The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

390
The Highland Mont/Uy.
" I met her the other day, and, by George, she verily
made my hair rise on end, her curses were so Satanic and
deep. I suppose her corp criadh can hold no more pins,
and she has taken herself to the Devil and Gaelic incanta-
tions. The doom of the house of Stuart is at hand, said
she
"
" Poor creature, she was born out of her time, I fear
she should have lived a century ago, and been burned in a
tar barrel."
" Then, you believe in the second sight of witches," pur-
sued Richard,
" In this case I believe in the spite of an old crone
whom I cleared off my estate as a nuisance, and a thief to
boot. However, we'll not discuss the subject. I'm off to
saddle Peter ;
there's lots of things to do this morning."
" The old man is superstitious," Richard muttered to
himself, as he finished his breakfast, " but the old hag will
find me better metal. Why, I cursed her rather more than
she cursed me."
Half an hour later the hoofs of Flora's pony clattered
out of the courtyard, as she departed alone to see the
effects of the storm down in the valley. Perhaps the flood-
evicted tenants stood in need of her sympathy and help ;
at all events any occupation was better than brooding alone
in the Castle over the neglect of a man whom she loved,
but whose heart was apparently not so sensitive as her
own to love's exacting demands. As the animal cantered
along, she drew off her glove and gazed at the glittering
gem on her finger. There it was, his ring, placed there
with loving words and kisses. Was that not enough ? In
one short year she would be his wife—a short year ! Ah !
the last had been so dreadfully long. And now? Well,
Richard was young and had his companions ; he could not
be expected to tie himself to her apron string yet (with
what feminine cunning she smiled at the adverb !) and
here she was fretting over trifles ! An end to it !
The weather and health is a familiar topic, but the
finer gradations of the subject still require elucidation.
;