The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-21
| IA

Campbell went out TO see that the horse was
attended to.
Left to himself Kenelm began to look around
him. and he was much struck BY the scene
which presented itself within the room. The
huge fireplace, which was filed up with wood.
sent bright and rudy glow over the whole
room, aud lighted up with brilliant glare the
figure OF young woman, who sat at one cor
her Of the ample hearth, and who was the only
other occupant of the apartment besides him
self. There something very peculiar in
the appearance of this GIRL which riveted Ham
llton's gaze IN spite of himself She sat per-
fectly motonless, excepting for the rapid move
nent OF her fingers, which she was employing
IN knitting sher plaid thrown back from her
head, left pale face exposed to view, which
was marked by singularly frigid and yet by
no means vacant expression. This was caused
an part, no doubt, by the fixed stare of her
large hght-blue eyes, which never moved in
their sockets nor Frightened with sparkle of
lifek II was evident that she was stone blind,
While there lurked certain lines round the thin
conptessed lips which seemed TO indicate that
she had all the acuteness, amounting almost to
cunning, which often characterizes persons thus
afflicted.
The countenance was far from beautiful
scarcely even pleasing-yet it impressed Ham
liton with a sense of power such as we often
feel and yet cannot define in the presence of
persons unknown TO US. She gave no sign of
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 impassivenesS, an inde6nable 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 it
struck him that the implacabe :" maiden " who
had taken Argyle's young life might have been
fifty represented bv this weird damse who sat
there 50 like a blind inexorable fate weaving a
web of inevitable doom.
The gallant knights Of those times who fear
ed neither death nor danger, were greatly
prone 10 superstition and Hamilton, hot-blood-
ed and impetuous as he was, proved no excep-
ton TO the rule. DE Was therefore heartily
glad when the innkeeper returned aud broke
the ominous silence which had so oppressed
hun.
4" Here, Elspeth,' said Campbell, addressing
the figure in the broad Scotch of those DAYS,
which we will not attempt to reproduce, " Here's
a gentleman, cold and hungry; come and see
what you can find for his supper
Hamilton listened anxiously for the sound of
her voice, feeling as if it would be a relief to
hear her speak, but she never opened her lips
she rose up, however, at once, and began TO
move abCnt IN a strange mechanical manner,
her blindness becoming more apparent as she
guided herself by the touch while the staring
CLASSY eyes seemed to him absolutely CHASTITY
she passed near him. She placed some oat-
meal cakes and dried fish the table, along
with Jug Of whisky, and then returned to her
place by the fire, where she sat immovabe as
before.
l. that your daughter?" said Hamilton to
the iunkeeper, he invited him to draw near
and eat.
"My only child: and blind from her birth" |
-. T. IL. IL
if the subject were painful. Elspeths not
like other folk, and you had better take no
heed OF her
Hamilton took the hint, and SAID no more,
while be applied himself to the rude fare set
before hSSn with keen-set appetite. Nor did
be spare the whisky. which was wonderfully
cheering after his wet ride; and when he had
finished his repast, he felt, as he said, like a
new man altogether. Filling his glass again,
he invited Campbell to Join him, and the two
began to converse together on the events of the
day. keHelIn sal with his back TO the blind
girl, and, as she never moved or spoke, he soon
forgot her presence altogether, and had well
nigh forgotten also the necessity of conceahng
his name and lineage from these retainers of
his foes, when he was startled into sudden re-
memLIance Of his position. Abiding To some
political event he mentioned that he had been
at HolYroot the day before.
q e come from Edinboro', them said the
innkeeper, kindling with sudden ferceness;
and, clenching his est, he struck it on the table
with a violent blow, excaiming: Curses On
the bloody city the city Of murderers and may
the fire from heaven come down upon it aud
CONSUME ii -
Amen" said a deep, stern voice, almost at
heHems car, AMI he started Involuntary as
he sax that il bad come from the blind wo-
man lips. Something, too ia the sudden pas
sOn Of the Campbell had stirred the angry
blood within himself and whilst an involuntary
instinct told hun what train Of thought had
Jhus fired the retainer OF Argyle, he had much
ado 10 hide his own antagonistic feelings.
" gu speak sharply, Master Campbell, he
SAID, at last. The capital Of Scotland Is be-
holden to you in truth.
Az" said the Highlander. his brow grow
lng red with suppressed rage; but why should
1 curse the senssess stones, though they were
stained wilI the blood Of The noble Lord Argyle
Rather let me curse his enemies. who drove
HIN 10 the death his bitter foes, who made
his life dark to hila tIat he Was fam to break
some Deliy law that he might die Curses
then, j say, upon traitor the Hamilton, who
stole his bride.
Amen" the deep voice answered. but this
time kenem heard it moi his fiery passions
were aroused beyond control be forgot all
but that he been called traitor, and. starting
10 his feet, lac advanced on the Campbell, say
Ang
Man, know you to whom you are speak
ing?"
- neither know nor care" said the innkeep-
er, rising also. But say yet more not only
curses upon HIM, the traitor, but upon her, his
lady lght-o love, who would have brought q |
stain upon Argyles ime-honored house had
she become his BRIDE
This was too much. Ia another moment
HamutOns dirk was cleaning IN his hand
- Illaln, unSay that word, he Numbered out |
. she IS as pure as driven snow
q" His lady light-o' love" repeated the Camp
beA with hooking smile, at the same time
preparing to defend himself; bat the furious
Hamilton had closed with him ere the words
had well passed his lips-one fierce struggle
followed, then the Highlander fell heavily to
the ground, as has asssilant plunged the dagger
into his breast mp to the very hilt exelaiming
- Die. then. with the foul lie ia your throat
One deep groan, one strong CONFUSION of the
stalwart limbs, and Campbell was corpse.
Hamilton stood transfxed, while bis boiling
blood gradually subsidized, and his passion cool
ed in the presence Of death. The whole thing
had taken place so suddenly, that he could 1
hardly believe the living, breathing man he had |
been talking 10 so amicably but few moments |
before, was lying there murdered by his own
hand. But suddenly, a. be gazed, he felt his |
resh creep with strange horror, as he saw the |
souless eyes of the blind maiden upturned TO-
wards him as she knelt on the ground BIZ her |
dead father, towards whom she had crept with |
q step so stealthy that he had not heard her. /
Hamilton drew back, shuddering from the fix |
c.ora en- dreadful Saarnad H.