Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-12

the ArgyIes there had been q deadly feud fOu
many generations past. Never, however, had
it burned more fiercely than In the time Ol
which We write, when the families had been
represented by the Marquis who had just BEEN
compelled to lay his lofty head at the foot ol
the maiden, and Kenelm, with the wild and
angry temper; for his elder brother was an
idiot, who bore the family title, but lacked tho
wit to defend their honor when asSailed. Dcep
had been the hate between Argyle and IIamil-
ton, which even the new shed blood of the
former had not qucnched in addition to the
old clan feud, there was quarrel between
them which had fcarfully cmbittered their ira
dictionary hatred.
The Marquis Of Argyle had been betrothed
almost from boyhood to his cousin, the Lady
Ellen Graham, and although their engagement
had been matter Of family arrangement, he
loved her well and truly; not SO the lady, how
ever. She had not been consulted when she
was bound while vet child, to the MARQUIS,
and with the true feminine spirit of cOhtrndic-
tion she resolved to choose for herself, and ac-
cepted the addresses Of Kcnclm Hamilton,
who, by some unlucky chance, had fallen in
love with his rivals bride.
Their wedding was even now fixed to take
place in few months, and this circumstance,
no doubt. explained 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 maiden, whom he himself had EN-
bFaccd with so much fcrvor. And nov the re-.
collection of that last bloody scene was doubt
less heavy on the heart of Hamilton, as he rode
down the mountain path which led to Invcra.
~ Castle, aud the little village which lay at its
foot. 1t was q cold and gloomy night; the
darkness was intense, and the " lid north wind
went shrirking through the pass, us it bore
upon its wings the souls of those who had cx.
pircd in great agony, while the dark Scotch
frs stood like spcctrcs among the bleak gray
rocks.
Truly it was an evening on which the stout.
est heart might gladly seek shelter, and Ham
ilton was fain, though Sorely against his will,
to rest for the night in the domain of his enc.
mics. This had been no part of his intentions
when he set out on his journey; he had then
been accompanied by two Of his rctaincrs, and
he designed to have passed at little distance
from Inverary early in the day, and to have
lodged for the night in n castle at some dis
tancc, aud belonging to kinsman Of his own;
but unhappiy, that morning one of his guides
had been thrown from his horse and injured so
severely that his life was dcspaired Of Some
hours were spent. in conveying the wounded
man to resting place; and Hamilton. whose
mission admitted Of no delay, was obliged to
leave him in charge of his comrade and push
on his road, although the short December day
was already closing in when he started again.
lie rode on Us rapidly as he could, but the
darkness soon became so impenctrable that he
re, ,.catcd!y lost his way and when at last the
lights Of Inverary cleaned through the driving
mist and rain, he felt that it had become y
matter Of necessity that he should rest there
for the night, as his jaded horse was stumbling
at every step from sheer fatigue.
In those turbulent times, when every mans
hand was against his fellow, there would have
been considerable risk in Hamilton venturing
into Invcary, and especially this pnrticu or
Hamilton, had he been known but Kenclm
trusted that the darkness Of the night woul !
prevent his being seen.by any but the landlord
Of the inn where he meant to sleep, TO whom
he was personally known, and who would not
be likely to suspect that solitary horscm all
unattended by q single retainer, could bear SO
proud name.
In this supposition he was proved to have
judged ri.htly. KenelIn road unmolcsted and
unobserved through the little town, the stree Is
Of which were, in fact, almost deserted; as the
tempestuous weather had driven all the inhab-
itantS into their houses, and he saw, to his
great satisfaction. that even the door Of the inn
was shut-a sufficient proof that no guests
were expected at the argyle Arms that
night. The landlord, n Campbell, of course,
and rs sturdy Scott as one could wish to see,
himself came to the door to welcome the Stran-
ger, and after sending his tired horse to the
stable, he ushcred him into the huge stone
kitchen, briefly remarking that he must be
content with such cheer as the family provis-
ions could afford, for that he little expected
visitor on night SO ''uncanny."
Hamilton assured him he was not DISPOSED
to be laStidiouS, and having thrown off his
dripping mantle, and discncumbercd himself
Of his heavy riding boots, he sat down on the
Oaken Scttce opposite the huge fireplace, while
Campbell went out to see that the horse was
attended to.
Left to himself, Kenclm began to look around
him, and lie was much struck with the scene
which presented itself within the room. The
huge fireplace, which was filled with wood,
sent bright and ruddy glow over the whole
room, and lighted up with brilliant glare the
figure Of young woman, who sat at one cor
ner Of the ample hearth, and who was the only
occupant Of the apartment besides himself
There was something very peculiar in the ap.
pearance OF this girl, which rivctrd IIami ton S
gaze in spite Of himself She sat perfectly
motionlcSS, excepting for the rapid movement
Of her fingers which she was employed in
knitting; her plaid, thrown back from her
head, bit her pale face exposed to view, which
was marked BY singularly frigid, and yet by
no means vacant expression.
This was caused in part, no doubt, by the
fixed stare Of her large blue eyes, which never
moved in their sockets, nor frightened with a
spark Of life; il was evident that she was stone
blind, while there lurked certain lines around
the thin. compressed lips which seemed to in
dictate that she had all the acutcncss, amount
ing almost TO cunning, which often character
ize persons thus afflicted.
The cOuntcnance was far from beautiful
scarcely even plcasiDg-yet it impressed Ham,
ilton with q sense Of power such as we often
feel, and yet cannot define, in the presence oi
persons unknown to us. She gave no sign Oi
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 impresSivenesS, an undetinablc feeling
Of shrinking and dread took possession Of him,
for which he could not account He had been
thinking Of his rivals bloody death, and il
struck him that the iMplacable maiden" who
had taken Argyle's young life might have been
fitly represented by this weird damsel, who
sat there 30 like blind; inexorable fate; weAv.
ing web Of inevitable doom.
The gallant knights OF those times, who fear
ed neither death nor danger, were greatly prone
to superstition, and Hamilton, hot bloOded and
impctuous IS he was, proved no exception tC
the ruIR HN WAS fherofnra hnarkilv wlad