Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-01-23
taIr1 mn anri0rnt1.

highlands oil scotland, Wearleu ny II long
days shooting, were approaching hillside
spring, famous in that wild district foi the
coldness and purcness of its waters They
had Just reached the brow of the elevation
overlooking the rural fountain, whom they
saw young girl, in the first blush OF wo-
manly beauty, close to the spring.
She was sitting on o low rock that rose
Sy the side of the fountain, her dimpled ell
bow resting on the elf, and her head lean
ing on her hand. Her figure was light and
syph-like, yet exqui5itoly proportional.
Her hair was golden in color, and flowed in
natural ringlets on her far shoulders.
See. was | not right I! said one, in n
whisper. to his companion. She has been
gathering lilies; there are some still in
her hand But let us descend
The speaker had been leaning carelcssly
on his gun as he spoke, and now, preparH-
tory to proceeding, threw it to his shoulder
Unfortunately the trigger caught in hram-
bic and the piece went off, lodging its con-
tents in his side. He staggered and fell.
Goods heavens = cried his companion,
sprnging to his assistance and lifting the
wounded man up. Are You killed :
The young girl we have described had
been buried in profound revore, but at the
report of the gun she started, looking wild
" around to see whence it proceeded. In a
moment she caught sight cf the W und,d
man lying on the heather above her. while
his friend. living on one knee. supported the
head of the sufferer. As soon as the sports
man saw the young giIl was watching him.
he shouted and waved His arm for help
The timid Scottish maiden. who hut a
moment before was on the point Of flying,
now turned und quickly began to ascend tie
hillside
My poor friend, said the sportsman,
doili " his hat as she approached, has
met with an unfortunate accident. and do
not know what to do, or where to bear him.
a deep blush dyed the young girl checks
as She encountered the gaze OF the stranger.
but it passed off Immediately, and with
presence of mind worthy of one older, she
stopped down to see if the wounded man
was dead.
lie brcathcs STILL she said, as she broke
If delicate leaf from one of her lilies and
held it 10 his nose, and looking ut his com
parian, she continued, do YOU think You
could carry him to the spring
The sportsman answered by carefully lift
Ing bis friend up in his arms and boar
ing him down the hill, the young girl fol
lowing.
Place him here she said pointing to
the slightly elevated bank, and lean bis
head against the rock. Everything now de-
pcnds on your getting a surgeon soon. II
you will follow that path to your right
around the turn of the hill, you will find
our cabin. There is Il pony there, which
you can take, and ride to the little town of
Aberncthy, some five miles off, where for
tunately, Il surgeon may be had. At the
cabin you will find n shepherd two-toll
them to bring some bed-clothes and settce,
on which we can carry your friend to the
house. It is "A humble place. but better than
the hillside BY the time v, IL get back
with surgeon, we shall have your friend in
comfortable bed and hope, doing better
She spoke with 50 quick perception of
what was best to be done, and did it - com
posedly that the sportsman, submitting
himself entirely to her guidance, FASTENED
to execute her commissi N,
young gill took some water in lIe, ra,.''
and began to hathe the face of the wounded
man. But he still lay insenshlc. and She
persisted in her task, without any signs Of
life being perceptbIc.
4" Alas - She said, " he is dead And
yet, but half an hour ago he was in the full
strength of health and manhood. It cannot
be! have heard" she continued eagerly.
as if a sudden thought had struck her, and
she began to tear open his vest To yet At the
wound, " that my grandsire died ut Cullo-
den from the blood coagulating in the
wound, when, if Il surgeon had been by. be
might have been saved. What if this
should be the case here -
She had by this time bnrol sufficient of
his person to get at the oriico Of the wound.
The dark gore had almost etiiitnel about it
She stopped down and tendcrly commenced
wiIing away the CONCEALED blood. She had
not been long engaged in her task ot mercy
when the wounded man stirred. and opening
his eyes fixed them earnestly upon her.
" Where am - he inquired, for his
memory was yet vague. All rcmcm-
her-my gun went Of. But where is Will
| liam .
If you mean your friend, said the young
| girl, he is gone for surgeon. | have con-
sented to watch by you till some shepherd,
come to carry you to their calm. And
here they come she exclaimed, clasping
her hands, equally glad to conclude this EN-
| harrassing tetc-a-tete, and to see the woun'
ded man placed in situation of more com
! fort.
Heaven bless you said the sufferer
you have saved my life.
|
placed on settee, brought by the shep
herds, and the cavalcade wendell its way
towards the cabin. The maiden walkeC
fast, and by her side stalkei sadly the two
dogs of the su lierer and the dumb animals
with a sense almost human, as if appreca
ting her kindness to their master looked VI
afectionately into her face every few steps
The cabin was like those existing every
where in the llighlands--a rude but cheer
| full habitation, but was both larger THAI
usual, and adorned with more taste inside
In about two hours the friends Of the sut
fercr returned, bringing with HIM the sur
geon, who was coseted with his patient lol
an hour, and when he came forth, the youn.
girl was sitting anxiously hy the fire, il
company with a middle-aged woman, tn
wife of one of the shepherds,
oh, Miss Hannah, said the old surgeon
answering the inquiry Of her eyes, 'yor
have saved the life of as good lad as eve
shot a mulr-cock or s'alked a red deer.
know all about ,ye see, lassie-ye came G
generous and gallant race, and he pltte
her head as II father would that ofa favor
ite daughter, adding, as if to himself, its
pity the Southern has not the broad acre
that were once her ancestors and that sh'
coming of chieftain's line, should hay
nothing but a cabin and few bits OF hi
side for flock or two of sheep
The next day the wounded man was pr
nounced better, but still in a very critcl
position; and his removal was forbidden h
the old surgeon,
Ne maun keep him here awhile yc lassic
said he, addressing Hannah; and m a
most persuaded ye II have to be his nurse.l
has nae sister or mother to send for,
seems; and men are very rough nurses,
ken. Mrs. Coleman is here, and will n;
doubt help; hut We maun he his nurse, mo
, of the time, yerself It's what can't
helped
: And so Hannah timid and embarrasse
was compelled, from the urgent necessity
the case, to attend on the wounded ma
His friend, indeed, remained to assist
D nursing him; but the inyalid, with &
r whim Of a sick man, soon began to rclu
= his medicine, unless it was administer
{ by the hand of Hannah. Moreover, unt
i the danger w.s over. his friend watch
every night at his bedside, and, in cons
Il quence, requiring portion OF the day I