The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-10-20
OCTOBER 20 1894

cottage and this man were in some way 10 become concerned In my owr mountain experiences; but 1t was only a fieeting fancy instantly dispelled. fol l heard earnest and protestive voices but few feet distant, apparently pro eeeding from the open space in front oi the cottage at whose corner stood.
 We ha' glen ye five years. Betty Bamthet." came first in measured and reproaehful tones, "on'y t ha' ye gie Matt curbison tn sneck-posset (the cold shouider)."
 "Ay. ladder" This quietly and de. terminediy from some lass near the first speaker.
 An we're no nearer weedlock nor iver" added some elderly woman i'm. patiently and complainingly,
 "Ay. mudder;" the lass responded in the same set and logged tone.
 "Dost see Matt sheakin' ees fist at t auld pleace. Betty?"
 "Ay. fadderV
 So cell sheak ee's fist at a us, Bet. ty."
 Let i'm sheak an sheak an keep on sheakln'. Afore I'd weed sec m auld bogle-banes. Pd-Pd cast myself tn beckw
 "Lans a marcyw whimpered the mother in dismay.
 "Ay, in tn beck. Did ye weed sec a bogle-banes? Was ladder sec skin. ny. dried auld chip? Did we're ane mudder worrit yer heart still, tell ye gaed in t sec fate, mudder?"
 The mother was sllenced by this impetuous pleading, but the father spoke up sternly and at once.
 If yer gran n'mudder had tow'd her do this or van, she'd done 1t. Betty Bamthet. She'd ne'er haddered out her poor auld leef"
 What dost ee mean, fadder?" retort. ed the girl indignantly.
 "Aw mean we're layin' a beadless curse on us a. fra yer poapsh ways Who's standin' atween our maxim tn three gradley pleaces ain-nabuddy'l claim t ither an we'll get 1t for a sang but yerser? Lass, lassw he contin. ued pleadingly. If ye'd on'y talk auld Matt afore ee drappit oaff! Fell swat oos iihC tl IuSu-lCtl LII WttIu. bel ty, Betty! Think over 1t; there's g sonsy lass. Wed ha' a tn daa atween us then!
 "Ay, Betty dear, think over it-thinI over it." came wheedlingly from the mother
 There was a little silence now. Ther I heard few firm steps moving toward the fa thar and fo1lou,ipo tbaca oo ,,,. caressing sounds. I could not see the girl. but I now knew she was standing beside him, stroking his face and head softly. Then she spoke to him almost tenderly.
 "Theer, theer, ladder. Gie me a wee bit time. I'll ma snabe (flouD auld Mat mair. Gle me four weeks, o'ny foul weeks, ladder. Then-if nabuddy cooms, fadder-I'n talk auld Matt, skir banes, powe, barrow-back an a.? Ye can gle me four weeks, fadder?"
 "Ay, Betty, four weeks; ma mair mind, Betty. An we'll ha tn three gradley pleaces ain!'
 "Lans a marcy!' chimed in the moth. CT joyously. "We'n ha' Matt an Betty struttin' ava t kurk wi sonsy rowtt O frien's!'
 It was easy to know that the totter. ing old man who had cursed the de serted cottage as he passed 1t was Mat Curbison; that the father and mother taking no account of the most sacret longings of the human heart, had fol years endeavored to wean the daugh ter from some ill-fated attachment that their own sordid natures were sole. ly set on adding to their mountain acres, and that the lass had made 8 last weak and pitiful shift to gain time and peace for the almost hopeless hope to which her heart still clung.
 It was strange, sad pastoral drama which had been partially revealed tc me, thought, before had set eyes or a single participants face And I won. dered if was destined to in some mex plicable way change its dolorous course for its thus far unheeded victim.
 With these feelings and reflections strong upon me, I presented myself at David Bamthet's home and met with the same hospitable welcome which is ever an honest travellers within these glorious mountain wilds.
 Mother and daughter after the first greeting disappeared to prepare the midday meal; and David Bamthet, talk ing a huge horn from above his wide