Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-10-06
Agreeably to the resolution which he had
Xpressed TO bis brother. Norman. shortly

alter the conversation with the former,
which we recorded at the outset Of our sto-
ry. mounted his horse and set of for 500
mart; the merrymaking 10 which he had
| been invited, and to which we formerly
alluded, being to take place on the after
noon Of the day on which our tale opens
Soonart, or Castle Soonart, as it is
sometimes called, although scarcely de-
serving SO dignified q title, was an ancient
building in the style of the sixteenth CEN
fury, turreted and battlemented. with steep
grey roofs and deeply-indented lodges
1t stood on the summit Of a rugged, pre-
clptous cliff, whose base was washed by
the sea; its white-crested waves, in stormy
weather, bowling around, and leaping
upon the majestic rock, like a troop Of,
hungry wolves. On the land side, howe
yer, the house was of easy access, being
connected with the main land by broad
natural mound or isthmus. In ancient
times, this neck of land was intcrsected
by deep moat at short distance from
the building; but it had been allowed to
fill up, and was, at the time of which we
write, but just discovered by faint outlines.
The greater number of the party invited
to Soonart had already arrived, when Nor
man M'Dougal presented himself in the
large dining hall Of the mansion; and a.
mongst those assembled there was kilmo-
ran. On Norman's entrance, the latter,
who was good-natured, kind-hearted
man, and who had always anxiously desi-
red to be at peace with his neighbors the
M'Dougals, instantly made up to him,and
offered him the hand of friendship. 1t
was readily accepted by his treacherous
enemy, and apparently with as much COR
diality as it was given. The ready but
quiet smile of Norman replied to the half
jocular, half-scrious remonstrances Of Kill
moran on the subject Of their ancient en-
nifty, and significant shrug Of the shout
ders, accompanied by words Of kindness,
exprcsscd-or were meant to express-hs
perfect willingness to entertain KiImoran's
proposal that they should forget the past,
and live in friendship for the future.
Soon after, the guests having all assem-
blcd, the party sat down to table, to par
take Of the good things provided for them
by their host. Leaving them thus agree
ably employed, we shall return for time
to the residence of the M'Dougals, and
take up tho part about to be enacted by
Hector in the tragical drama Of the eve-
ming.
Brooding over the grudgc he bore Kill
moran, and which had been stirred into
fresh activity by the incident Of their
common invitation to Soonart, and in part
also by the late conversation he mad had
with his brother on the subject, Hector
M'Dougal was suddenly struck with one
of those atrocious ideas that so frequently
present themselves TO desperate and re-
vengeful men, and fill the world with
crime. lie ctermincd on that very night
to waylay and murder kilmoran on his
return from Soonart, which he calculated
would be somewhere about midnight -
Having come to his hellish resolution, he
armed himself with his rihe-with which
he was an unerring shot, as the deer Of
his native mountains knew by fatal expc-
ricncc-and hasted away to seek favor
able situation for executing the dreadful
deed he contemplated.
Stealing secretly out of the house, and
afterwards taking quiet and circuitous
route, he made for certain copsc OH the
face of a rising ground that overlooked
the road by which Kilmoran must return
home this lying between the rising ground
alluded 10 and beautiful lake that slept
ia tho hollow of the hills. Entering the
copso, M'Dougal pushed through it until
he reached the skirt nearest the road by
which Kilmoran would pass, and which
brought him to within fifty or sixty yards
of it. Here concealing himself amongs;
the thick underwood, and with paling in
front on which to lean his rife, M'Dougal
awaited the appearance Of his victim. 1t
was bright moonlight night, and as the
horse Kilmoran always rode was very
light grey, approaching almost to white,
and in this respect somewhat remarkable,
there would be no difficulty in at once re-
cognising him.
Leaving the assassin thus watching for
his prey, we shall return 10 Soonart, TO
see how the evening was passing with the
festive party there assembled. 1t was
passing pleasantly: the banquotroom OF
the old mansion rung with the burst OF hi
! larious merriment which the facetious jest
ana humorous song were ever and anon
elicitng, and the wine-hagon was pacing
it merrily round the festal board.
The time came, however, when the jest
and the song were heard more rarely, and
when the wine-flagon began 10 make its
rounds with more tardy motion. 1t was
geUlng late; the spirits Of the party were
hagglng, and general movement amongst
the guests to break up the party was the
result. 1t did break up; when, hurrying
out OF the apartment in merry and some
what obstrcpcrous confusion, the guests