Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-02-17


lips. She 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.
| We'll, It's Ger now, and yell simmer
down and keep quiet, mebbe. I've let
We have yer say, and now I'll have
mine. We're poor folk, me and We.
found it hard to get bread when | had
but my own mouth to feed, and since
I've been burdened wi We 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 We a
share O. lay last crust"
/ But, dearest grandma
Now, lookee here, my lass" inter-
rupted the old woman, lifting her bony
finger and glowering flercely upon Bes-
sic, "if ye're fule enou' to refuse this
/ good fortin that ends it 'twiXt us two.
/ Ye pack out o my house and ne'er
c, oss the threshold again"
The springtime came and the we'd
ding day was close at hand when one
eI ening just before the cleaning, Bes-
sic went to fill her pitcher as usual at
the rocky spring near by She had &C
complished her task and lifted the
pitcher to her shoulder and had start
ed for the cottage, her white shapely
viii, IL n i1v hollow Tho oh
petticoat as stepped from stone to
stone in crossing the little brawling
stream, when suddenly she uttered
stifled cry, and, staggering to moss
81 own bowler, sat down and pat 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, land, on, how sair he looked at
me! He has come from his grave. l
dare ma, dare ma do it. Oh, forgive
me, Jamie, that l ever thought O it."
She drew a silken cord which en-
Circled her throat from her bosom as
she spoke and kissed the slender hoop
of silver which depended from it. "Ill
never ha' peace if marry the squire"
she said, 'and l ought ma to ha it.
shall feel l 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
81 oh EnichDl thic
abjuration and went speeding away
through the falling darkness with the
light foot of channels.
When she reached the Red pass, the
bright glow of the warm ingIeside lit
the windows. She approached the
nearest one and pressed her sad, tired,
yet resolute face against the glass.
I A minute and she tapped lightly
against the glass The squire turned
quickly, stared, and then started to his
feet.
We'll now, well now, what's the
meaning of this?" he cried, rushing
across the room and throwing up the
window. Bessie, my lassie, what's
happened?"
Something that never should ha'
| happened" 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. 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 Auld Robin Grey, maybe,
haven't your"
Yes, | have. But what then?
well, had Jamie once, she went
! on, clutching at the little silver ring
suspended from her neck, a great throb
of pain shaking her. HE gave me this,
and | can't ever wear any other ring.
! He-he-went off to seek his fortune.
with another repressed sob, "and he
was lost at sea. l tried to forget him,
but l cannot. / can't keep my promise
to you, Squire Renfrew--I-l couldn't
feel like she did to Aud Robin Grey
! | should hate you'll should And
here she broke down completely.
He took the ring she offered and
! PAUSED for moment A look of I'M
utterable pain and regret came into, his
ey es.
so" he said slowly, you have come
to tell me this, and to ask for your
freedom? AID you really think, too,
you have seen Jamie's ghaist?'
Yes. And l shall never return to
grandmother again. l dare not. SO
am going away
Bessie, my darling" cried a voice,
as his strong arm clasped her. The
next moment she was on the breast of
her lover, who had come back alive
J and safe.
A few days after there was happy
marriage at the kirk, Squire RenfreW
! himself giving away the bride, our
Bonnie Bessie.-New York News