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Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey by Washington Irving
page 38 of 174 (21%)
scandalized, for they thought the young woman on whom he had set his
mind quite beneath him. It was in vain, however, that they remonstrated
on the misalliance he was about to make; he was not to be swayed from
his determination. Arraying himself in his best, and saddling a gaunt
steed that might have rivalled Rosinante, and placing a pillion behind
his saddle, he departed to wed and bring home the humble lassie who was
to be made mistress of the venerable hovel of Lauckend, and who lived
in a village on the opposite side of the Tweed.

A small event of the kind makes a great stir in a little quiet country
neighborhood. The word soon circulated through the village of Melrose,
and the cottages in its vicinity, that Lauckie Long Legs had gone over
the Tweed to fetch home his bride. All the good folks assembled at the
bridge to await his return. Lauckie, however, disappointed them; for he
crossed the river at a distant ford, and conveyed his bride safe to his
mansion without being perceived. Let me step forward in the course of
events, and relate the fate of poor Lauckie, as it was communicated to
me a year or two afterward in letter by Scott. From the time of his
marriage he had no longer any peace, owing to the constant
intermeddling of his relations, who would not permit him to be happy in
his own way, but endeavored to set him at variance with his wife.
Lauckie refused to credit any of their stories to her disadvantage; but
the incessant warfare he had to wage in defence of her good name, wore
out both flesh and spirit. His last conflict was with his own brothers,
in front of his paternal mansion. A furious scolding match took place
between them; Lauckie made a vehement profession of faith in favor of
her immaculate honesty, and then fell dead at the threshold of his own
door. His person, his character, his name, his story, and his fate,
entitled him to be immortalized in one of Scott's novels, and I looked
to recognize him in some of the succeeding works from his pen; but I
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