A Daughter of Fife

weet: how can

e you?" "You I

it." "Sweet,

re." "If fair

uch is all my l

y to whom such

ved for speech th

him, and watched the boat away. It was not a pleasant morning. There had been, a

voice of satisfaction, and David smiled grimly, and reflected audibly, "that it

the cottage together, and she supposed Allan had also gone to Dron Point. When he opened the door the house was empty; but glancing up the beach, he saw Maggie, with her head bent to the smiting rain, slowly

ted presence, the eager longing gaze in his eyes, his outstretched arms, the soft, penetrating utterance of her name, "Maggie! dearest Maggie!" All these things were an instant's revelation to her

ing of thirst has power to resist water. For a few moments she surrendered herself to a joy so pure and so unexpected. "Oh M

eart. When you lookit at me the night you cam' here first, I kent you, and I loved you that vera moment. Whate

e, I will come for y

Loving is from somewhere beyond it. You told me about another l

he other lady, and

e had many a sair heart anent her since you went awa'; and w

And I have told my father that I lov

ir? What

r two years, and during that

or ignorant fisher-lass, I wouldna daur to marry you, unless y

of my own soul. I can ha

, sir. I lo

me,

trol moved her. She put her hands upon his shoulders and kissed hi

nd talked the hours away. Allan had so much to make her understand, and she was anxious in all things to do as he desired. "If you possibly can, my love," he said, "remain h

e that lang, for I'll

rls give their promise, w

the lad they love, and th

ceremony, but it required a slight effort, and the girl stood with her eyes fixed on his whi

With this silver token, I bind

ll. Wi' this siller token, I bin

red promise in each other's face. Allan's heart was too full for words; Maggie, trembling wit

the dawn, true as the moon to the tide. Whene'er

t the window, and the sun glinted in after it, and the village awakened to its daily life and labor, but t

filled the small pitcher, and then smilingly said, "We

e followed her from cupboard to drawer, and stood by her while she spread the

et melancholy of the near parting. They forgot that the wind had changed, and that David would be earlier home for it; forgot all things but the

hung on the kettle, and spread the table, and made all things ready to welcome her aunt. She had not seen her for many years, she had not

linsey, with a ruffled linen cap upon her head, and a faded tartan plaid about her shoulders. David's offer had been a great piece of

tration o' the sea sickness, but the boat was ill rigged and waur managed, and if I hadna bee

l' is thought to be

rs dinna ke

n aboot boa

They lose a gude many ever

Aunt M

en drinking water aboot it. I never could abide pride o' any kind.

rcepted a glance intended for Maggie, and her suspicions were at once roused. Young people, in her opinion, were full of original and acquired sins, and she mad

htly either the Cairds or the Promoters if I ken mysel'": and from the moment of that

unding him. David thought him cool and cross, and was pained by the mood; but Maggie knew the meaning of the worried, slightly haughty manner; for in one quick glance, he had made her

aid, "I was very cross. I did not like that w

fayther's s

k of other things. You have fou

andleriggs Street. That is close by the High Street and vera convenient as to locality. The c

lover, thought of the beloved under any circumstances. No other shadow darkened a friendship that had been so evenly cloudless

. Evidently Archibald had not been warned that day by any peculiar "feeling" of his arrival. There was no conveyance of any kind wa

ks, from the foliage. What delightful mysteries in their nooks! Bird twitterings intimate and charming; chirpings of the mothers to their newly fledged young; little cries of joy, and counsel, and innocent surprises! A large, cool, calm hand was laid upon his heart, the hand of nature; he

a little in advance of him, he saw a woman sitting. Her back was against the trunk of a large tree, her face was turned quite away from him, but he knew it was Mary Campbell. And

then elegantly dressed, her face clear and bright, h

ed head, the unmistakable attitude of grief, and then he looked at Mary's face dimpling with smiles, and at her pretty figure, brave in glistenin

her religious duties; she went to kirk twice, she had the

isted on going to Glasgow; and she stayed in Glasgow until the following Wednesday evening. It wa

her uncle and cousin to finish their wine, she left them well disposed to kindly confidence. For since Allan's return from Fife he had not felt confi

Fife, I sup

I was there

still in th

nge my mind on t

n. However, I will venture no opinion

pool by to-morrow night'

urd

u. Write as often as you can, Allan, I shall weary for your letters."

ecial reason why I shoul

ait two yea

d intellect of all races potently mingled. Mary has a right to be considered; she is evidently embarrassed by your presence; the least you can do for her now, is to relieve her from it. Next spring there will be an opportunity to re-consider matters, if you desire. Money has accumulated belonging to Drumloch, and Mary has decided to expend it on the house. A new wing

io of music. Nothing so winning, nothing that can so charm and haunt your ear-chambers." And they stepp

notation

re in where it da

ure in where wis

e river rove amang

a posie to m

ll pu', the first

the pink, the e

o' womankind and bl

a posie to my

ing rose when Pho

aumy kiss o' her

r constancy, wi'

a posie for m

pure and the

y bosom I'll pla

simplicity of

a posie to my

ll pu' when the e

ps o' dew shall be

modesty, which we

a posie to my

e round wi' the s

her breast, and I'l

reath o' life the ba

be a posie to

weetness were scarcely still, when a serv

"There is an extra kirk session to-night.

ll have his testimony to raise ag

ies. I must not keep th

ime. Don't lose your

inued at the piano, lightly running over with one hand the music she happened to turn. Allan stood on the hearth watching her. Both w

. She could hardly bear the idea of carrying its memory throughout two years. Few as the steps were between herself and Allan, she determined, as she took them, to speak with all the candor which her position gave he

re any thing you can say that will

ary. You took me up before I

there was e

ish secrets, all the troubles and triumphs of my college life, all my youthful entanglements. I had few, very few, secrets from you. I think we both understood by impl

f it. But if the plan had been possible, it was a wise plan; any sensible p

I had thought you cared for me-

that time. You thought only of asserting yourself, your rights, your inclinations. The cro

have some in

ch he cannot even apprehend. Wishes and advices from a father are not commands. You showed a petulant, foolish temper, quite unworthy of you, in turning your back on Uncle

the depths of the Argand lamp. There was no nervous movement of her

your presence at all? The woman I love is as sacred in my eyes as you are. I intend to make her my wife. I should have tol

I tried to make the necessity as easy as possible for you. But imagine how I felt when I came to consider things! I was asked

ng, and to ask as a great sisterly kindness what you gave under a sense of indignation and wrong. I

ile you were away. They revealed the sto

ther all, and he has asked me to go to America for two ye

u think picturesque poverty, you want her, just as you used to want the fastest boat on the river, or the fastest horse in the field. The fact that you ought not to have her, that you cannot have her, except by trampling on all your father's dearest

sat down by her side, and she let him take her hand, and plead the memory of all their past affection for, and reliance on each other. "Be my friend, my sister still, Mary; though you will not answer me, I will trust to you. Let us part kindly no

! She had stung herself all over. She could think of nothing that she had said that she did not wish unsaid; and of many things of sisterly care, and even friendly courtesy, that she had entirely forgotten. Mortification dismissed all other feelings, and she set her reflections to its key. "How glad he must be to have escaped a wife so sharp-tongued and domineering! No doubt that

agrin and disappointment. She rose with alacrity, rang for hot water, brewed his toddy, and affected the greatest interest in the kirk meeting. Indeed she was intereste

t. You would have thought I had proposed a Popish Mass Book, or at least an Episcopal Litany. There will be no

avored an organ

mind the Lord of all the spiritual dangers connected with praising Him with instruments of our own handiwork, he stood up and said, 'I'm not in favor of any music with the Psalms of David, they are far better without it. And if I were willing for the organ box, we are a poor kirk, and cou

put to t

and dour. Nothing less than an earthquake could have made them stir. When those opposed to an organ were requested t

eave his treasures to moths, and dust, and unchecked decay. Uncle, how soon can we begin to build at Drumloch? This organ business h

on as possible. The people are looking forward to your return. You will be happier among them. We can

irl. The garden in which Allan had made her that pretence of an offer, the parlor in which she had given way to such a petulant, disagreeable temper,