Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-01-27


Stirs to a thrill of some strange touch divine
Apart from shrines, he heeds the sacred sigI
That holds the world in Loves -ublime control
THE FERRYMAN OF LOCH LYNN.
Was I ever married? No, ma'am
never. I've lived a single life fol
sixty years, and I've been a ferryman
for forty years. There'll be a steamer
here next year, they say, and then
maybe my work is done. I've
enough to live on, though, and its
not all for the bit of pay that 1 row
the boat. I've had a hope all these
years that would have made some
folk fear to let me row them over the
ferry, but 1 think I'll tell you about
it, for you've look in your eyes as
though you could understand
When l was twenty / had Il sweet
heart. Her name was Jessie. We
had been betrothed a wee while, and
the banns were to be put up in the
kirk in months time, when sudden
ly her mother took a dislike to me-
and said it should not be. 1t was
only an old woman's freak. An i'll
tempered body she was. and not quite
right in her mind, I think. But Jes-
sic would not marry against her
mothers will She cried like baby,
and vowed to me to be true, and to
meet me every Saturday at least.
And she hoped to soften her mother
in time. What could L do? Nothing
but fret and fume, and make her un-
happier than she was. You know
mans nature well enough to know
that 1 did that, I've no doubt, ma am.
But Saturday afternoons 1 always
rowed about the edge of the loch
here, waiting for Jessie. She'd come
to the bank-I can see her still, in
her little straw bonnet, with a pink
rose in it-and wave her handker-
chief. Then I'd go to her; and we'd
row about until sunset, keeping we'll
out of sight, as it was easy to do.
Not many people wanted to cross,
but if they came at that time they
had to go back again. l never an
swered them. And though / worried
and fretted enough in all conscience,
those were very happy afternoons.
We met SO for a year The old
mother never grew any more willing
that should court Jessie, and never
guessed that she met me on the lake.
She wanted Jessie to marry a rich
old man, and the poor girl had hard
time of it at home. At last, between
them, the old man always following
her about, the mother always plead
ing his cause, she was half distracted.
1 urged her to run away with me,
and vowed that could make a for
tune in Edinburg if she was my
wife. And she was almost worn out
And when the old woman declared
that she should marry at Christmas
whether she would or no, she prom
ised me to leave home.
1t would be crime to marry Mr..
McGregor," she said, "with moth.
ing but dislike to give him; but I
fear it is sin to deceive my mother y
Then she wept in my arms, and
promised to met me the next Satur-
day at the same hour and go to
Edinburg with me- Twas to take her
across the lake, and after that away
downward in the stage coach.
1t was hard to wait for Saturday,
but it came: everything was ready.
rowed the boat out upon the lake
and sat waiting.
l waited long. The evening was
drawing on, and there was no sign
of her. I grew anxious. I grew
desparing. l could not believe she
would willingly break promise tc
me. I feared her mother had dis
covered everything.
At last, as the twilight fell and ]
was in despair, I saw her standing
on the shore. She was dressed all
in white, and / remember thinking
that it was not like my sensible Jes,
sic to deck herself like bride for 6
dusty journey to the dirty town
when we were anxious to hide from
any one who might follow. But
when / had taken the boat across
saw that she had no bag or parce
with her, that she had not even a hal
upon her head. What she wore was
a sort of robe loosely hanging on
her figure, and her feet were bare.
1.-The mother has locked her up
I said to myself, "and she escaped
just this way, brave lass" And
took off my plaid and made ready t.
lap it around her when she got in.
When 1 got close to her so that
could see her face it was as pale as +,
lily. l was frightened at it, and
called out: What have they beel
doing to you. my lassie?" She made
no answer, but came into my boat.
"Don't touch me yet," she said
but she took my plaid and laid i
about her, and looked at me sad ant
strange and woeful.
Il said 1 would come, and
came," she whispered. "Oh, Jamie
lad, we might have b-en SO happy
"We WILL" I said. "Come to me
Jessie"
"Oh, jamie" she said again, 'don'
touch me yet. Lengthen the me
ments as long as you can, for whel
you touch me l must go. I'll b
yours in heaven, jamie, remembe
that"