The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-05-05

was the only other occupant ofthe apartment
beside himself. There was something very
peculiar in the appearance of this girl, which
riveted Hamiltor's gaze in spite of himself.
She sat perfectly moti0nless, excepting for
the rapid movement of her fingers, which
she was employing in knitting her plaid
thrown back from her head left her pale face
exposed to view, which was marked by a
singular frigid, and yet by no means, vacant
expression. This was caused in part, no
doubt, by the fixei stare of her large light
blue eyes, which never moved in their sock
cts, nor frightened with sparkle of life it
was evident that she was stone blind, while
there lurked certain lines around the thin
compressed lips which seemed to indicate
that she had all the acuteness, amounting
almost to cunning, which often characterize
persons thus afflicted. -
The countenance was far from beautiful
scarcely even pleasing-yet it impressed Ham,
ilton with a sense ofpower such as we often
feel, and yet cannot define in the presence
of persons unknown to u.s. She gave no sign
of being conscious of his presence, but he
felt she was aware that he was in the room
and, as he continued to watch her, sitting
there in her strong impassiveness an indie
Unable feeling of shrinking and dread took
possession of him, for which he could not
account. He had been thinking of his rival S
bloody death, and it struck him that the
implacable 'maiden" who had taken Argvle's
young life might have been fitly represented
by this weird damsel, who sat there so like a
blind, memorable fate, weaving web of IN
evitable doom.
The gallant knights of those times, who
feared neither death nor danger, were greatly
prone to superstition, and Hamilton, hot
blooded and impctuous as he was, proved no
exception to the rule. He was, therefore,
heartily glad when the inn keeper returned
and broke the ominous silence which had so
oppressed him.
Here, Elspeth,' said Campbell, addressing
the figure in the broad Scotch of those days
which we will not attempt to reproduce; ;
"here's gentleman cold and hungry come
and see what you can find for his supper"
Hamilton listened anxiolsly for the sound
of her voice, feeling as if it would be relief
to hear her speak but she never opened her
lips. She rose up, however, at once, and
began to move about in strange, mechanical
manner, her blindness becoming more appar-
ent as she guided herself by the touch, while
the staring, CLASSY eyes seemed to him absolu-
ly CHASTITY, as she passed near him. She placed
some oatmeal cakes aud dried fish on the ia
bic, along with a jug of whiskey, and then
returned to her place by the fire, where she
sat, immoyable as before
as that your daughter?" said Hamilton,
to the innkeeper, as he invited him to draw
near and eat.
"My only child and blind from BIRTH"
was the reply, uttered almost with sternness,
as ifthe subject were painful. Elspeths not
like other folks, and you had better take no
heed of her.'
Hamilton took the hint, and said no more,
while he applied himself to the rude fare set
before him with a keen set appetite. Nor
did he spare the ~hiskey, which was Won
derfully cheering after his wet ride; and
when he had finished his repast, he felt, as
he said like new man altogether. Filling
his glass again, he invited Campbell to join
him, and the two began to converse together
on the events of the day. kenelm sat with
his back to the blind girl, and as she never
moved or spoke, he soon forgot her presence
and had well-nigh forgotten, also,
the necessity of concealing his name and
Inca &c from those retainers of his foes, when
he was startled into sudden remembrance
of his position. Abiding to some political
event, he mentioned that he had been at Hol-
yrood the day before.
"Ye come from Edi lbro', then," said the
innkeeper, kindling with sudden fierceness;
and, clinching his fist, he Struck it on the
table with aviolent blow, exclaiming: '.Curs-
es on the bloody city the city ofmurdcrers.
and may the fire from heaven come down
upon it and consume it p
Amen" !" said deep, stern voice, almost
at Kenelm's ear; and he started involuntarily
as he saw that it had come from the blind'wo-
mans lips. Something, too, in the sudden
passion ofthe Campbell had stirred the angry
blood within himself; and, whilst an invol-
untary instinct told him what train of thought
had thus fired the retainer of Argyle, he had
much ado to hide his own antagonistic feel
ing.
'You speak sharply, Master Campbell"
he said, at last. "The capital of Scotland is
beholden to you in TRUTH
"Ay," said the Highlander, his brow grow
ing red with suppressed rage; 'but why
should curse the senseless stones, though
they were stained with the blood the noble
Argyle. Rather let me curse his enemies
who drove him to death---his bitter foes, who
made his life so dark to him that he was fain
to break some petty law that he might die.
Curses, then, say, upon the traitor Hamil-
ton, who stole his BRIDE"
"Amen ~ the deem voice answered. hut