The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-18

action or nameless skirmish. Yet could they tai
calmly and cheerfully of passing events, as thos
can who, amid all other calamities find their mar
row circle OF affections spared by the hand Of death
which is striking down young and old indscrimi
nately around them. But it was not merely Il
spend an hour in friendly converse, nor to lool
! upon the fair face of Las, that Major Munro (fo
such rank he now held in the British army haC
seized The first opportunity of visiting her mountain
home, at all possible hazard TO himself, and peri
to bis fame for loyalty. He had come with fa
| more serious intent-to urge upon Dugald Cameron
the proprlty OF submitting to the powers that were
| and making his peace with Government, by the
surrender OF his arms and voluntary return TO his
duties as asubject. Long did he argue and entreat
with an earnestness and eloquence which it was moi
easy to oppose. Lilias said no word TO aid him. but
her blue eyes spoke to the fathers heart in Ian
guage yet more difficult to be withstood than all
her lovers reasoning. And in the end the sturdy
Highlander yielded, though reluctantly TO the die
tates OF prudence, and consented to take a step
which might restore to himself and family their
privileges as heeborn citizens.
1t was past midnight, and the tempest was still
raging with unabated fury, when, with light heart
and cheerful brow the officer rose to take his leave,
resisting all persuasons to longer stay as he had
to be far away by morning.
4" But it is a terrible night for you to be wander
ing alone among these wild mountains and dark
gens" said Lilias, anxiously. One false step of
your horse"
There is no fear," Culeairn answered with
laugh. IAN old crone who volunteered to spae nv
fortune years ago babe me beware of white
horse-so that my chestnut steed will play me no
goblin trick Tonight
And perhaps through the lingering, though but
half acknowledged, superstition of their highland
minds, the announcement made all hearts feel the
easier at this parting but for brief WHILE as all
anticipated, and soon to be succeeded by meeting
under much happier auspices. The wild wind
hnW Il oIo, Al L 4
lightning lit his path, and the thunder muttered as
it We're amid the lofty hills; but Munro went on
his way with buoyant and fearless spirit careless
ofthe strife of the elements, which found no echo
in the sunny calm Of his own bosom while Lilias's
pillow was haunted by waking dreams as fair and
bright as the kindest sleep could have bestowed
on her.
On the following day Evan Cameron set out for
Fort William with his own and his fathers arms,
accompanied by the boy, now their only male at
tendant, who assisted TO bear the weapons. After
proceeding some distance down the shores of the
lake, they heard the measured tread of many men,
and presently a column of English troops wound
round the corner of defile, and marched towards
them. EVAN stood aside on little knoll to let
them pass, for strong in the consciousness of Ie-
gal object, he felt no fear of their vicnty-and in
deed to fly, of which he thought not, would then
have been in vain Near the head of the column
rode on white charger a dark-b rowed man,
whose AIR at once bespoke him the commander of
the party The moment the officers eve rested on
the young Highlanders, he utEred few words,
and they were instantly surrounded and brought
before him. Still undismayed, Evan doubted not
that his ready answers to the perempory questions
put to INN, and the Grand on which he had been |
pound, would insure his safety and release But |
his assertions were laughed to scorn, all that his
EFFORTS could accomplish being the Liberation of the
Joy Whie Tor himself, but scant justice or inquiry
being granted TO him as a rebel taken in arms-for
70 the commanding officer chose to consider the |
Unfortunate yOuth-a few minutes found him SEN |
enced to immediate execution. Evan Cameron /
vas brave, and many time had he faced death on
he battle field, when mems lives seemed worn as
nantles they were ever ready to Law aside and not
! tear had blanched his cheek or chilled his heart
'ut it was very different to part with existence
mid the excitement of mortal conflict and now
oddly and calmly die without a struggle or a
bought Of sef-defence. The suddenness of his
loom seemed to absolutely bewilder him, and hard
indeed was 1t to preserve bearing worthy of his
ather's son-for the thought of that fathers sor-
oW, and OF his sisters tears, came ever him, and
ever had they or life appeared so dear as when he
vas called away from all. Amid the secret agony
I that moment, there flashed through his mind the
1ea that Major Munro's previous acquaintance
With his purpose might avail somewhat with his
tern and obdurate judge but il was cast instantly
side. He knew not what might be the conse-
uence of British officers discovered intercourse
With rebels, and he could not purchase his own
AIety Dy enuaIgeIhg the man 10 whom ne already
wed his life, and TO whom his sisters affections
lung. So with nerves strung all the firmef for
MS noble resolution, he prepared TO meet the fate
e might not shun.
Proudly and undauntedly, with an incoherent
rayer in his thoughts, and the love of earth gath
ring close around his heart, the young Cameron
)ok his place; and cOldly and unconcernedly
rant refined his charger by the spot to mark the
llfllment Of his ORDERS There was one sharp
Obey, breaking the stiffness of the sunny air, and
Il was over; the busy stir and whirl of life was
asst, and the cold earth on which he Law was now
fitting couch for Evan Cameron's dreamess sleep.
nd for this dark deed, which wakes the bitterest
lrses on the Highland narrator's lips, tradition
lOugh ever ready to embody the faintest breath of
to Grant no motive Of private ma
entity, no excuse of frenZied passion, no induce
ent, save general hard-heartedness careiessness .
human life, and disregard of suffering-all those 0
Orst qualities which can ever be conjoined with 2
e possession of mere animal courage, but which d
e far better fitted TO fling their shadow round the
aven spirit.
Wild was the grief of Lilias, and fierce the an
lish of Dugald Roy, when the frightened gillie
,re these tidings TO their ears In all the aban-
'nment of despairing sorrow, the maiden wept for
e playmate of her childhood, the brother Of her I
art but, with mans sterner spirit, the ncensed /,
ighlander shed no tear while his blood was boiling
CHER and higher, until gOaded well nigh to mad 4
,ss, he swOre that the vengeance Of fathers arm
e sun looked down upon Loeb Arkaig, and on its 7
,autiful and verdant shores, while many grace G
tree and lofty hill were mrrored in the glancing
alters, over which the breeze was signing too 4
intly to awake one blue wave by its breath.
ut Dugald felt not the holy quiet Of the scene.
tent only on his unholy purpose, he had no
ought, no consciousness of aught beside; but
ounted on the hill Of CaiIliach, he kept eager "
atch upon the road below for Grant, who was
wv on his return from Knodart TO Fort William
OF all the evils his cOuntrymen had suffered had
rer melted one to a deed such as he meditated.
owever writing under injuries, however stung
insult to their prejudices still does assassination
EN- to have been foreign to their spirit and Of all
e adherents of Prince Charles, whom his fatal
lterprise rendered fatherless, childless or pro-
ribed, it is with Du Rhu's name alone the word Z
linked. And calm and prudent as he was, il
emed strange that he should be an exception. I
ut the more under command his usual con-
let, the fiercer ragged his passions when once J
vakened from their slumber, and terrible in .
ed was the power thew now possessed The |