The Lilac Sunbonnet

The Lilac Sunbonnet, by S.R. Crockett

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Title: The Lilac Sunbonnet
Author: S.R. Crockett
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4918] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 27, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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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 Westland 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