little silver
ring suspended from her neck, a great
throb Of pain shaking her; he gave me
this and | cannot wear any other ring.
He-he-went off TO seek his fortune"
with another suppressed sob, and he
was lost at sea. tried to forget him,
but cannot. can't keep my promise
to you Squire Rsnfrew-I-I couldn't
feel like she did to 'Auld Robin Grey
| should hate you--I should" And
here she broke down completely.
lie took the ring she offered aud
paused for moment. A look Of un-
utterable pain and regret came into his
kind eyes.
$50 you have come to tell me this,
and to ask for your freedom. And you
'eally think, too, you ha We seen James
,haist"
"Yes, and shall never return to
again. dare not. So
I'M going away"
He laid his hand on her head.
81 am glad you come to tell me-" he
aid; "it is better that | should know /
his now than later. | am sorry, Bes-
lie. | had set my whole mind ON max =. .
ng you happy. But bird against its G
will, hates cage and keeper. You are
rea."
"God bless you, and goodbye" she :
obbed.
"Nay, nay" he said tenderly, "not T
ood-bye. Go back to the fold, my b
oor, pretty lamb; go back to the 'auld n
will make it all right u
or you. Never you fear" ri
Greatly wondering the girl retraced
or steps to Black Linn. The morrow '
ame and with it appeared the squire. \
81 have come to beg your paroon," q
Q said, addressing Bessie; but taking II
are to do it in the presence of the 81
grandmother, and to ask my liberty
ack again. | have changed my mind
bout taking a wife, Mither Burns"
nd he turned to the old lady; 81 am
etter as am" b!
He took his leave, after few more p
ords and then the old woman, not for V
ne moment deceived by his generous
,nduct, turned on Bessie rather saw \
yely. j
"It Is all your silly capers. see il al
1. lie loves you so that he takes the Is, Is
anne, when it was wholly your fault. tie
h me. Oh me. Thought TO spend 10
y old age in peace and plenty, and
ow | am let to stare, and all because -
you miss, you ungrateful, disobedient /
lild." 10
All that night and all the next day, De
70 rsproachss went on. Towards the sV se
Gaming, Bessie took up her pitcher to is
to the spring for water, glad to es. .
pc, for even quarter of an hour from \
,r grandmother's rage. 10
She had half filed her pitcher again, 2S'
ID was tripping across the little brook -
" dog following her, when she was i
artled once more this time by Squire s.
,nfrew, however. Al
"He is coming to take back his I
,rds," she said to herself; and she n
ombled SO that she almost lost her 4,
oting. vii
"Don't look frightened" said the hi