The Sisters of Glencoe; or, Letitia's Choice

Front matter

THE SISTERS OF GLENCOE; OR, LETITIA'S CHOICE. BY EVA WYNN. " But childhood pruned her wing to fly, Her vernal day was almost done, And womanhood was waiting mgh, With armoury of tear and sigh, Her chequered course to run." 'garthon-. HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXJCVI. Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Printers, London and Aylcsbury. TO THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY. K.G. My Lord, Having received your kind permission to place my little taper in the candlestick of your wide-world fame, I venture to predict an entrance into dark recesses where, by its light, the fate of many a ' Letitia ' may be read, and her tragical end be averted. I am, my Lord, Your truly obliged servant, E. W. J. Hazlewood, Great Crosby.

Preface

TO THE THIRD EDITION. Ten years having elapsed since I wrote " my painfully true story," and the former editions having been exhausted in about ten weeks from the time of publication, I have acceded to the flattering and pressing wishes of (no doubt) partial friends to issue another edition. Having been for years on most intimate terms of friendship with the principal characters portrayed, and an eye-witness of many of the scenes depicted, I venture to hope this present volume may tend to arrest the demon which stalks so unblushingly amongst us, and to unmask in its hideous de formity the plausible, respectable temptation Preface. VI which, introduced into our families, causes such desolation and sorrow. Here are no confidences broken, every actor in these scenes having long since passed away (except the writer). E. J. Hazlewood, Great Crosby. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY I II. THE SISTERS 3 III. THE

Introduction

10 IV. A DILEMMA 13 V. FOREBODINGS. — KATE'S WARNINGS - - - - 21 VI. PERPLEXITIES. — DIFFERENT OPINIONS - - - 34 VII. THE VISIT 38 VIII. THE FREE-AND-EASY 50 IX. JOHN HAMILTON 56 X. EXPLANATIONS 64 XI. THE QUARRBL. — A

LETTER 74 XII.

THE PROPOSAL 84 XIII. MR. NORTON. — ANOTHER LETTER - - - - 101 XIV. EXPOSTULATIONS. — ANOTHER PROPOSAL - - - I07 XV. WELCOME AND UNWELCOME VISITORS - - - 115 XVI. THE MEETING 123 XVII. TWO SUITORS I48 XVIII. SICKNESS. — PRELIMINARIES 159 XIX. KATE'S VISIT TO EAGLE'S NEST. — ALFRED AND HIS FATHER 171 XX. THE CRAMPTON MEETING AND DINNER - - - 179 XXI. THE WEDDING, AND RETURN HOME - - - 184 XXII. ALLANBROOK 196 XXIII. LETITIA'S HOME VISIT 203 XXIV. UNEXPECTED NEWS Contents. VIII CHAP. PAGE XXV. VARIOUS VISITORS - - 235 XXVI. DAYS OF SORROW 260 XXVII, MORNING REJOICINGS SET IN EVENING GLOOM - 273 XXVIII. THE FUNERAL. — KATE'S RETURN HOME - - - 302 XXIX. THERE'S A SILVER LINING TO EVERY CLOUD - - 3IO XXX. GRAHAM AND HAMILTON 332 XXXI. TWO WEDDINGS PROPOSED - - - ■ - 345 XXXII. STRANGE EVENTS .......

Chapter I. Introductory

" All these things do I behold — These and many left untold." " O HE has dropped her glove ! " v---' This was said by a stylishly dressed young man, hastily picking up the glove, to a companion with whom he was sauntering on the sea-shore, near the little village of Mannering, on the eastern coast. At a little distance in advance of them were two ladylike girls, one of whom was relating something to the other in an earnest manner. Her fine coun tenance, every now and then, became radiant ; and when her companion spoke, she seemed to be over powered with some secret. After many attempts to commence, she said, turning round, and almost confronting the young men, — " I cannot tell you to-day. You must wait until after Friday. Then I shall have something worth telling you." What that was, and whether she performed her promise, we must wait the lapse of many Fridays ere we shall learn. And now let us follow her to her home.

Chapter II. The Sisters

"Behold the Saviour bleeds and dies, That all our sins may be forgiven, And shall we make no sacrifice To light the path that leads to heaven ? " T ETITIA NORTON was an orphan. Her -*--7' father had died when she was an infant, her mother following him to the grave when Letitia was little more than two years old. The family had been numerous ; but all had died except three — a son, Thomas, who had been married some years, and two daughters, Kate and Letitia, Kate being twelve years the senior. Never did the cares of a household, or the management of a family, fall on more fitting shoulders than Kate Norton's. Ever at her post, seeing to everything, she kept servants in order, looking " well to the ways of her household," and suffering none to eat the " bread of idleness." Her sister Letitia was her idol.

Owen Trevallyan, a neighbouring young farmer, called very often at Glencoe, the home of the Nortons ; proffering assistance in any way which might be acceptable. Kate, however, invariably, but thankfully, de clined his offers in a very decided manner, saying, — " I want for nothing, Owen ; and you know people are always ready to talk scandal. I must be prudent." " But, Kate, there are so many things I could do for you ; for instance, we are going to brew to morrow. When our brewing is over, I will come and superintend yours. Do, Kate, let me;" and he looked at her in a persuasive manner, as if he would have said more, but could not muster courage. Kate was silent for a second, and then, with tearful eyes, said, — "No, no; thank you, Owen. Whilst I remain here, the brewing utensils shall have rest ; no distilled liquor to steal away men's brains, and rob them of the talent God has given them, shall be drawn from the grain grown on this land."

" Do you think there is any harm in a farmer having his comfortable mug of nut-brown ale after his day's work, and bidding his friends welcome to his home-brewed ? " " I cannot argue the matter, Owen. I only know, if the respectable farmers would abstain from it, they would have a much better chance of being heard when speaking of the evils of drink to their labourers. Their example and their pre cept being in unison, might be of great benefit. John Radkins, our hind, was almost killed last night, in coming from the fair, whilst in a state of intoxication ; and this is but one of numerous instances I could mention of the dreadful effects of ardent liquors. I am now, however, fully deter mined that no man shall work on this farm unless he first signs a paper pledging himself not to use any intoxicating drink as a beverage."

Owen went away without replying ; but Kate's words had made a deep impression. He pondered over them long and thoughtfully ; and the fruits of his meditations were, "Well, if a woman, and so young a woman as Kate Norton, has resolution to do what lies in her power to stem the tide of sin and sorrow which is overflowing the length and the breadth of the land, surely I, too, may do something in the same direction, and lend a helping hand to put another dam to the torrent. There shall be no brewing at Eagle's Nest this year. My conforming to Kate's example may be useful in more ways than one. She is a resolute girl, and no mistake ; but here comes Letitia. I must try to ascertain from her who is the young man who rides his grey horse so often to Glencoe." Letitia and her friend came up the narrow bridle path, to meet Owen ; when he reined in his spirited steed, saying merrily, " Well, girls !

But what is the matter, Letitia ? Have you met with an accident ? What is amiss ? " " Oh, nothing, Mr. Trevallyan," said Letitia's companion, Mary Lee, the daughter of a neighbouring maltster ; " she is all right now, but she has been frightened by John Radkins' wife. We were walking past her house, when she came screaming to Letitia, saying she was the murderess of her husband." " How ? " inquired the young man ; " what did she mean ? " " Why," said poor Letitia, again overcome by her feelings, " she said I had given John money to get drink, and he had gone to the fair ; coming home, sitting, as usual, on the shaft of his cart, he had slipped off, and the wheel had gone over him, literally smashing both legs, and injuring his head. But you know, Owen, I could not help poor John taking too much !

" " Yes, and the cruel woman," said Mary Lee, " used such shocking language, hoping Letitia might get a drunken husband, and that my father's malt-kiln might be burned down." Owen Trevallyan abruptly bade the girls " Good morning," forgetting his anxiety to know something of the grey horse and his rider, but more determined than ever to have no brewing at Eagle's Nest. Letitia, taking leave of Mary at the gate, passed on into the kitchen, where her sister was engaged in some domestic affairs. " What is the matter, child ? " said she, as she saw her sister's pretty face flushed, and as if she had been weeping. " Oh, Kate, Kate ! I have had such a fright. Mary Lee and I had been down to the beach, where I had been telling her how I had been annoyed by John lately, taking me to task about walking on the beach, and other things, when, as we turned up by the abbey, Anne Radkins rushed out of her cottage, and flew at me like a tigress, calling me a murderess !

" " What did she mean ? She must have been drinking," said Kate. " Well, I believe she had ; but let me tell you what she said. After calling me a murderess, she said I had given John money to get drink, and that we had ruined him at Glencoe with our strong ale." " Poor John did not need us to ruin him," said Kate, in a sad tone. "Anne said he was as sober a man as any in the county before he came to work for us, and that we and Dinah were always giving him drink ; and now, she said, he is dying, with all his sins upon his head. 'If you had thought,' she con tinued, 'of his poor soul, and of his wife and children, he would have been well now, earning bread for his family.' But, oh ! Kate, the worst is to come: she prayed that you and I might have drunken husbands, to break our hearts." "Never mind her, love: 'The causeless curse shall not come.' I am not likely to get a husband, and you — do you think John Hamilton is likely to be a drunken husband ?

But, Letitia, one thing I have made up my mind to, and that is — not one drop of intoxicating liquor shall be drunk in this house again, if I can prevent it." The sisters were interrupted by the sound of a horse, and presently Dinah, their old nurse, came in, with a beaming face, and handing a card to Letitia, said, — " Such a handsome young man, Miss, wants to see you ! " " Alfred Churchill," she said, reading the name. " It must be the son of old Mr. Churchill, of Crampton. What can he want ? " Throwing off her large holland wrapper, and divesting herself of cuffs of the same material, Kate said, — " Come along, child ; we will go together to him, to learn what can be the object of his visit.'

Chapter III The Introduction

.

" How am I to interpret this visit ? Is it a compliment of form, or love ? " ON entering the parlour, both the sisters were struck with the fine countenance of the young man. Rising from the sofa, where he had negligently thrown himself, he advanced to meet them ; and saying,—" This must be my introduction, ladies," he took from his pocket the glove which Letitia had dropped a few hours before. Addressing the now blushing girl — for she at once recognised him as one of the young men she had seen on the beach — he said, — " I believe you dropped this glove on the shore this morning, and I have now the pleasure of restoring it to its fair owner." " I am much obliged to you," said she, extending her hand for it The Introduction. 11 Kate could not help wondering why the young man should take the trouble of riding so far to restore the glove, when he might as well have done so on the spot where he found it.

Conversation on various topics ensued, when books being introduced, the stranger asked if they had read the recent new work, " Never Too Late to Mend." Being answered in the negative, he said, — " I have a copy at home, and shall have great pleasure in sending it to you, to-morrow ; but nay, I am going to Mannering on Friday, and shall be pleased to be myself the bearer." The girls looked at each other with a puzzled expression ; observing which, he asked if they would be at home and disengaged on that day. " Oh, yes," said Kate, whilst a crimson hue covered the face of the younger sister ; which, however, was but momentary. After taking a polite leave, the visitor left. As soon as he had gone, Letitia exclaimed, — " How provoking ! John Hamilton will be here on Friday ! Really, how provoking !

" she re peated in an annoyed tone. "He is so very particular, and I do not think he and Mr. Alfred Churchill will suit each other at all : the one is so very serious, the other so agreeable." " Oh, my own Letitia ! " said the prudent sister, "John Hamilton is quite as agreeable as this stranger. Perhaps they may not come at the same time, and Dinah can take the book from him at the door. There is no occasion for him to dismount." Leaving her sister standing in the parlour, she returned to the kitchen, to resume the occupation which the visitor had interrupted. Sighing, she said to herself, — " I am very sorry Mr. Churchill's son has called here at all ; I foresee evil from his visit."

Chapter IV

A DILEMMA. /^~\N Friday morning the sisters arose, each thinking of their visitor, but with very different feelings. Kate, seeing Dinah dusting the breakfast-room, said to her, — " I expect a gentleman to call here to-day with a book. As he will be riding, you can take it from him and bring it to me." In a few minutes Letitia came in from the garden, with a beautiful bunch of flowers in her hand, and addressing the old domestic, said, — "Dinah, I expect a gentleman to call here to day with a book. You can tie his horse to the block, and ask him in ; then come and call me. Have you dusted the little parlour this morning?" " No, Miss, not yet, but I have the drawing-room, This is Friday : I see you remember it by your posy. I will get a tumbler of water to put it in. Shall I set it on the centre table, or on the chiffonier ?

" The ingenuous girl, unable to conceal her feelings from the prying eyes of the old and faithful. Dinah, said, blushing crimson, " No, put it on the chimneypiece in the little parlour, and if Mr. , the young man, calls, ask him in there." "Mr. Alfred Churchill, I suppose you mean," said Dinah. " Do you know him, then ? " "Yes, very well. My sister Alice nursed him. She went with his mother, when she was married, and has lived at Allanbrook ever since. After the death of Mrs. Churchill, she was made housekeeper. He is a very nice young gentleman, Miss Letitia ; it is a shame for people to speak of him as they do. Alice says he is a good-hearted creature, and nobody's enemy but his own. My word ! here he is, whilst we are talking about him." Smoothing down her apron, and unpinning her sleeves, she went towards the door ; whilst Letitia ran upstairs, to add some little adornment to her A Dile?nma. 15 dress, and to conceal the agitation produced by old Dinah's speech.

She, forgetting, or rather neglecting, her orders from Kate, to take the book from the young gentleman, answered his inquiries whether the Miss Nortons were at home, and disengaged, by an invitation " to walk in, and she would call Miss Letitia." Upon entering the parlour, the young girl made rather a formal bow ; but Alfred, taking hold of her hand, pressed it warmly, saying how happy he was to see her, and adding, — " I have brought you some grapes, Miss Norton, from my father, who begs your acceptance of them, with his kind regards to the daughters of his old friend and schoolfellow." " Did your father know dear papa, then ? " " Oh, yes," said Alfred, delighted that his little ruse had been successful; " oh, yes. When I went home the other day, and mentioned my having been here, he was quite pleased, and said, if he was not so troubled with rheumatism, he would have come himself to see you.

However, he told me to say that if you and your sister would like to see Rennol Castle, which is close to our home, he would be very glad. If you would drive over to Allanbrook, we would go with you to see the waterfall and castle." " I will mention it to my sister. I myself should be much gratified." An hour or two passed, neither seeming weary of each other's company, when a loud ring at the door startled more than one member of the household. Kate, who had been busy with her morning duties, had not thought of her sister, but now old Dinah came bustling to her, saying, — " Miss Kate, here is Mr. John Hamilton, and Miss Letitia is in the little parlour with Mr. Alfred Churchill." Kate, unable to shake off the uncomfortable feeling which she had experienced the first time the young man had called, at once went into the dining-room, where John was sitting.

Jumping to his feet, with " Well, darling ! " on his lips (expecting Letitia to come to him, as usual), he paused on seeing Kate. ' Is Letitia ill ? What is the matter ? " A Dilemma. 17 " Oh, nothing. Why do you think there is any thing the matter ? " " For no reason, but that you seem rather con fused," said John, an indefinable feeling creeping over him, which he could not account for. " Is Letitia not in ? " " Oh, yes, she is in ; she will be here presently — Mr. Alfred Churchill called as he was going to town, and " " Alfred Churchill ! I did not know that you knew him." "Why, we do not, I may say. He called the other day with a glove of Letitia's which he had found, and promised to lend us a book, which I suppose he has brought this morning." " Did he inquire for Letitia ? " " Why, I presume so," said Kate, laughing, " but you shall ask her that question.

I will call her." " Oh, no, no ! I'm going on to Mount Sorrell, and shall be back in about an hour. Say nothing to Churchill about me." " Why ? — do you know him, John ? " Yes, too well ! " With this he turned away, merely adding, — " I will be back in an hour, Kate. I hope the fellow will be gone by then." Poor Kate hoped so too. Walking up and down the hall to compose herself, and summoning resolution, she walked into the room, saying, " Good morning, Mr. Churchill! This is a nice day." Looking at her sister, she said, " You have been wanted, Letitia." " Oh, Miss Norton, I fear I have been rude in staying so long ; but the fact is, your sister has entertained me so politely, the time has passed over unperceived by me. I must, however, tear myself, though unwillingly, away." Just at this moment Dinah appeared at the door, saying, — " Miss, here is Mary Pendegrass in the kitchen, crying very much, and asking to see you."

" Is she not Anne Radkins' sister ?" " Yes, ma'am. It seems poor John is dead, and Anne sent to ask, would you please to give them a little flour and currants to make some funeral bread." " Oh, yes, Dinah, give her some ; and tell Mary, if she comes in the morning I will give her some pieces of crape." A Dilemma. 19 " That is very thoughtful of you, Miss ; Anne is such a wretched manager, that everything will be useful, and I think poor Radkins was not the only one there who liked his glass. Her sister seems to say that she had not a shilling in the house, and that they have had to pledge John's Sunday clothes to get a few things for her and the children." " Poor creature," said Kate. She turned to go back to disturb the unwelcome intruder, but see ing Dinah still waiting, she added, — " Tell Mary Pendegrass she can come this afternoon, if she likes ; I have several little things which I will find for her ; but why do you wait, Dinah ?

" " Well, Miss, Anne told her sister to ask if we would send her some ale to warm for the pall bearers and the carriers." " I am astonished Anne should dare to send her here for drink, — the very cause, as she herself says, of the death of her husband. No, Dinah, no more drink for any one from Glencoe." " Oh, Miss Kate, do not refuse ! the corpse will not rest easy unless some of the brew of his old master's house is drunk at the burying. But I suppose I may take a jug of ale, and a glass, into the little parlour. The son of Allanbrook will wonder if he is let go from this house without tasting its famous ale." " Dinah ! " said the excited girl, " I told you particularly, if Mr. Alfred Churchill came here, you were to take the book from him, without asking him in. You disobeyed me, at which I am much displeased.

No, he shall have no ale here." With this she left her, leaving poor old Dinah in a state of great wonderment. "Whatever can be the matter with her!" thought the old woman. " Surely she is not going to join those foolish teetotalers ; but, now I think of it, Sandy told me they were not going to brew. Oh, what a disgrace is coming on the respectable old farm ! Sandy will leave, I am sure ; and I cannot stay, if she will not give me my allowance. I can do without it, but I zuon't. I'll tell her my mind to-day. Well, it is strange Master Alfred stops so long with Miss Letitia."

Chapter V. Forebodings

— KATE'S WARNINGS. " Thou hast a spirit of playful mirth, A love for perishing things of earth. " TT'ATE NORTON was a decided character; -L but this trial had come upon her suddenly. She knew her sister, though at all times very sub missive to her judgment, was, if roused, very tenacious of her own opinion. She did not there fore wish to appear as annoyed as she really was at the freedom with which Letitia had allowed a gentleman, and a stranger, to remain so long with her without reasonable cause. On looking at her watch, Kate found the dinner hour was so near that hospitality would compel her, though very unwillingly, to ask him to stay. This was ren dered unnecessary on her part, for Letitia, coming to the dining-room, said, with a half-guilty yet gratified look, — " Kate, have we anything nice for dinner ?

I have asked Mr. Alfred Churchill to stay ; " and going back into the parlour, she shut the door, leaving Kate in a state of great perplexity and sorrow. She was momentarily expecting John Hamilton back, and she knew he was annoyed at finding young Churchill with her sister. He came every Friday, and on this eventful day he had intended proceeding on to Mount Sorrell after dinner ; but learning that Alfred Churchill was with his be trothed, he changed his mind, expecting that on his return the coast would be clear. The temperance cause had been for some time very successful at Filey, his native place ; and he and several other young men of his acquaintance had taken a warm interest in its movements. Moreover, being an excellent speaker, he was often called upon to go to different places and organize meetings.

Old Mr. Ballantyne, the worthy elder of Airdree church, was most enthu siastic in the cause, and John wished to have a little conversation about a meeting which was to be held in the town hall in that place. On Forebodings. — Kate' s Wa rn ings. 23 arriving at Mount Sorrell he found that the old gentleman was not at home, but was expected every moment. " Put up your horse, Mr. Hamilton," said Mrs. Ballantyne. " Master will be very pleased to see you, and you may depend upon it the horn will bring him to his dinner, like the other workmen. He thinks nothing is right except he is with them. Come in, sir." The morning's incident at Glencoe had made him feel very uncomfortable ; so, sayingto himself, " Perhaps I had better not go back in a moody humour," he alighted, following the old lady into the spacious kitchen ; but when he looked at his watch, he felt sorry he had accepted her invitation.

Mr. Ballantyne came in shortly after, and gave him a hearty welcome. Oh, how long that dinner-time appeared ! Many times during the meal did he wish he could go. " Letitia has done me no harm," said he to himself. " She has not perhaps mentioned me to Churchill. She could not tell him not to call with the book. Besides, I know the fellow is not easily repulsed. No, no; Letitia loves me, I am sure, and is quite uncomfortable at my absence. I will hurry back." As soon as dinner was over he was preparing to leave, saying, — " I think I will write to you, Mr. Ballantyne, all the plan of this meeting ; I have stayed too long." Poor John ! he was to have another pang before he met Letitia that day. " Well, have you many new members at Filey ? " Then, as if a sudden thought had struck him, Mr. Ballantyne said, — " Oh, Mr. John, could you not get young Churchill to sign the pledge ? — wife, as he is in a hurry, tell Davy to saddle his horse while we are talking — it seems he has lately become very friendly with Captain Graham; and how useful such young fellows would be, who have little or nothing to do.

Besides, they would give a good name to the cause. Then the old gentleman, his father, re fuses him nothing. It seems, from what I am told, they are going to commence a club of some kind at the Lion ; and you know, Mr. John, when young men get together to talk, if they are at all inclined they will drink; and he is, I am afraid, very fond of his glass." Forebodings. — Kate ' s Warn ings. 25 " Yes," said old Mrs. Ballantyne ; " and they say he has passed here several times lately towards Glencoe, — and really it would be a pity if either Kate or Letitia Norton got an unsteady husband." "Why, old woman, what are you dreaming about ? Kate Norton is more fit to be his mother than his wife." " Well, well, — yes, husband, you're right ; but then, there's that rosebud, Letitia." Poor John wished them both good-afternoon, and galloped down the road, dreading he knew not what, and angry with himself that he had not in terrupted the tete-a-tete in the morning by remain ing at Glencoe.

Kate had been in tortures ever since the depar ture of John, wondering what had prevented his return, and hoping every moment, now that dinner was over, that their visitor would take his departure ; but no ! there he sat, talking first of one thing, then of another, when, to her dismay, she heard Hamil ton's well-known voice at the door. Springing to her feet, she went to meet him, and with a voice which ill accorded with her feelings, said, — " Well, truant, where have you been ? What a long hour you have made it ! Come in. I suppose you are quite prepared for dinner." The young man alighted, and followed her to the drawing-room. " I have dined, Kate, thank you. The good old people at Mount Sorrell would not hear of my coming away without dinner." "Well, sit down. Have you been anywhere else ?