The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-15
BONNIE BESSIE.

"Bonnie Bessie every one called her,
and rightly enough; for of all the high
land lassies who gathered at the little kirk
Sabbath mornings not one was half SO
pretty and winning as Bessie.
SQUIRE Renfrew of the Red pass was
desperately in love with Bessie and sought
to make her his wife in spite of difference
in rank. The herds at the Red pass were
the finest and largest in the neighborhood.
The barn and storehouses were always well
filed. He was bachelor, something over
twoscore years old, and he wanted Bon
ME Bessie for his wife.
'tIf the Iassie thinks she can fancy me, -
he said, addressing Bessie's grandmother,
as he stood under the low, brown rafters
of the little Black Lynn cottage, a hot
flush mounting to the shining crown of
his bald head-''if the lasSie thinks she
can fancy me, the bargains made. I'm
ready and willing to lead her to the kirk
tomorrow, and if 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,
burning cheeks and guivering lips. She
held her peace, standing tall and slim in
a 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, tits o'er now, and yen simmer
down and keep quiet, mebbe. I've let 20
have yer say, and now I'll have mine.
We're poor folk, me and ye. I found it
hard to get bread when had but my own
mouth to feed, and since I've been bur-
dened wi 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 gi' ye a share o. my last
crust -
But, dearest grandma
tNoW. lookee here, my lass, - interrupt
ed the old woman, lifting her bony finger
and gloWering fiercely upon Bessie, if
yere fule enou to refuse this good fortin,
that ends it 'twixt US two Ye pack out
O. my house and ne'er 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 prettily below the
short petticOat as she stepped from stone
to stone in crossing the little brawling
stream, when suddenly she uttered stifled
cry, and, staggering to a moss grown bowl
der, sat down and put the pitcher hastily
on the ground, pressing her hand on her
heart and trembling all over.
f'Its his ghaist; it's his ghaist," she
cried, land, oh, how sair he looked at mel
He has come from his grave. dare ma,
dare ma do it, Oh, forgive me, Jamie,
that 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'u never ha' peace if
A., -T,o 4 7
ought ma to ha' it. shall feel 1 am a
traitor. And, oh, jamie. Jamie, after all,
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 chamois.
When she reached the Red pass, the
bright glow of the warm ingleside 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 this?'' 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. 1--WE come to give this back
to you, Squire Renfrew. was wrong
ever to let you put it on"
F'Why, child, what do you mean?''
''Take your ring" she said. you've
heard of Auld Robin Grey, maybe, haven't
you?''
Eyes, have. But what thenP'
ttWell, 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. ''He gave me this, and
I can't ever wear any other ring. He-he
went off to seek his fortune with an
other repressed sob, land he was lost at
sea- / tried to forget him, but cannot.
I can't keep my promise to you, Squire
Ronfrew-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 a moment. A look Of unutterable pain
and regret came into his eyes
$50, he said slowly, ''you have como
to tell me this, and TO ask for your free
dom? And you really think, too, you have
seen Jamies ghaist?''
Eyes. And 1 shall never return to
grandmother again. dare not. So am
going away
Bessie, my darling cried voice, as
his strong arm olasped 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 a happy
marriage at the kirk, Squire Renfrew
himself giving away the bride, our Bon
ME Bessie.-New York News.
Nicely of Etiquette.
A true gentleman usually feels that it