Our Old Neighbors; Or, Folk Lore of the East of Fife

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887. Excerpt: ... clerk, as returning officer, to the unconcealed indignation of Sir Philip and his party, agrees to accept both, when the vote is given, need we say, by the one for the General, and by the other for his antagonist, the Captain. The old chief, Sir John, gives his commission for East Anstruther, and without challenge votes for the General; but the commission of the General himself for Kilrenny is resisted, though only in a half-audible whisper, by Bailie Cooper, who seems afraid of his own voice. That man was only voted for by himself and another as miserable as he, hisses the General, white with rage, but nevertheless the clerk, with the same provoking coolness as before, holds it to be as authentic as his own. The vote is given accordingly, when Scotstarvit, as delegate for Crail, declares for the Captain, who, as delegate for Pittenweem, as a matter of course votes for himself, and now, as the delegates resume the seats, all eyes are fixed on the returning officer for the verdict. The ungrateful old villain, mutters Sir John between his teeth, as he sits with his face buried in his hands precisely as if weighing a point of life and death. Rising at length, he lamented again and again that one so wise and learned in the law as Sir Philip had failed to see that it was the duty of one and all to take the bribery oath at the election of a delegate, and that so brave and true a soldier as the General had disobeyed orders in this particular. Here, as if overcome by his feelings, his voice began to falter, till, after a painful pause, he called Heaven to witness that he had no choice but to do according to his conscience, and To be laird of Pitairthie and Craigloon, sneered the wrathful Sir John, but, affecting not to hear the insult, he went on in the sam...