The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-06-04
The LASS OF RICHMOND HILL.
CHAPTER III.


The FennimOres did not leave Rich
mond for a month after the evening
when Jessie had so narrowly escaped
meeting Rex at The POplars. During
that month, in spite Of her better judg-
ment, Jessie allowed Audrey to win
her way into her favor
She was still jealous at times Of BOb's
interest in his sisters friend. but she
began 10 think her jealousy unjust and
tried hard 10 stifln il.
She found Audrey a great comfort.
1Or she engaged all EeN's attention
when She was present, and often made
opportunities FOR Bob and Jessie %
meet so that thry got tU look upon her
as their best friend. while AZ heart she
was their greatest enemy. So skillful
was she IN Discrimination that she kept
up the Illusion until tie last day of JCs-
sizes stay iu Richmond
Jessie left Audrey with the under
standing That she would forward. under
cover ui beer HHu- all letters Co DT. Raw
nor. WUn- though Ee la-uI-eI himself
for the deceit. found DO was his only
chance ~ guIIg-T bonding With U.- Iarl-
ING. Tor Mrs. \rlUlL1re had forbidden
her niece Co receive gr send letters 20
Lr. EagUar.
One month had gone out Of the seven
THAT .HE between Jessie and luitueud-
Hi.H. lui SOD rlI nothing had come be-
tween OBJ. lovers. and Jessie found her
travel
Her cousin had seusihly discontinued
l.e fierce ..Ee-maEIuE and allowed LDr
tH NrfL into % false security. II was
the .u.. before the storm. Jc-Sc's tran
guilty Wa- soon 10 ue broken up.
The keuuLmorcs were staying in the
Highlands.
One day. when out with Jessie, Rex
entertained her ly repeating old tradi-
tluus Of teat5 and rites held by the
HlgLlanders ON their faNorite teast-day,
the first Of May.
The starry grass Of the Parnassus,
the warm purple OF the original rocks
4 showing here and there through the
+ green and crimson mOsScs, the blue
mIsts that yelled the mOuntaiu-tOps,
. the tranquil beauty Of the lake that
washed their feet. all charmed Jessie
and lifted her mind above the Hin of
. God TO the Creator.
"A wish rose warmly in her heart that
Bob were there TO share her pleasure,
and speaking aloud out Of the Iullues5
/ OF her heart. Jessie said.
Il VIII spend nay money moon here, II
ever have one: II lis q grand place.
so you shall spend yOGr honeymoon
here. cousin. promise you that
y on viii not have a voice in the
/ matter" answered Jessie. angry with
herself for allowing her thoughts To find
voice. Then. seeing her cousin 3 face
. daTkeu, she said. looking 10 at the
. gushing torrent a. it same leapug over
and under huge MASSES Of stone which
were picturesquely adorned by a wealth
. of wild vegetation: 'ShOW me which is
the crag they cali N'Gregor's Shield
As she spoke large drop Of ram fell
upon her uptuTned face.
They were some considerable dis
tauCe from their hotel.
\ mOrose Highlander, whom Rex had
recently engaged as his b0dy-scryant
and who was now their guide. yentured
to remark that they had better hasten
to the nearest shelter, for q violent
storm threatened.
An cSultaut look came into Rex
face, and he said in an undertOne that
Sandy alone could hear:
The very elements lend me their
help. This storm is a safe excuse. Are
you sure you can rely upon your
quite sure, sir. You have but to
make bold stroke and she Is yours"
"Oh. Rex, this is awful I am wet
, through. and we are so far from home.
What shall we dor We cannot go on.
! am blinded and daZed 10y the tempest.
( Hark how the thunder peals, and see
. the lightning fash through the miStS.
Don't be alarmed child. 1 never
. thought you could be such an arrant
I coward. Shady tells nae he has some
! friends quite near who Keep sort OF
. half-farmhOuse half-iun. We must 90
to them and wait till the storm has
The lower ridges Of the mountain
were envelOped in miSts, the rain pelted
down fuTiously. Jessie allowed herself
TO be led bliudly on, her pony stumbling
at every step. After travelling some
little distance the party came upon q
quaint. lOW-TOOted house, with an an
cient sign-bOard swinging nOlSIIy over
the rustic porch. \ stupld-IOokIng Lad
came forward TO look after their ponies
and Rex led Jessie into the stone kitch
en-, on one side Of which were piled bar
TeIs of ale and whisky.
y hard-featured woman Of about
thirty rose to greet the new COmer'
cOldly while an old man, who had beer
doing on a settle, half rose as though
to welcome his guests. but the woman
his daughter, roughly told him to keel
his seat. and not tumble all Of a heaI
and frIghteu the lady.
Sandy laid his hand on the wOman1
shoulder and said kindly:
''Wel my lass. where S my welcOmeI'
And she flushed and smiled so bright
IL that Jessie forgot she had though
her ugly.
You're welcome, Sandy" she sail
in her broad dialect, which we ventur
to translate for the benefit Of the south
ern reader, then went on rapidly talk
sic, to whom their dialect was Greek
took of her dripping hat and shook tn
/ raindrOps on the apOtleSS floor, lOOkIn.
about her CuTIOuSly as she did so.
Rex STROBE to the fire and called for
. glass Of whisky: the woman haSteuet
to obey him. and Sandy stepped to Jes
sizes side and said respectfully:
I have ordered the ponies to b
stabbed. miss. we cannot get back to
night 1t will be quite dark by Tn
time the ram has ceased, and 1 CtIl
promise vOu comfortable quarters here
Il Is rough, but it IS clean and honest.
Before Jessie could reply he had let
her to get her q seat. aud she aINlousl
went to her cousin and said almost Ell
tTe1tingly:
Rex. must we stay here tonight
Pray return if possible TO auntie, SIN
Will be SO anxious about as, and
would rather face any danger than re
main in this queer Out-Of-the-way plac
all night.
sandy Is right. dear; it is impossibl
that we can return tonight. Ny pom
has cast shoe. and il is long JOurue
to be taken in the dark. dare say the
. can make us comfortable; at any rat
we must be content TO put mp wit
whatever fortune oilers " here. as "
It cannot get away. l viii ask the woman
to show you to your room, and lem
'I you another dress, you are Uot JArOugI
e and look cold
Jessie'S heart sank strangely as h
l, left her, that strange cXuitduJ look stil
y, upon his face.
A moment later the woman, who wa
10 called Flora MacEa-. came and 0iTere
Il to show her to bed-chamDer, The WON
A. ans manner was strange, and sh
: seemed to shrink almost tearlu!ly frOn