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

Whlcn had so oppressed him.
@Here, Hspeth," !" said Campbell, address
ing the figure in the broad Scotch of those
days which we will not attempt TO repro
duce, "Here's a gentleman, cold and hun
CRY, come and see what we can find for his
supper" a
Hamilton listened anxiously for thesound
of her voice, feeling as if it would be re-
lief to hear her speak, but she never open
ed her lips; she rose up however, at once,
and began to move about in a strange me-
ehanical manner, her blindness becoming
more apparent aslshe guided herself by the
touch, while the staring CLASSY eyes seemed
to him absolutely ghastly as she passed
near him. She placed some oatmeal cakes
and dried fish on the table, along with a
Jug of whiskey, and then returned TO her
place by the fire, where she sat insrno~able
as before.
"Is that your daughters" said Hamilton
to the innkeeper, as he invited him to
draw near and eat.
"My only child; and blind from her
birth" was the reply, uttered almost with
sternness, as if the subject were painful
"Elspeth's 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 keen-set appetite
Nor did he spare the whiskey,; and
when he had finished his repast, he felt, as
he said, like a new man altogether. Fill
ing his glass again, he invited Campbell to
join him, and the two began to converse
together on the events of the day. Ke-
nelm sat with his back to the blind girl, and
she never moved or spoke, he soon forgot
her presence altogether, and had we'll nigh
forgotten also the necessity of concealing
his name and lineage from these retainers
of his foes, when he was startled into a
sudden remembrance of his position. AL,
luding to some political event, he men
toned that he had been at Holyrood the
day before.
Ye come from Edinboro," said the inn
keeper, kindling with sudden ferceness
and, clenching his fist, he struck it on the
table with violent blow exclaimiEg:-
"Curses on the bloody city the city o
murderers and may the fire from HEAVIER
come down upon it and consume it!
"Amen," said deep, sternvoice, almost
at Kenelm's ear, and he started involunta
rily as he saw it had come from the blinc
woman's lips. Something too, in the sud
den passion Of the Campbell had stirret
the angry blood within himself, and willis
an involuntary instinct told him what trail
of thought had thus fred the retainer Q
Argyle, he had much ado to hide his owl
he said at last "fhe capIraI or o00vrssrr'
is beholden to you in truth"
cay" said the Highlander, his broN
growing red with suppressed rage; "bu
why should l curse the senseless stone
though they we're stained with blood
the noble Lord Argyle. Rather let m
curse his enemies, who drove him to tt
death-his bitter foes, who made his Ii
so dark to him that he was fain to bres
some petty law that he might die. Gu
ses, then / say, upon the traitor Hamilton
who stole his bride"
"Amen," the deep voice answered, b
this time Kenelm heard it not; his tlel
passions were aroused beyond control;
! forgot all but that he had been called
traitor and starting to his feet, he advanc
on the Campbell saying:
"Man know you to whom you are spea
ing"
j sI neither know nor care" said the In
), keeper rising also. "But say yet NOR
!, not only curses upon him the traitor, b
upon her, his lady light-o' love, who wor
4 have brought stain upon Argyle's til
, honored house had she become his bride
! This was too much. In another n
ment Hamilton's dirk was cleaning in
Y hand. "Villian unsay that word"
D thundered out "she is as pure as the dl
D en- snow"
3 TcoNcLuDED NEXT WEEK.