Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-17
SIGHT when she next looked m. how.

sight when she next looked up, how
ever; nothing except the overhang-
Ing rocks Of the glen, the brook SHIN
me,'ing in the evening light, and the
white birch trees swaying spcctrally
against the sky.
"He has come from his graye," she
cried, glancing around. ~ dare M,
dare ma do it. Oh forgive me jamie,
that ever thought o it."
She drew q silken cord, which en-
circled her throat, from her bosom, az
she spoke, and kissed the slender hoop
Of silver which suspended from it.
"I'll never ha' peace II I marry the
squire" she said j; "and I ought not
to ha' It. I shall feel I'm a traitor.
And poor jamie, after all I love no
one but you, and never can" And
she broke down in passionate weep.
ing.
~ can't" she sobbed; ~ can't keep
my promise. ! would sooner die first.
l an, just like 'Auld Robin Grey Oh,
Jamie, forgive mo that lever thought
of it,"
The sunset fires died out, and the
wind began to chill, yet she snt there
still, unconscious alike Of her neglect
cd pitcher and her pet dog, who
watched her so wistfully. Thetwilight
itself failed; the crescent moon came
out above, and the bubbling Of the
Highland spring filed all in silence.
Suddenly she arose with resolution
stamped Oh every feature.
81 must give the Squire his ring
again, "sl'e said, brushing the last
tears from her eyes. "It is hard for
him but there is no other way. Then,
Jamie, you will forgive me-"
Leaving her pitcher there, she toss
cd back her abundant locks as she
finished this adjumtion, and went
speeding away through the falling
darkness, with the light foot Of the
chamOis.
When she reached the Red Pass the
bright glow Of the inglesidc lit the
windows. She approached the near
est one, aud placed her sad, tired, yet
resolutc face against the glass.
The Squire sat within, pretty,
tasteful things all around him, u hap
py, musing expression on his plain,
fatherly face. Bessie watched him
for u minute, choking down a fierce
sob.
"He'd be as good to me as 'Auld
Robin Grey" "sl'c said, half, aloud !;
"but I--I-Oh! Heaven help me, |
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.
"Wcll, now-wcll, now. what's the
meaning Of tl,isw he cried, running
across the room and throwing up the
window. "Dcssic! What has hap
pcnd7"
"Somctl'ing that never should ha'
happened" she answered, looking ut
him with Il sort Of desperate defiance,
and drawing the gold ring from her
fuger as she spoke; "r>c come to
give this back to you, Squire Rem
frew. l was wrong ever t" let you
put it on."
"Why, child, what do you mean ?"
"rnkc your ring. You have heard
of Aud Robin Grey maybe, have
you not ~
ayes, have. But what then
"WeIl, had u Jamie once," she
went on, clutcling at the little silver
ring appended from her neck, agrcat
throb of pain shaking her; che gave
me this, and l cannot wear any other
ring. He-hc-went off to seek his
fortunc,' with another suppressed sob,
"amd he was lost Mt sea. | tried to
forget him, but | cannot. can'tkecp
my promise to you, Squire Rentrew-
IL couldn't feel like she did to 'Auld
Robin Gmy'--l should hate you--l
should" And here she broke down
completely.
He took the ring she offered, and
paused for II moment. A look of un-
uttcrable pain and regret came int"
his kind eyes.
$50 you have come to tell me this,
aud ask for your freedom. And you
really think, too, you have seen James
ghaist ~
"Yes. And l shall never return to
guard mother again. | dare not. So
am goin' away"
lie laid his hand on her head.
81 am glad you came to tell me- he
said, "it is better that | should know
this now that later. am sorry, Bes-
sic. l had set my whole heart in
making you happy. But a bird,
against its will, hates cage and keeper.
You are free" o
"God bless you, and goodbye"
she sobbed.
"Nay, nay,' he said tenderly, "not
goodbye. Go back to the fold, my
poor, pretty lamb; 90 back to the
'auld grandmother | will make it
all right for you. Never you fear"
Greatly wondering, the girl retraced
her steps to Black Linn. The NOR
row came, and with it the Squire.
81 have come TO beg your pardon" f"
he said, addressing Bessie, but taking
care to do it in the presence Of the
grandmother, "and to ask my liberty
back again. have changed my mind
about taking wife, Mither Burns" }"
and he turned to the old lady; III am
better Us l am"
He took his leave, after afew words
more, and then the old woman, not
for one moment deceived by his gen.
erous conduct, turned on Bessie saw
agely.
ut is all your silly capers. see It
all. He loves you so that he takes
the blame, when it is wholly your
fault. Oh, me! Oh, me! thought to
spend my old age in peace and plenty,
| ...J ,,o,., o.,, lnEk k< ,ko,,o noI al