Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-31

this circumstance no doubt, explajned the |
last words of Argyle, which were destined
to be the means of one day bringing his
enemy to the arms of this same cruel mai.
den, whom he himself had embraced with |
30 mach fervor. And now the recollec-
ton of the last bloody scene was, doubt
less, heavy on the heart Of Hamilton as
he led down the path which, led to In
verary Castle and the little village that lay
at it's foot. 1t was cold and gloomy
winter night: the darkness was intense,
and the wild north wind went shrieking and
bowling through the past as if It bore upon
its wings the souls Of those who had expir-
ed in great agony, while the dark Scotch
hrs stood mp like speeters amopg the bleak
gray rocks. Truly it was 40 evening on
which the stoutest heart might gladly
seek a shelter, and Hamilton was fain,
though sorely against his will, to rest for
the night in the domain of his enemies
This had been no part of his intention when
he set out on his journey; he had then
been accompanied by two of his retainers,
and he designed to have passed at a little
distance from Inverary early in the day,
and to have lodged for the night in castle
at some distance, and belonging to kins-
man of his own; but, unhappiIy that morn
ing, one Of his guides had been thrown
from his horse and injured SO severely that
his life was despaired of. Some hours were
spent in conveying the wounded man to a
resting place and Hamilton, whose mission
admitted Of no delay, was obliged to leave
him in charge Of his comrades and push
on his road, although the short December
day was already closing in when he start
ed again.
He rode on as rapidly as he could, but
the darkness soon became so impenetrable
that he repeatedly lost his way; and when,
at last, the lights of Inverary cleaned thro'
the driving mist and rain, he felt that it
had become matter of necessity that he
should rest there for the night, as his iaded
horse was stumbling at every step from
sheer fatigue. III e..
In these turbulent times, when every
mans hand was against his fellow, there
would have been considerable risk in Ham
ilton venturing into Inverary, and especially
this particular Hamilton had he been
known; but Kenelm trusted that the dark
ness ofthe night would prevent his being
seen by any but the landlord of the inn
where he meant to sleep, to whom he was
personally unknown, and who would not
be likely to suspect that solitary horse
man, unattended by by single retainer,
could bear so proud name.
inatp tthjso suggestion he was proved to
Tested and unobserved through the little
town, and the.streets of which were, in fact,
almost deserted; as the tempestuous wealth
er had driven all the inhabitants into their
houses, and he saw, to his great satisfaction,
) that even the door of the inn was shut-a
sufficient proc? that no guests were expect
!, ed at the "Argy!e Arms" that night. The
landlord, Campbell, of course, and as
sturdy Scott as one could wish to see
: himself came to the door to welcome th'
, stranger, and after sending his tired hors
: to the stable, he ushered him into the hug
!, stone kitchen, briefly remarking that h
u u must be content with such cheer as tn
i family provisions could afford, for that b
: :, little expected any visitors on night S
;. "uncanny."
ii Hamilton assured him he was not di.
y y posed to be fastidious, and having throw
u off bis dripping mantle and disencam5ere
:, himself of his heavy riding boots, he 81
- - down on the oaken settee opposite the hug
- fireplace; while Campbell went out to Sc
that the horse was attended to.
II Left to himself, Kenelm began to loo
~ around him, and he was much struck
a the scene which presented itself within ii
+. room. The huge fireplace, which was fl
70 ed up with wood, sent bright and rude
of glow over the whole room, and lighted l
with brilliant glare the figure of your
On woman, who sat at one corner of the amp
10 hearth, and who was the only other occ
Vi pant Of the apartment beside himself
nd There was something very peculiar in t
70 appearance ofthis girl, which rivsted Hal
~ iton's gaze in spite of himself. She
tie perfectly motionless, excepting for the re-
he id movement of her fingers, which she v
N employing in knitting; her plaid thro
cb back from her head left her pale face
,ar posed to view, which was marked ly a S
,an guIarly frigid and yet by no means vac'
- expression. This was caused in part,
he doubt, by the fixed stare Of her large b
a ewes, which never moved in their sock
, in nor frightened with sparkle Of life.
No was evident she was stone blind, while th
on, lurked certain lines around the thin &C
Al, pressed lips, which seemed to indicate
vor She had all the acuteness, amounting
= ~ most to cunning, which often character
an persons thus afflicted.
quis The countenance was far from beau'
lof- scarcely even pleasing, yet it impre'
elm, Hamilton with sense OF power such
his we often feel and yet cannot define in
the presence of persons unknown to us.
fend gave no sign of being CT nscious of his +
been ence, but he felt she was aware he ws
lton, the room; and as he continued to w
rmer her sitting there in her strong impas'
ition ness, an indefnable feeling of shrinl
vate and dread took possession of him, for W
fully he could not account. He had been th
The ing of his rivals bloody death, and it st
d al BIN that the implacable maiden
lady had taken Argyle's young life might
rage been ftly represented by this weird ds
snge- who sat there so like blind inexo
OF so fate weaving web of inevitable doom
con- The gallant knights of those times
vet a feared neither death nor danger, were {
true lly prone to Superstition; and Ham
esoly. hot-bloooded and impetuous as he
e ad- proved no exception to the rule. He
1 1.Iol ,,boy tbo INN