Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-07-08
s.. elcetcl Catea.
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From the Ladies! teppaulon.
allan aIENTTA11E
A ROMANCE.
BY RoBERT iiAMiLTos.
+" He who dares sit in Saint swthia' p chair
Nhan the night bag wings the troubled an,


! He may ask, and she must tell '-Ipaeerg."
In the middle of the fifteenth century, the
kingdom of Scotland could lay little claim to the
Intellectual character for which tits now proven
bal among all countries, although, considering
its narrow limits and the internal discords with
which for turies it had been agitated, it had
nevertheless produced some master spirits who
will for ever live in the records of genius But,
a mental darkness prevailed generally OYER all
classes, and especially among the peasantry-
Learning existed only in Abbeys and Monster
les, and it the interest ofthe priesthood TO with
hold it from the people, the better to enable them
to exercise their domination and indulge their
sensual appetites Latter times have, however,
shown us that /" knowledge is indeed power"
and that the gown and rosary are regarded with
respect, but not terror-that religion is received
with wary yet serious consideration but that all
sectarian intoerancy is rebuked with fearless
spirit. g The church and the state, as they are
coupled in England, are fast parting fellowship,
tithes, stpends, pluralities and a host of other
clerical impostions are in many cases now mere
ly nominal, and G the 8" fathers of the church"
begin 10 bow to the supremacy of intellect, and
compelled to conline themselves solely 70 the
duties of their spiritual calling. Attic period at
which we lay story, it is well known that the
Roman church was the religion of the land, and
that its priests arrogant and designing in
the extreme. The kingdom Of Scotland was al
SO divided by civil discord-and the peasantry of
It's highlands were the vassals or clansmen Of va
rims oh;aCs Thoea ,.aro7 4, r,oo .,+;rat,..
tute of mental culture, and plunged in the low
est depths Of superintendent the ch.eitains
themselves were men of little or nolearning, and
holding their titles from the antiquity of birth and
their proves in arms-yet all more or less tine.
turcd with the superstitions and legends of their
country. Allan Ment;eth, the hero Of our story.
WIS the second son ola chieftain of that name,
whose father dying in infancy and the title de-
scending to the eldest son, the of Allan de-
VOWED upon widowed auEt, who lived on the
confines the highlands, on a large and wealthy
estate. The child ofher sister, and he only rel.
alive for which she almost retained an affection.
il is scarcely necessary TO assert, that she indug
ed his whims and capricrs to an 'unboundsd cx-
tent, and by the time that Allan had reached the
agance and vice that the locality of the place af
forded him. Through the interest Of lis auat
and some powerful, relatives. commission was
obtained for him in the army OF Queen Mary,
where. among the younger branches of the noble
families of that period, his needless propensities
encouraged and fostered, till they left him
so embarrassed, that his frequent calls upon his
with refusal His credit gone, his desires I'M
gratifed, he felt reckless Of all around HIM, and
hesitated not at any sacrifice to procure the
means to carry out his views. At one period, he
had become acquainted with Murdoch McIvor,
man of dissolutc habits, and who for many
years had been known in the neigbborhood where
his aunt resided, as of the most daring cate
rams or freebooters which the highlands held
This Individual had been once strongly suspect
ed of having commtteda robbery on tie premis-
Of Lady Alice, Allah's aunt, and although it
could not be brought directly home to him, he
having contrived to EJECT his escape, yet, it was
firmly believed he was the robber, and indeed
such actually the fact, for in connivancc with
Allan he had been admitted into the premises,
and the most valuable pieces of family plate cx-
tracted and converted into money, which the two
had shared between them. MeIvor had thus the
young highlander completely in his power, and
whenever he found himself in difficulty, he APP
Piled for aid to Allan, which if refused, he threat
ened to reveal the robbery to his aunt. For
above two years had McIvor thus held his victim
in the thrall, and instead of abatng in his de-
mands, was only the more importunate and gree ]
dy. A sudden cessation of hostisties about. this
time, had given the young soldier an oppor-
unity to pay visit TO his aunt, and he felt CRATE
fu, flor nothing else he should for short peri
cd thus escape from the presence and demands Of
the villain, McIvor A brief rebuke from his af.
ectIonate aunt FOR his extravagapce, was all that
he received, and her heart open to him aa
ever. For many months he had resided at The
home of his childhood, enjoying the sports Of the
field, and regarded BY all the tonantry Of his rein
tive, with respect and kindness- While his win.
ming manners and bold and handsome figure
were admirably calculated to make favorable
impression uponthe maidens ofthe neighborhooa
yet there was ever thoughtfui and moody ex.
preston upon his fsaturesAhis eye, dark as
the wing ofthe raven, was never steadily fixed
upon any enc object, but its constant wander