Nevada County picayune., 1891-11-12

IT ed the nearest one, and pressed her sad, tired, yet resolute face against the glass.
 The squire sat within-pretty, tasteful things all about him, hap py, musing expression on his plain fatherly face. Bessie watched him for 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, cant bear to think of it."
 A minute, and she tapped lightly against the glass. The squire turn ed quickly, stared, and then started to his feet.
 Well now, well now, what's the meaning O this?" he cried rushing across the room and throwing up the window. Bessie, my lassie, what S happened!"
 Something that never should ha' happened," she answered, looking with sort of desperate defiance, and drawing the gold ring from her finger as she spoke. five come to give this back to you, Squire Ren- frew. l was wrong ever to let you put it on.'
 Why, child, what do you mean:'
 'Take your ring she said. "You've heard of 'Auld Robin Grey,' maybe, haven't you?'
 ''les, 1 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 give me this, and 1 cant ever wear any other ring. He-he-went off to seek his fortune," with another repressed sob, "and he was lost at sea. l tried to forget him, but 1 cannot. cant keep my promise to you, Squire Renfrew-I-I could not feel like she did to 'Auld Robin Grey'-I should hate you, should. !" And here she broke down completely. ] He took the ring she offered, and paused for moment. A look of unutterablc pain and regret came in- to his kind eyes.
 So he said, slowly, you have come to tell me this, and to ask for your freedom: And you really think, too, you have seen Jamie's ghalst:"
 "Ies; and 1 shall never return to grandmother again dare not. So l am going away"
 He laid his hand on her head.
 "I am glad that you came to tell me" he said ''it is better that l should know this now than later. l am sorry, Bessie. I'd set my whole heart on making you happy, But a bird caged against its will hates cage and keeper. You are free.
 "God bless you," she sohbed, ''and goodbye" "
 Nay, nay" he said, tenderly, mot goodbye. Go back to the fold, my poor, pretty lamb go back to the 'auld grandchildren I'll make it all right for you, never you fear"
 Greatly wondering, the girl re- traced her steps to Black Lynn. The morrow came, and with it appeared the squire.
 five come to beg your pardon, '" he said, addressing Bessie, but talk ing care to do it in the presence of her grandmother, and to ask for my liberty back again. I've changed my mind about taking a wife, Mither Burns" and he turned to the old lady. II am better as am
 He took his leave after few more words, and then the old woman not for one moment deceived by his generous conduct, turned on Bessie savagely.
 Its all your silly capers," she cried; II see it all. He loves you so that he takes the blame, when it's wholly your fault. Ohl me. Oh! me. thought to spend my old age in peace and plenty, and now I'm left to starve, and all because of you, you ungrateful child"
 All that night and all the next day the reproaches went on. Towards the gloaming, Bessie took up her pitcher to go to the spring for water, glad to escape for even quarter of an hour from her grandmother s rage.
 She had filled her pitcher again, again was tripping across the little