The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-25
BONNIE BESSIE.

"Bonnie Bessie" every one called her
and rightly enough; for Of all the high
land lassies who gathered at the littlo Kirk
Sabbath mornings not onewas half so
pretty and winning as Bessie
Squire Renfrew Of the Red pass was
desperately in love with Bessie and sought
10 make her his wife in spite of difference
| In rank. The herds at the Red pass were
the finest and largest in she neighborhood
| The barn and storehouses were always well
! filled. He was bachelor something over
twoscore years old, and he wanted Bon
ME Bessie for his wife
eff the Iassie thinks she can fancy me, "
he said, addressing Bessie's grandmother,
as he stood under the low, brown raftors
of the little Black Lynn cottage, a hot
| flush mounting to the shining crown Of
his bald head-'if the lasse thinks she
can fancy me, the bargain $ made. I'm
ready and willing to lead her to the kirk
! tomorrow, and if a good true husband
and some gold and siller will make her
happy, she'll be as happy as a queen at the
Red pass.
Bessie listened with wide, startled eyes,
| held her peace, standing tall and slim in
sort of stunned silence, until her gray
haired lover had taken his leave. Then
she burst forth into vehement, passionate
protest.
The old grandmother suffered her to
storm until her passion was spent
"Well, It's DER now, and yen simmer
down and keep quiet, mebbe. I've let yo
have yer say, and now I'll have mine.
We're poor folk, me and ye. | found it
hard to get bread when l had but my own
mouth to feed, and since I've been bur
dened VII ye I've gone to bed mony
night fit to cry wi hunger. But I've
borne it all and done my best, and always
been willing to gil ye share O. my last
crust. "
But dearest grandma
"Now, lookee here, my lass, interrupt
ed the old woman, lifting her bony finger
and glowering fiercely upon Bessie, IF
ye're fule enou' to refuse this good fortin,
that ends it 'twiXt us two. Ye pack out
o. my house and meier cross the threshold
again"
The springtime came and the wedding
day was close at hand when one evening,
just before the cleaning, Bessie went to
fill her pitcher as usual at the rocky spring
near by. She had accomplished her task
and lifted the pitcher to her shoulder and
had started for the cottage, her white,
shapely feet twinkling prottily below the
short petticoat as she stepped from stone
to stone in crossing the little brawling
stream, when suddenly She uttered s6itled
cry, and, staggering to moss grown bowl
der, sat down and put the pitcher hastily
on the ground, pressing her hand On her
heart and trembling all over
It's his ghaist; it's his ghaist," she
cried, "and, oh, how sair he looked at me!
He has come from his grave. I dare ma,
dare ma do it. Oh, forgive me, Jamie,
that l ever thought o. it.
She drew a silken cord which encircled
her throat from her bosom as she spoke
and kissed the slender hoop of silver which
depended from it. "I'll never ha peace if
l marry the squire, she said, land /
ought ma to ha' it. | shall feel I am
traitor. And, oh, Jamie, Jamie, after all,
l love no one but you, and never can. "
Suddenly she rose, with resolution
stamped on every feature Leaving her
pitcher there, she tossed back her abundant
locks as she finished this abjuration and
went speeding away through the falling
darkness with the light foot of q chamois.
When she reached the Red pass the
bright glow of the warm inglosde LIT the
windows. She approached the nearest one
and pressed her sad, tired yet resolute
face against the glass
A minute, and she tapped lightly
against the glass. The squire turned
quickly, stared, and then started to his
feet.
''Well now, well now, what's the mean.
ing of this2" he cried, rushing across the
room and throwing up the window
Bessie, my lassie, what's happened?"
Something that never should ha' hap
pened," she answered, looking at him
with a sort of desperate defiance and
drawing the gold ring from her finger as
she spoke. Eve come to give this back |
to you, Squire Renfrew. 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 Aud Robin Grey, maybe, haven't |
youY''
YES, have. But what then?"
"Well, | had a Jamie once, she went
on, clutching at the little silver ring sus-
pended from her neck, a great throb of |
pain shaking her "IIa gave me this, and
can t ever wear any other ring. He-he !
went off 20 seek his fortune, with an |
other represscd sob, land he was lost at !
sea- tried to forget him, but 1 cannot. |
| can't keep my promise to you, Squire |
Renfrew-I-I couldn't feel like she did |
to Aud Robin Grey should hate YOU |
i should And here she broke down |
completely.
He took the ring she offered and paused |
for moment. A look Of unutterabie pain
and regret came into his eyes.
$50, he said slowly, "you have come
TO tell me this, and to ask for your free
dom? And you really think, too, you have
seen Jamie's ghaist?"
Yes. And l shall never return to
grandmother again. dare not. So | am
going away"
Bessie, my darling" cried voice, as
his strong arm clasped her. The next
moment she was on the breast of her
lover, who had come back alive and safe.
A few days after there was happy
marriage at the kirk, Squire Renfrew
himself giving away the bride, our Bon
ME Bessie.-New York News
Nicely of Etiouette