Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-06-14
ROBERT JARDINE'S
WOOINC - - ~
An Annandale Rom ance.

| posy to keep you from feelin' lone
some"
He patted her shoulder and rushed
out. The kitchen was filled with frag
rance from bunch of violets on the
table. She buried her face in thell
cool, purple beauty.
He's faithful SOUL Robert Jar
dine" she said to herself. "A body
might do worse than take him at his
word-some day"
She turned to take the bag and lock
1t up in the safe. 1t was gone! Two
| of the sovereigns lay on the floor. A
hasty hand had snatched the bag and
dropped them out. She saw 1t all In q
dreadful vision, and the hand she saw
was Robert Jardine's! 1t all flashed
IN grim detail on her limited brain
His hints of losses, his tiurried air.
There was mortgage on The Willows
perhaps the interest was not ready
He knew she could never charge her
fathers friend and her own with theft.
And SO she thought bitterly he had
robbed lonely woman. She paced
the room wringing her hands. The
pine logs Were dying into ashes. and
the air was chill. She closed the win.
dow, picking up her overturned work.
table. Robert Jardine thief! And
this was the end of it all. She never
knew till then how strongly she had
cherished the thought of a lOve-lit
home and little children round her
knee. No, she could never marry a
thief. But, surely, it had been a sud
den impulse; he would come back and
explain. She would lend him all he
needed. She heard the servants voices
at the rear. The show was over. The
farmers springcarts flew past, the
east wind sighed through the pines.
She listened for the rapid hoof. beats
Of Roberts chestnut. Yes, there he
comes-slower; he is going to stop.
No; he passes on. She buries her face
In her hands. and. like dirge of lost
love. comes the murmur of the river
flowing Gown from Ericstane Brae.
Then she started up, and Selling the
violets-his sweet gift-she flung them
into the fire. piling fresh logs upon
thea, and watching them writhe and
squlrm lille living things.
But when ,he maids came in she was
calm. and none Of them guessed that
their mistress had t.Nlched the border
land Of tragedy that night.
week passed, in which she did not
pnhnpt In Il 1t,
of her loss; it would be her secret
and his. She heard among the gOssps
In the porch that he had gone to Glas.
gov. and that he was making soma
improvements on the farm.
He'll be takin hame his wife some
o thae days, Miss Esther" said old
Mrs Burrows. the matchmaker of the
town. "An she'll no can say him nav.
It's lang he has waited. an its q guild
farm. The Willows: an he's gey
decent lad. Robert Jardine."
Esther smiled at her.
He came on market day, but there
was n crowd in the porch. anl the
benches We're filled with smokers. She
did not see him till Afternoon. Ee
took his usual stand on the hearth, and
looked around.
Your violets will be withered by
now?" he sail. "I'll bring you fresh
ones. They're fine the now down the
bank where mother planted them, an
the daffy down dillies. as Molly calls
them. are comm out, in the long
meadow. You're fond o. flowers. Els
Their? They're real heartsome."
Yes" she answered coldly. I'm
for takin' in more ground at the rear
an plantin' a flower garden.
He stared blanlly at her.
You're what? An what for would
you lay out money for other folk that
way. Esther? The Willows Will be
ready for you. an what's to hinder
the weddin'? I'm wearyin' for ye."
She looked straight IN his eyes. How
could he meet her glance and know
he had robbed her?
"There'll be no weddin' for me, Rob-
ert Jardine," she said. you'll have to
seek your wife elsewhere"
He started forward to grasp her
hand, but she pushed him back.
mo word more shall cross my lips;
but well you know l can never marry
yOu-n0w."
Never marry me? An what for,
do you think, I have been tollin a.
these years If it wasna to make n
home for you? An now you say you
can never marry me-
He stood before her, his face working
with emotion.
I'm no great things. maybe, but I'm
your faithful lover, Esther, an you're
not goin' to throw me over In the face
o. a the neighbors. It's not as If we
We're strangers; you ken me lang
enough"
"Ay. fine ken you, Robert" she
pier woman this day If l didna.'
I'm hanged IL l can make out wha
you're drivin at" he retorted in an
ger. ...Wiu ye speak straight. an tell
me why you're thorwin' me over?
You're mair glib wi the speech than
me-"
81 have nothing to say II you have
not. l cannot help what the neighbors
think. l do not mean to marry you"
$50 be it, then. You'll be flashed wi
me nae MAR. Ye can spier me when
We want ME back" he said, fiinging
out. She watched him mounting his
spring cart, and unwilling tears cloud
ed her sight.
Snow fell late that year. checking
the promise of spring. and the hedges,
instead Of whitening with hawthorn
buds, were weighted with pallid
burden. There was much gossip over
the cessation of Robert Jardine's WOO
ing. for every one was interested in
the love story Of the mistress Of the
Black Bull.
Esther's heart was heavy. and as the
snow began to thaw she turned her
thoughts to the garden she meant to