Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-17

es shoes fastened, riding up at the moment,
hurried on as if to get rid OF the agony Of my
own feelings; the tavern was one OF the hrst
houses in the village; entering the yard, l gave
my horse to my servant, and passed mo me
house without needing the bows and c%ivi'ities
of the landlord who came out TO welcome me.
In reply to his questions OF what l would have,
I merely answered "a private room,' and was
ushered into a small parlor, where | gave full
scope 10 my reflections. In traveislGg The large
antiroom, I caught a glimpse Of a figure seated
in one corner, his face was pale and c~are-worn,
and showed the marks Of disease more than Of
time,he appeared wrapped in his own thoughts,
and raising his eyes as / passed again, relapsed
into his %sorrowful mood. | had not been long
left TO myself, and my Thoughts were beginning
TO be relieved from the painful subject which
had taken such possession ofthem, when a noise
in the courtyard induced me TO look out to see
what was the cause Of it | beheld four men
bearing along, with all the tenderness their rough
natures were capable Of, the body OF a female
whom / discovered at once TO be the poor hap
less Fife. She was apparently ~liteless; they
had found her lying near the bank OF the stream
| where she must have fallen soon after l had los,
sight Of her. She was brought into the outer
room and laid down, with her head upon a pill
low procured for the purpose. The usual re-
storatives were applied, but for some time with
out effect, il seemed as il The miserable spirit
had fed to its mansion Of rest Al this mo-
ment the person whom | had observed when
6rst entered, came or rather tottered forward,
for he was so weak that he could scarcely place
one foot before the other, 10 the spot where she
was lying. Those around instinctively made
way for the stranger-he gaZed upon the inquire
for some time, as ii doubling whether he was
! right, and then fell upon his knees at her side
extending his only remaining arm, the other had
been taken of near the shoulder; he placed his
hand teDderly under Effie's head; he raised 1t
gently, and nodded 20 The bystanders, as il 10
reques, them to get out of the light Just then
Efie's eyes opened for an instant, and the siran-
ger in a soft, manly tone, which seemed strus-
CLING with overwhelming emotion, said "Ettie,
my own dear Efie.'' 1t seemed as il the voice
had the power IF quickcning the dead, she
opened her eyes and staring around, muttcred,
"where am /? who called Efie? there was but
one that ever had that sweet tone-'twss Jamie
Mae Claymore. shallne'er hear it agen, he's
forsaken puir EHie, that loved him owre weel for
her ain souls good.' "He never can forsake thee
EtHie look up my lily o. the glen, your Mac Clay
more's here at your side, more to leavr 1t
in this world" The poor girl looked at first
wildly in the strangers face, and shaking her
! head, said in a low voice, ma! ma. that's no my
| jamie Thea pressing back the dark hair that
clustered about his forehead as he leaned over
her, she looked steadily at him, and as her be-
| wlldered sIind caught the recollection OF the
E~renlaius os former manly beauty, a smile play
ed over hsr Countenance, It was the hrst Tor
many q long and weary day; tears gushed from
her eyes, and clasping him around the neck,
she exclaimed, sit is my own, my true sodger.'
"Have We Come to marry your Efhe!" The sod
- --Il -. IL l.. Ice N hon 10 hIC n
SOM. All around were weeping, and ashamed
of showing my emotion, l rushed into my room
and gave vent to my feelings. Mac Claymore
accounted tor his apparent neglect OF Lille as
follows:
The village to which he had been ordered was
in a remote district Of Sutherlandshire, and at
tho he had frequently endeavored to obtain
leave of absence TO pay her a visit, the duties OF
the service on which he HAD been detailed, We're
such as to prevent it. He had frequently sent
messages, but they never reached her until at
length his patty was orderedto join their regi.
ment to go TO the Continent. He had been in
the battle of Waterloo, where he behaved with
distinguished g~allantry and lost an arm. He
had been afterwards carried to an hospital
where he remained for many weeks, with
out an opportunity offering to let her know
what had become of him; but as soon as he was
pei uliitSt W WIN Oul, LS ia W ihu
his beloved Efie, with the happy tidings that
he had oeen discharged on half pay with an al
lowancc for the loss Of his arm * several badges
of distinction to spend the remainder OF his life
with heri III comparative abundance, * to make
all the atonement in his power for past injury.
So soon as it was known that Jamie Mac Clay
more had returned, an old crone, a relation of
Effe was seen bustling towards the inn with a
large bundle of something in her arms, she en-
tered, and throwing off the covering, showed
the features of a fine bouncing boy, who smiled
at being permitted to look upon the light, it
was Eaie'sDhild. Fears had long beer enter !
tanned for the safety OF the infant, owing to the
disordered state of the mothers mind, lest she
might let it fall in clambering among the preci-
pices. On the day when the child disappeared,
the old woman happened to pass where Efie
was lying asleep with her baby in her arms,
near the brink Of the mountain stream, and had
taken the infant home and kept it until hear
ing of tue Mac Glaymere's return and EHie's
restoration t9>her senses, she came to restore
Tho rhtl1 tn hTv hapnN ra~pOtS In n chOrf time |