THE BALLAD OF THE BRIDES OF QUAIR.*

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BALLAD OF THE BRIDES OF QUAIR.*

BY ISA CRAIO. A STii.LNFssprept about the house, At evenfali, in Doon-tide glare : Upon the silent hills looked forth "■ The maDy windowed Honse of Quair. ,The peacock on the terrace screamed, Browsad on the lawn the timid hare, The tveat trees grew i' the avenue. Calm by the sheltered House of Quair. The pool was still; around its brim The alders sickened all the air ; There camo ho raurmnr from the stream", Though nigh flowed LeitheD, Tweed, and Qnair. The days hold on their wonted pace, And men to court and camp repair, Their part to fill, of good or ill, While women keep the House of Quair.

And one is clad in -widow's weeds, And odo is maiden-like and fair, And da j by day they seek the paths Abou* the lonety fields of Quair, To see the trout leap in the streams, 1 he summer clouns reflected there, The maiden loves in happy dream* T© h»rg o'er silver Tweed and Quair. Or oft in pall-black velvet clad, Sat stately in the oaken chair, Like many a dame of her ancient *>ame# The mother of the House of Quair. Her daughter broidered by her side, With heavy drooping golden hair, And listened to her frequent plaint,— " 111 fare the brides that come to Quaix. '• For more than one hath lived in rine f A cd more than one hath died of care, And more than one bath sorely Binned Lcit lonely in the House of Quair.'* 44 Alas! anil ere thy father £ied, I had not in his hcArt a share, And now—may God forfend her ill— Thy brother brings his bride to Quair ! She came: they kissed her in tho hal', 'ihey ki-6ed her oa tho winding at air, They led her to her chamber high, The fairest In the House of Qunir. They bade her from the window look, Aud mark the scene, how passing fair, Among whose ways the quiet days Would linger o'er tho wife of Quair. li 'Tis fair," she said on looking forth, "But what although 'twere bleak and bare"— She looked the love *he did not spe*k. And broke the ancient curse on Quair. " Where'er ho dwells, where'er he goes, His dangers and hi* toils I share." What need be said—she wa* not one Of tho ill-fated brides of Quair! * Traqaair House, tho ancient seat of the noble family of that name, is situated on the river Quair, near its jauction with the Tweed, aud within a mile of the village of Innerleithen (tho " St. Ronan's We 1" of Scott). The "House" is understood to have suggested to Sir W.Scott his description of the house of the Baron of Bradwardlne in " Wayorlev," though for the purposes of the novel "Tully-Veolan" is placed in another county.