Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-09-21

acter into the breasts of Bruntfcld and Moubray;
and it was therefore wtha feeling Of personal ami
mostly as well as ofpolitical ranco:, that the lat
ter undertook the task of watching the motions
of Bruntiield at Craighousc. Bruntfeld, after
holding out for many months, was obliged, along
with his friends in Edinburg Castle, to yield to
the party of the regent. Like Kirkaldy, and
! Maitland of Lexington, he surrendered upon
promise Of life and estates; but while his two
friends perished, one by the hand Of the eXccu-
toner, the other by his own hand, he fell vic
tim to the satelcss spite of his personal enemy,
who in conducting him to Elinburg as prisoner
took fire at some bitter expression on the part Of
the captive and smotc him dead upon the spot.
Bruntfeld left widow and three infant sons.
The lady of Craighouse had been an intimate
of the unfortunate Mary from her carly years;
was educated with her in France, in the Catholic
faith; and had left her court to become tile wife
of Bruntfeld. 1t was time calculated to change
the natures of women, as well as of men, The
severity with which her religion was treated in
Scotland, the wrongs Of her royal mistress, and,
finally, the suferings and death of her husband,
acting upon a mind naturally enthusiastic, all
conspired to alter the character of Marie Carlnl
chae, and substituted for the rosy hues of her ear
ly years the gloom Of the sepulchre and the pen
| itentiary She continued, after the restoration
of peace, to reside in the house OF her lac hus-
band; but though it was within two miles ofthe
city, she did not for many years reappear IN pub
| lic With no society but that of her children,
and the persons necessary to attend upon them,
she mourned in secret over past events, seldom
E,,, ,orti.n1or ororfp1npt which
accordance with fashion by no means uncom-
mon, she had caused to be hung with black, and
which was solely illuminated by lamp. In the
most rigorous observances of her aith she was as
sisted by priest whose occasional visits formed
almost the only intercourse which she maintain
cd with the external world. One strong passion
gradually acquired omplete sway over her mind
Revenge; Il passion which the practice of the
ace had invested with conventional respecta-
biiity, and which no kind of religious feeling then
known was able either to check or soften. So
entirely was she absorbed by this fatal passion
that her very children at length ceased to have
interest or merit in her eyes, except in so far is
they appeared likely to be the means of crafty
| ing it. One after another, as they reached the
age of fourteen, she sent them to France, in Or
der to be educated; but the accomplishment to
which they were enjoned to direct their princ-
| pal attention, was that ofmartal exercises. The
eldest, Stephen, returned at ei ghtcen, a strong
and active youth, with mind OF little polish or
literary information, but considered perfect
]R!ept 'atsword play. As his mother surveyed
fhis noble form, smile stole into the desert Of her
wan and widowed face, as q wintersunheam wan
ders over q waste of SHOWS. But 1t was smile
of more than motherly pride; she was estimating
the power which that frame would have IN con-
tending with the murderous Moubray. She WAS
not alone pleased with the handsome figure OF
her first born chid but she thought with fer
Ger and faster JOY upon the appearance which it
would make in the single combat against the
SLAYER of his father. Young Brunlicld, who ha-
WING been from his earliest years trained to the
purpose now contemplated by his mother, rejol-
ccd in the prospect, now lost 10 time in prefer
ring before the king charge Of murder against
the Laird of Barnb0uble whom he at the same
time challenged, according to a custom then not
altogether abrogatcd, to prove his innocence in
single combat. The king having granted the
necessary license, and, to the surprise of all rs
sembled, young Brunttield fell under the power
full sword of his adversary. The intelligence
was communicated to his mother, at CRAIG ghouse,
where she was found in her darkcned chamber.
The priest who had been commissioned to break
the news, opened his discourse in a tone inten-
ded to prepare her for the worst; but she cut him
short at the very beginning with t;lntic exca-
nation: &sI know what YOU would tell; the mur-
der's sword has prevailed, and there are now but
two instead of three to redress their fathers
wrongs" The melancholy incident, after the
first burst Of feeling, seemed only to have conccn'
tratcd and increased that passion by wicl she
had been engrossed torso many years. She ap-
pcared to feel that the death Of her eldest son
only formed an addition to that debt which it
was the object of her existence to see dschi. g"d
"Roger" she said, will have the death his broth
er, as well us that Of his father to avenge. An
imated by such double object, his arm can hard,
ly fail to be successful"
Roger returned about two years after, still
more handsome, more athletic, and more accom-
plished youth than his brother. Instead Of be,
ING dauntcd by the fate of Stephen, he burned
but the more eagerly to'wipe out the injuries OF
his house with the blood Of Moubray. On his
application for license being presented to the
court, it was objected by the crown lawyers that
the case had boon already closed by NAL fortune
of the former challenge. But while this WIS the
subject of their deliberation, the applicant ca,ls-
ed so much annoyance and fear in the court cir.
ol, h,, tba thrnntc which hr rlvn ont AGAINST t1,r