Page:Cuthbert Bede - The White Wife.djvu/29

10 turned him back to Campbelton, until the young man could give him a better explanation.

The farmer and his son and the old man remained at dispute for some time, but the latter would not leave him until the young man had promised to come down to him on the morrow, and bring the proofs of his marriage. When he had got this promise, he went back to his daughter, who was greatly comforted to hear the news, and to know that on the morrow her husband would own her for his wife, and her child for his bairn. The morrow came, and brought with it the young man, the farmer's son. The girl welcomed him with a loving smile, and tried to hold up their babe for him to kiss; but he roughly pushed it back upon the bed, and said, "As you have forced this upon me, let us get over the business without delay." And then, to her horror and dismay, he told her that their marriage was no marriage at all, but was all a pretence, and that he was not legally bound to her in any way; and that, on the ensuing New Year's Day he was going to take to wife the daughter of the sea-captain. The poor girl did not give so much as a cry or shriek; but the tidings crushed