Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-09-07
GbOitt glterature
From th Dublin University Magazine.
THE LAST VICTIM
OF THE
SCOTTISH MAIDEN.
ICoNCLUDED.l

CONCLUDED.
"His lady light.o-love," repeated the
Campbell, with mocking smile, at the
same time preparing to defend knself;
but the furious Hamilton had Dc with
him ere the words had well passed as lips
-one fierce struggle followed, then the
Highlander fell heavily to the ground as
his assaiaLt plunged the dagger into his
breast up to the very hilt, exclaiming:
"Die, then, with the foul lie in your
throat" One deep groan--one strong
convulsion Of the stalwert limbs, and Camp
bell was corpse.
Hamilton stood transixed while his boil
ing blood gradually subsided, and his pas
sion cooled in the presence of death. The
whole thing had taken place so suddenly,
that he could hardly believe the living,
breathing man he had been talking to SO
amicably but few moments before, was
lying there murdered by his own hand
But suddenly, as he gazed, he felt his flesh
creep with strange horror, as he saw the
soulless eyes of the blind maiden upturned
towards him as she knelt on theground by
her dear father, towards whom she had
crept with step 50 stealthily that he had
not heard her. Hamilton drew back shud-
dering from the fixed stare, so dreadful
seemed the expression of hate on her white
ghastly face but as he receded she crept
towards him on her knees and laid her
hand, which she had stepped in her fathers
-.s-.l. >on bis till it bore the same red stain
( al sad ~ I '1Taw suited voice "Y ou nave
murdered him, and you shall die for it.
None saw the murder, for my blind eyes
saw Il not but think not to escape; the
vengeance Of Heaven will track you out
one day" Then finging up her arms to
heaven, she xclaimed-"My father, o my
father!" and fell upon the corpse with a
shrek so wild and piercing, that Hamilton
felt as If it must have rung upon the ears
of every person in the town, and reached
even through the massive walls of Invera-
ry Castle.
That cry recalled him to himself; he
must escape right speedily, or another
moment would sec him surrounded by
those whom it must rouse; the instinct o.
selfpreservation at once took the place o.
every other feeling, and with one bounc
he darted to the outer door, opened it, rush
cd TO the stable, mounted the horse with
out saddle or bride, and the Gathering o
his horses feet, as he galloped away, wa
all that the inhabitants heard of him, a
they rushed to the inn, whence the blinC
girls shrieks were still heard echoing.
Hamilton never slackened his pace til
he had laid ten miles between him and In
verary. In those days the course of jus
tice was as stern as it was summary anc
he felt well assured that the present Mar
quis of Argyle, the younger brother of hi
rival, would never rest till he had found on
the murderer of his retainer, especiall
when he heard from Elspeth the circum
stances Of his death; and if he succeeded
in his search, the service Of the "maiden
would right speedily be called into actio
for Kenelm himself.
When at last he yentured, under cove
Of q fir wood, to stop his furious course, h
began to consider the best means of avoic
ing discovery, with no small anxiety as I
the issue. His best hope was in tho fac
that none had been present during tn
murder but the lind girl, who could nc
identify him; and that not a single inhal
liant Of Inyerary had seen him, except hC
dead father himself He was now nc
very FAR from the house Of his kinsmal
where he originally intended to have pas
ed the night. The time he had spent s
fatally in the inn at Inverary had not G.
tended beyond an hour, and the rapid pac
at which lie had traversed the last te
miles had fllly brought him to the tin
when he would, according to his ordinar
style Of travelling, have reached his dest
nation. lie therefore resolved to prOcee
thither at once, as il ho were only arr
ing from tic village where he had left h
servants, and to trust that no one wou
ever suspect him of having made his info
tunate detour into the domain of his en-
my. This plan succeeded perfectly;
was expected by his cousin and the ne
morning his servant joined him, haviI
left his comrade doing well so that !
doubt was for o moment entertained th
he bad ever deviated from the road
bad been expected TO take, and he had on
more started for Edinburg before the ne,
Of the murder had spread beyond Inveral
Nevertheless, when the fact did bccor
known, it created sensation, chiefly owl
to the peculiar circumstances of the case
murder committed by an unknown
sassin in presence Of one sole witness, a
that one deprived of the power of seei
the murderer, was even in those days
bloOd-shed, striking event, and the n