The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-10-20

The sunshine of bright summer sky,
streaming down upon his noble and
commanding form, seemed but to typify
the briliancy of his worldly prospects.
One moment he stood thus, and the next,
the vengeance that had so long tracked
his steps unseen laid hold upon him
with deadly grasp, and the sun of
Hamilton's career sunk down TO set in
blood. A shrek, so thrilling and in
tense that IL seemed to pierce his very
heart, suddenly rang through the air,
and all eyes, as we'll as his own, were
turned to the spot from whence it ap-
peared to have arisen-and there a sight
presented itself, which caused the state
ly Hamilton to grow pale and tremble
like child On the highest step of the
stone stair which led to the door of the
Marquis Of Argyles town residence, n
tall, haggard-looking woman was stand
Iing-her arms were outstretched towards
Hamilton, and her eyes, whose CLASSY
vacancy showed that they were sight
less, seemed to glare upon him with a
horrible triumph, as she shrieked out in
tones that were heard far and near:
"Seize himl seize that man, whoever he
may be--he is the murderer Of my faith
er-I know him by his voice." Many
Of Argyle's retainers were amongst the
crowd, and the Marquis himself had
been drawn to the window by the noise
of the quarrel. All knew Elspeth
Campbell, the blind woman, and remem-
bered her fathers mysterious murder
all could testify to the acuteness of her
sense of hearing, and to the repeated
depression of her longing desire that
she might hear the voice of the assassin
so long sought in vain, for she remem.
bered the full rich tones that had called
on her father to unsay his words one
instant ere he fell a corpse, and she felt
certain she should know them again if
she could but once hear the murderer
speak; and now, after the lapse of al
these years, the well-known voice had
struck her ear, and again and again anC
again she screamed out: "Seize him
seize him! l know he is my father
murderer" In another moment Argyle
was confronting Hamilton, too Thankful
to have such charge established against
his ancient enemy. The people crowd
ed round, and if any had been disposed
to doubt the blind womans recognition
Hamiltons own awe-struck conscience
set seal upon its truth, for he attempt
ed no defence, but kept his appalled,
look still fixed upon the blind woman''
ghastly face; he let his hands fall at hi
side, and exclaimed: "It is the hanC
of God, and 1 am lost"
He spoke truly he was lost indeed
Argyle speedily brought him to justice
The blind womans evidence was un
questionable, nor did he attempt to con
trovert it, it was as if the very blood OF
the murdered man had risen up to cry
for vengeance; and all men deemed it {
righteous sentence which doomed hin
to the scaffold.
Not many days after that bright morn
ing when he stood, as it seemed, on the
pinnacle of fortune, with admirina
crowds around him, he found himself
again the centre of large assemblage
the object of interest to all. The deadly
maiden had been prepared to receiv,
another victim, and at her feet the no
BILE Lady Ellen Hamilton sat weeping
bitter tears, as she saw the lover of hei
youth, the husband Of her ripper years
led up to die.
They let him pause one instant tc
take leave of her. "My Ellen, do moi
weep" he said; "this is but the work
of Gods unsleeping justice. ever
knew that 1 must die for that rash deed
The blind woman's voice has haunted
me through all these years, as it seem,
mine has haunted her. She told me
vengeance would overtake me, and it is
come-merciful it is that it meets me
on the scaffold, and not in the fires of
hell" He kissed her pale lips and pass.
ed on.
Still nearer to the fatal maiden stood
the blind woman, who had murdered
him as surely as he killed her father
He laid his hand on hers: "Elspeth
you are avenged" he said; "I am about
to die. Now, let your hatred pass away
and pray for me-"
81 will" she answered, and tears fell
from her sightless eyes as he passed on
to suffer.
In another instant the maiden had
done her work, and the last of her vic
Tins lay slaughtered in her terrible em,
brace.
The instrument Of death thus strange.
ly named was never used again. 1t wa:
superseded by the more modern fashion
of executing criminals, aud it may now
be seen in the Museum Of the Society
of Antiquaries in Edinburgh, with the
dark stains yet corroding on the fatal
knife, which were left there by the blood
of him who in very deed and truth was
brought to justice by the signal retribu.
tion we have recorded.
MllstrIIanr0us.