The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

262 The Hzo-kiaiid Monthly.
Three years passed on, and one day Mary Murray and
Edward Dillon stood side by side on the path which led
from the high road, through the grounds surrounding her
father's mansion. He appeared to be earnest!}- pleading,
while the lady stood thinking in silence, with a half a\crted
face. At length he appeared to have gained his point, for
he exclaimed in joyful tones, as he bent dow n and kissed
her cheek, " A month to-day and Mary Murra)- shall be m\'
bride." He had scarcely uttered these words when a loud
and scornful laugh burst upon his ear, and, glancing to
where the sound issued from, he beheld a tall man with a
long, flowing, white beard, standing in the centre of the
road gazing fixedly upon them. He hastily drew Mary
away, telling her, as he did so, that he must return at once
and find out the cause of the old man's rudeness. Having
led Mary into the house, he immediately issued forth again,
and with hasty strides came towards the spot where the old
man stood. The latter, on observing his approach, began
to step slowly away, as if making for the village. Dillon
soon came up with him, and grasping him rudcl\- by the
shoulder, demanded in angry tones why he had conducted
himself so insolently in the hearing of a lad\-. " That,'
replied the old man, shaking him off and facing him, " is no
business of yours." "By heaven," cried Dillon, " \'ou do
not proceed another step until you explain to me the reason
of your conduct, and also tender an ample apology for so
gross and unwarranted an outrage."
" To explain my con-
duct to you and to apologise," replied the old man in a firm
though passionate voice, " is what I shall never do, and
which you, though possessed of all the fire and energy of
youth, cannot force me to do, though I am, as you perceive,
but an old greyheaded man. I will, ho\\e\'er, tell you one
thing which will not bring you much comfort or consolation.
You said yonder at the archway which spans the path on
which you stood a short while ago, in my hearing, 'a month
to-day and Mary Murray shall be my bride.' Xovr, hearme
—A month to-day and Mary Murray shall be a bride, but not