News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-05-11

Hastening to little hostelry near
by, | deposited my travelling robe and
satchel, ordered supper and hurried
thither. Why | cannot tell you! Only
the insane desire, if you will, to meet
my fate.
She was not there.
My destination lay farther on, to n
little inland lake, Loeb Veil, in Perth,
and among its banks and braes | was
to sojourn for time. Then crossing
the country, | would go to Braemar,
in the heart of the Grampian Noun
tains, and in that ancient Caledonian
| forest under the birch, alder and rO-
wan, hunt the red deer, grouse, roes
and ptarmigan and Alpine hare in
this country, historic as the place
where the Earl of Mar first raised his
standard, in 1715, for the Pretender.
1t had been a Joy long anticipated
with me, this visit to this land. But
now all was swallowed up in the re-
membrance of this fisherman's daugh-
ter, she whose features had not even
| deserted.
So l fingered with growing i'm
patience at Linlithgow, longing for
the day of days to arrive, Friday, the
principal market day, when old Don
aid Kerne and his yellow-haired
daughter would come with their bur-
den of fish.
True, l might have gone to them,
as l had learned every step of the
rough pathway, but an unaccounta-
| bic (shall | call it bashfulness? de-
tered me. | could give no good and
| sufficient reason for intruding upon
the twain in their rude home, and
from what l had also learned, they
were not prepared to keep strangers,
and the toilsome journey to my un-
accustomed feet, or more disagreeable
idea of riding a Highland pony, for
the way was long, did much to pre-
vent me.
was up betimes on market morn,
and, hastily partaking OF an early
breakfast, was off.
knew just where to find her; my
tongue had not been idle in asking
questions. l knew, too, in what es-
TEEN this fisherman's daughter was
held, and if the words of the "guid
people were true, which l did not
! doubt, how very beautiful she must
be.
was hardly prepared tor the eX-
| quisite vision as it met my view, how
ever, as, abruptly turning the corner
of a market stall, came upon her.
1t was a beautiful morning in early
summer; the sun shone resplendently
and the fragrance from the heath be-
yond the city was borne on the air
and OverpOwered for the nOnce the
| odor emanatiDg from the fish-sUall.
Old Donald, with his quaint Scotch
cap placed jauntily on his snowy
locks, his rugged features aglow with
the fresh morning air, his short black
pipe between his lips, was lazily puff
ing away, sitting upon an empty keg,
| his tOil-worn hands crossed upon his
knees, watching with evident pride,
the movements of his pretty daugh-
| ter.
Pretty! did not mean that In
agine the fairest thing the sun ever
shone upon and you will scarcely
have an adequate idea of my mean
ing.
In height she was about the medi-
um, with softly rounded arms and a
perfect figure. Her sleeves were up
to the elbow, disclosing the dimples
that lurked therein; about her snowy
throat a silken kerchief of blue was
carelessly tied and her facel Eyes
like the violets bathed in dew, with
sweeping lashes of golden and brows
the same; features as regular as
though chiseled out of marble, and
as fair; lips scrimson-tinted, disclosing
teeth like pearls. Her hair, like bur
nished gold, hung below her waist,
tied back with a ribbon. A faint col
or shone on her delicately rounded
cheek, and her poise was perfect.
Beautiful in looks as the Divine Ar
tist had painted her, there was yet a
subtle charm about her that exceed
ed ali this; the charm of maidenly
modesty and purity, that guileless
artlessness and simplicity of child
hood, so indescribable, wavered over
her as halo.
She made low courtesy as she's
me approaching the stand.
Good friend, fair morrow" she
said simply, and smiled, Such a
smilel 1t made her radiant.
Old Donald arose, and in their sim
pie Gaelic tongue they praised and
offered their glistening fish for sale.
had no need to purchase, but l
did SO, and fingered long to bask in
the wondrous charms and exquisite
beauty of this little fisher maiden.
Days ran into weeks. and still tar
ried in and near Linlithgow. Health
for which | came to this country, fol-
lowed in the long early morning
walks, and the rugged pathway to
old Donald's rude home became ac-
quainted with my football.
But a change began to make itself
apparent in the gray-haired fathers
welcOmings. He was social, and
liked me "aye fu' weel" as long as
my visits were to him; but he noted
the flush on Maggie's cheek and the
| eager light in her lain blue cen" at
my approach, and grew distant.
She was his Zone eve lamb" his
idol, and although he did not doubt
my honor and sincerity, he thought
of the strange land beyond the sea,
to which he would never consent to
go, and his own loneliness and de-
spair were she to leave him.
In vain | appealed to him, but it
was useless. He was stern and firm.
"She Gamma go, it is nae RIGHT"
And 1 received my dismissal
With pale face and frightened eyes
sweet Maggie clasped my hand at
parting, and then we esaid " Farewell" )"
did not dare look back at the lit
tie figure outlined against the even
ing sky, and my last whisper had
been, 1--WE can wait" For Donald
was old.
In a few days | was off to the Gram
plan Mountains, but restless and i'll
at ease could not remain there, and
returned to LinlithgOw. Before the
dawn, was at the market place, hut
the usual hour passed and still old
Donald and his daughter did not
make their appearance. Questioning,
none seemed to know why they were
absent, whose place had not been va
cant before for many years.
1.-THE bald storm a the nicht may
ha keppit him" said one, and, wild
with an unaccOuntablea apprehension,