Daily Republican., 1888-05-17
THE LOvnks OF LYNN

for forty years l have run the ferry
here. / had y sweetheart named Jen,
ME once, and al her mother never
liked me, we used to meet here at the
ferry on Sunday afternoons, and I'd
row her about until sunset. AT such
q time / never bothered my head
whether people wanted to cross or
not.
We hoped in time to bring the old
mother around to our way of think.
ing, but year passed and then she
wanted Jessie to marry rich old Mr..
McGregor.
suggested we should run away TO
Edinburgh to get married, and at last
she agreed and we fixed on the COM
ing Saturday as the day for fight.
When the hour OF our meeting came
there was no sign OF Jessie, and grew
despairing. / feared her mother had
learned all. s5.-
At last, as the twilight fell and l
was in despair, l saw her standing on
the shore, She was dressed in all
white, and remember thinking that
it was not like my sensible Jessie to
deck herself like bride for dusty
journey to the dirty town, where we
| were anxious to hide from any who
might follow. But when l had taken
The boat across / saw that she had no
bag OF parcel with her, that she had
not even hat upon her head. What
she wore was sort of a robe loosely
hanging OF her figure, and her feel
were bare.
". h. mother has Ii cke her up"
said to myself, "and she's escaped just
\ this way, brave lass" And took of
my plaid and made ready to put 1t
around her when she got in.
When l got close TO her SO that ]
could bee her face it was as pale as a
lily. l WAS frightened at 1t, and ]
called out: "What have they beer
doing to you, lassieP' She made nc
answer, but came into my boat
Don't touch me yet" she said, bul
she took my plaid and laid it abouI
her, and looked at me sad and strange
and woful.
II said / would come, and I came y
she whispered. "Oh, Jamie, lad, we
might have been SO happy"
"We will" l said, ''Come to me,
Jessie"
"Oh, Jamie" she said again, "don'
touch me yet. Lengthen the moment,
as long as you can, for when yor
touch me must 20. I'll be yours in
Heaven, Jamie, remember that"
'But here first, JESSIE" | said
"You shall never go back to those
who have used you so ILL., .
mo, l shall never go back sh'
said
The voice was not JessIe's, it was S,
sad and faint. The face was white
than marble. The eyes seemed l.
look at me through mist; and, in
deed, a mist was all about her
l drew my oars into the boat.
Come close, JESSIE" said. "Te
mo all. Let me make you warm /
my arms. "
/ stretched them out, She shran
away,
oh, Jamiel Jamiel' she sigheC
s'the cold mould must hap me, NJ
your arms, Death is my bridegroom
Good -byel Good .byel Good byel"
] caught her In my arms. 1t was /
if l had plunged into the heart of
cold mist. | saw her, but could nj
! hold her as she faded away.
An hour afterwards some one four
] me drifting in boat. was ut OF n
head, and l WAS Ill lorg while.
When came to myself they to
me that as waited for my love in N
boat on the great lock, she lay shrou
? ed in her mothers home. She di,
suddenly of heart disease, after teri
BILE scene with the old woman.
I've never lef the loch since. T.
been the ferryman ever since, but it
not for the money. hope alwa
|. that some day may see Jessie ont
|l bank again, that at least once mo
u her spirit will sail with me over t
blue water perhaps at the nome
when am re ady to go away with b
to the Heaven where she has been
many years.