Preface

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THE LILAC SUNBONNET

A LOVE STORY

BY S. R. CROCKETT

AUTHOR OF THE STICKIT MINISTER, THE RAIDERS, ETC.

CONTENTS.

PROLOGUE.—BY THE WAYSIDE

I.—THE BLANKET-WASHING

II.—THE MOTHER OF KING LEMUEL

III.—A TREASURE-TROVE

IV.—A CAVALIER PURITAN

V.—A LESSON IN BOTANY

VI.—CURLED EYELASHES

VII.—CONCERNING TAKING EXERCISE

VIII.—THE MINISTER'S MAN ARMS FOR CONQUEST

IX.—THE ADVENT OF THE CUIF

X.—THE LOVE-SONG OF THE MAVIS

XI.—ANDREW KISSOCK GOES TO SCHOOL

XII.—MIDSUMMER DAWN

XIII.—A STRING OF THE LILAC SUNBONNET

XIV.—CAPTAIN AGNEW GREATORIX

XV.—ON THE EDGE OF THE ORCHARD

XVI.—THE CUIF BEFORE THE SESSION

XVII.—WHEN THE KYE COMES HAME

XVIII.—A DAUGHTER OF THE PlCTS

XIX.—AT THE BARN END

XX.-"DARK-BROWED EGYPT"

XXI.—THE RETURN OF EBIE FARRISH

XXII.—A SCARLET POPPY

XXIII.—CONCERNING JOHN BAIRDIESON

XXIV.—LEGITIMATE SPORT

XXV.—BARRIERS BREAKING

XXVI.—SUCH SWEET PERIL

XXVII.—THE OPINIONS OF SAUNDERS MOWDIEWORT UPON BESOM-SHANKS

XXVIII.—THAT GIPSY JESS

XXIX.—THE DARK OF THE MOON AT THE GRANNOCH BRIDGE

XXX.—THE HILL GATE

XXXI.—THE STUDY OF THE MANSE OF DULLARG

XXXII.—OUTCAST AND ALIEN FROM THE COMMONWEALTH

XXXIII.—JOCK GORDON TAKES A HAND

XXXIV.—THE DEW OF THEIR YOUTH

XXXV.—SUCH SWEET SORROW

XXXVI.—OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

XXXVII.—UNDER THE RED HEATHER

XXXVIII.—BEFORE THE REFORMER'S CHAIR

XXXIX.—JEMIMA, KEZIA, AND LITTLE KEREN-HAPPUCH

XL.—A TRIANGULAR CONVERSATION

XLI.—THE MEETING OF THE SYNOD

XLII.—PURGING AND RESTORATION

XLIII.—THREADS DRAWN TOGETHER

XLIV.—WINSOME'S LAST TRYST

XLV.—THE LAST OF THE LILAC SUNBONNET

PROLOGUE.

BY THE WAYSIDE

As Ralph Peden came along the dusty Cairn Edward road from the coach which had set him down there on its way to the Ferry town, he paused to rest in the evening light at the head of the Long Wood of Larbrax. Here, under boughs that arched the way, he took from his shoulders his knapsack, filled with Hebrew and Greek books, and rested his head on the larger bag of roughly tanned We stland leather, in which were all his other belongings. They were not numerous. He might, indeed, have left both his bags for the Dullarg carrier on Saturday, but to lack his beloved books for four days was not to be thought of for a moment by Ralph Peden. He would rather have carried them up the eight long miles to the manse of the Dullarg one by one.

As he sat by the tipsy milestone, which had swayed sidelong and lay half buried amid the grass and dock leaves, a tall, dark girl came by—half turning to look at the young man as he rested. It was Jess Kissock, from the Herd's House at Craig Ronald, on her way home from buying trimmings for a new hat. This happened just twice a year, and was a solemn occasion.

"Is this the way to the manse of Dullarg?"asked the young man, standing up with his hat in his hand, the brim just beneath his chin. He was a handsome young man when he stood up straight.

Jess looked at him attentively. They did not speak in that way in her country, nor did they take their hats in their hands when they had occasion to speak to young women.

"I am myself going past the Dullarg,"she said, and paused with a hiatus like an invitation.

Ralph Peden was a simple young man, but he rose and shouldered his knapsack without a word. The slim, dark-haired girl with the bright, quick eyes like a bird, put out her hand to take a share of the burden of Ralph's bag.

"Thank you, but I am quite able to manage it myself,"he said,"I could not think of letting you put your hand to it."

"I am not a fine lady,"said the girl, with a little impatient movement of her brows, as if she had stamped her foot."I am nothing but a cottar's lassie."

"But then, how comes it that you speak as you do?"asked Ralph.

"I have been long in England—as a lady's maid,"she answered with a strange, disquieting look at him. She had taken one side of the bag of books in spite of his protest, and now walked by Ralph's side through the evening coolness.

"This is the first time you have been hereaway?"his companion asked.

Ralph nodded a quick affirmative and smiled.

"Then,"said Jess Kissock, the rich blood mantling her dark cheeks,"I am the first from the Dullarg you have spoken to!"

"The very first!"said Ralph.

"Then I am glad,"said Jess Kissock. But in the young man's heart there was no answering gladness, though in very sooth she was an exceeding handsome maid.