The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-30


would have let rpc. For / saw that she
would not even shake me by the hand
for old salxe's sake. And i desired to
save her the pain Of refusing.
Now let all men judge If my heart was
mot full to the brim' of dule and waeful-
mess that day as went down the bonny
lknowes of the Cluden side. For, saving
the brothers whom had left behind,
had not a friend in the world. And
when the heart is sore for lass and her
1cl<leness, it is not the love of brothers
that brings much solid comfort. 1
thought chiefly indeed that another
would kiss the lovely mouth / had
.longed TO kiss. and felt for my knife
Ito kill him for it.
BY the Red Yetts heard pittcr-
ratter on the grass, and there, running
behind me, was my dog Royal, racing
from side to side of the way and smell
ing at rabbit holes as if had been go-
ing little dauncr to see the lasses in
Ithe gloaming. / bade him go home, but
he did nothing but sit and look at me.
considering, as it were, with his wise
head to the side. Nor would he bulge
an inch when spoke angrily, but only,
lay and covered his head between his
paws SO meelsly that could not beat
him for very pity.
So, though feared that they would
not abide him at the quarters of the
Dragons in Dunfries, had perforce to
Jet him follow on. And indeed he abode
with ME ever after, and is even now with
the regiment.
When came to Claverhouse's lodging
4 went boldly up to the sentinel and de-
manded of him to see Col. Graham.
"Ho, Bluebonnet," cried he, "it is not
Ioften that Whig comes speering for
that name. What might you want OF
him, my brave Whiggie?"
"An' you had not that long piece in
your hand with the pudding pricker at
the end, / would cen show you to
Awhom you speak," said /, shutting my
lists; "but an you want to know, I
come to enlist In his Majesty's drag
oons."
When the soldier heard that his mood
changed, and. very good-naturedly, he
told me where should find Cornet
Graham, who had charge of the re-
cruiting. To him went, and we agreed
so well that in an hour was being
measured for my accoutrement by the
rcgimental tailor.
Then, when for the first time Trooper
Patrick Vernon. eldest son to John ver-
nor. OF Irongray. rode out, judge We
what cry there was in all the country
aide. Some there were who said that
4 did but play the old game of "Heads,
4 win; tails, my father does" For
(said they) IL the King keeps his own,
1rongray is safe in the hands Of that
good soldier of his Majesty and of Claw
erhouse's, Private Patrick Vernon; but
bfthewild Wings triumph in their Whig-
kery-why, here is the patriot and suf-
1erer, John Vernon, restored to full pos
session, and, in addition. all his fines
and kings dues are remitted.
/, But among the folk of the hillside |
and the field meeting / was outcast and !
thrice accursed. For soon after my en- |
listing there ensued the widest times |
that we had ever had in Galloway--sud- |
den marches during the night, moor
land houses searched, half dozen poor, |
ignorant praying lads turned out, some |
to get their quietus at the dyke-baclS
with a charge of powder and musket
bullet. the rest to go stringing away
10 Edinburgh on the backs of sorry
nags, their feet tied under the bellies of |
their horses. 1t was weary work; and
In my own country side / liked il i'll
enough. But was not the man to 20
back; and, indeed, what, when all was
paid and done, had to 60 back to?
Then IN awhile there came better or t
pt. For the folk Of the Covenant began
TO gather into disciplined companies
and make a stand. And then, what rid
1ng and chasing there was between gar
Prison and garrison--Col. Douglas at
Morton borrowing troopers from Capt.
bruce, of Earlshall, at Crichton Peel.
and both being drawn upon by John
Graham, of Claverhouse, who kept at
Dumfries the head bees byke, from
which we swarmed out in all directions
TO win honey from the Whiggish pas
lures OF Galloway.
So we went on, riding and killing till
1t happened that we lay. one day, a hot
Sabbath, by hill side. ond we had
marched all night to take the Conventi-
clers in the midst of their preaching.
1t was about the noontide. and we were
lying idly in the covert, with our horses
cropping the coarse. lush grasses of
the little forest glades. We could easily
hear the sound of the preachers voice
from where we lay. and by crawling to
the edge of the coppice we could see
him--a tall, thin lad. with a fresh and
beautiful countenance.
"Ideclare." said Sergt. Driscoll. below
his breath, IF / had not seen Psalm
Singing Pat there lying on bis belly ana
eucking OF a straw. / had thought that
he had given us the slip and gone back
20 his old business. That preacher loon
a. the very moral OF him."
But II was too hot there in the wood
to handy words With a cross-eyed thief
of the Kings pet Irishry. So let Dris-
coi, tal'r on beeded not NJ all what