The Ottawa free trader., 1849-04-20
The Captivc's Daughter.


When the tyranny and bigotry o! the last
James drove his subjects 10 take up arms a
gainst hiu', one Of the most formidable enc
mics To his dangerous usurpaiionS, was Sir
John Cochranc, ancestor Of the present Eai |
of Dundonald. He was one Of the most
prominent actors in Argyle's rebellion, and
for ages destructive gloom seem 20 have
over the house OF Campbell, enveloping in
n common ruin al who united their fortune
TO the cause of It's chieitains. The same
doom encompaSsed Sir John Cochrane. lie
was surrounded by the kings ,roops-)ong,
de eadly and d sperate was his resistance ;
but at length overpowered by numbers he
was taken prisoner, tried aid condemned to
die upon the scahold. He had but n ie,v
days to live, aud the jailor awaited but the
arrival OF his death.warrant to lead him for, h
TO execution. His family aud friends had
visited him in prison, aud exchanged with
him the last, the long, the heart yearnin.
farewell. But there was one who came not
with the rest 10 receive his blessing, one
who was the pride of his eyes and love OF
his house, even Grizel, the daughter of ns
love. Twilight was casting deeper gloom
over the gratings of his prison house-he
W d
child, and his head was pressed against the
cold, damp wall Of his cell, TO cool the feve.
ri>h pulsations that sho, through it like stincs
of fire, when the door ofhis apartment torn.
ed slowly on its unwilling hinges, and his
keeper entered followed by a young and
beautiful lady. Her person was tall and
commanding, her eyes dark bright and tear.
less but their brightness spoke of Sorrow-
Of sorrow too deep to be wept away; her
raven tresscs were parted overa brow, clear
and pure as the polished marble, Tie un.
happy captive raised his head as they enter.
ed
MY child my own Grizeln lie exclain.
ed. and she fell upon his bosom.
'My father! my dear tatherH Sobbcd The
miserable maiden, and she dashed away
the tear that accompanied the words.
'four interview must be short, very short
said the jailor as'hc turned and left them for
a few minutes together,
'Gcd help aud comfort thee my daughter
added the unhappy father, as he held her to
his breast, and printed kiss upon her brow.
Il had feared that should die without be.
slowing my blessing upon the head Of nay
child, and that Stung me more than death:
but thon art come my love--thou art come.
aud the last blessing Of thy wretchrd faith
er--'
Nay, iurbear! forLcarn she cXclaim, d.
'uu, thy last ble.>in. not the last! NJ IA.
ther hail not dir'
'Re calm, be cain, my childr exclain ed
he, would 10 heaven could comfort thee
my own, my own. Bat there i no hope
within three dayS, thou and my little ones
will be
Faihcrlcss, he would lave said, but Tie
word died ON his tongue.
Three daysr repeated she raising her
head from heT breast, but eagerly pressing
his hand; 'thrce days; then there Is hope;
my father shall live! j. notmy graudlaI,l
the friend of Father Pe,rc, the confes>oraut
master of tn" king? From him he shallbea
the lie Of his sou, aud my father ,ha!.no
die
Nay, nay, Griaei,' returned he, Sue no
deceived-there is no huIe-a already my
doom is sealed-aready the king has sign
ed the order for my execution, aud the mes,
sage of death is already on the way
'ietmy father shall not-Shal! not die,
size repeated emphatlcally, and Cla>ping he,
hands togethcr-'iicavcn speed a daugh
t,I's purpose she exclaimed: and urnin.
to her father she said calml we part now
but we shall meet again.
Whdt would NY ChiidY eugnred he ca,
gerly, gazing auNiuu>ly III her face.
'A>k not now She replied, 'hu, pray fol
me aud bless me-but not with thy las
blessing
lie again pressed her TO his hear, and wcp
upon her neck. In a few moments the Jail
or entered, and they were torn from the
arms of each other.
On the evening Of the second day afie
the interview we have mentioned q way IA
ring man, crossed the draw bridge Mt Ber
wick, from the north, aud proceeded dowr
Marygatc, aud snt down 10 rest on n bcnCl
by the door Of an hosiery, on the south sid,
OF the street, nearly fronting what was call
cd the Main. guard then stood. lie did no
enter the inn, for II was above his apparrn
condition, beng that which Oliver Cromwell
had made his headquarters few year, be
| fore, and where al \ somewhat calerpcfiud
James the Sixth hadiaken up his rcSidcuc
when on his way To enter on the sovereign
| ty Of England. The traveller wore a ooar>
! jerhn' fastened around his body by lea,h
er girdie, and over II a short cloak. compo
/ Sed oi equally plain material. He was cvi
IDENTIFY young man but his beaver wa
drawn down so as to almost conceal his fea
lures. In one hand he carried a small bun
die, and in the other pilgrims s'an.
/ Having called Tor glass of wine, hc,ool
a crust Of bread from his bundle, aud aftc
resting for few minutes, rose 10 depart
! The shades OF night were setting in, and
threatened TO be a night OF storms. III,
heavens were gathering black, the cloud
rushing from the sea, sueden gusts of wint
moaned along the streets, accompanied b,
heavy drops Of rain, aud the face Of th
Tweed was troubled.
'Ilcavem help thee, il thou intcnhcSt f
travel far ON such n night aS this said th
sentinel at the English gate, as the tlavclle
passed him and proceeded to cross the bridg
! III a few minutes he was on the buldci
of the wide, deSolate aud drcary muOr q
Twccdmouth, which, for miles. prc>cnie,
a desert Of whinS, fern and stuntrh heath
with here and there u dlnglc, covered will
thick br>hwood. lie slowly toilrd owe
the steep hill, heading the storm which nov
ragged in widest fury. The rain fell in tor
rents, and the wind howled as n legion Il
iami>hcd wolves, huiing lis dolelul and an
cry echoes over the heath. Sill the stran
ger pushed onward until he had piocccde,
above two or three miles from Berwick
when n> irunablc lougcvt to brave tive storm