Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-03-08

which she recognized as the form ofa mystic
rious being who wandered among the glens
and mountain heights, prognosticating
dreadful anathemas on those who did not ad-
minister to her wants. Perched on the
summit of rock, the old hag lifted her
sinewy arm yelled forth in wild accents:
ERE the earth has rolled its annual
course, daughter of Norland, the star ofthy
house shall set in blood Then gliding
from the knoll, she was lost amid the crags
~. CHAPTER II.
Within a week from that day, Evan, at
a moments warning, was commanded by Sir
Robert to proceed on mission to London,
but it was secretly surmised, the message
was for the disafected chiefs. Neither time
nor opportunity was afforded him to bid
farewell to the beloved of his heart, and
with a sickening pain he departed. The
Laird alone, accompanied him portion Of
the way, but returned in few hours, whilst
days and weeks passed on and Evan came
not to his bride. .
In the meantime the rebellion in the
highlands increased, and preparations were
made to invade England. The Laird Of
Norland had played double part; for find,
ing his secret negotiations with the enemy
had been discovered, he tried to conciliate
King George; but the latter was SO enraged
at his treason, that, except for some power.
full influence near the throne, he would
have been attainted, and paid the forfeit
with his life. Sir Robert was man of war
bold of heart and ready of hand-so re.
solving that if The King was not pleased
with him, he would not please the King,
he prepared his Castle for siege and if it
should hap to the taking up arms, he feared
not the forces that could be brought agaiast
him.
Amongst the Scotch mobiles in favor, al
the English Court, was Lord Cranstown
He had once seen Beatrice Anstruther, and
dazzled by her surprising loveliness and
grace, had offered his hand; but he was
nearly fifty years old, and knowing him tc
be depraved in his habits and dissolute in
his manners, she had rejected him with
frmness and dignity. Still he persevered
and the better to secure his purpose, had
secretly involved her father in labyrinth
of difficulties at Court At the same time
he openly restrained his sovereign from ex
ecuting vengeance, and for this, the daugh
ter's hand was to be the pledge of the par
ent's safety. ...
Beatrice was now the bride of another
thoug no token of his existence had reach
ed her, and sometimes she feared treachery
had deprived her of his love, or death had
widowed al! her hopes. Sir Robert had
used remonstrances and threats to induce
the sweet girls acceptance of Lord Grams
towns hand; but if repugDance had mark
her former refusal, how much stronger was
the feeling grown when she knew her heart
was not at her own disposal, and that her
life was indissolubly connected with Evans
as her husband. The Laird seemed to
mourn for Evans absence, and not uufre.
quently threw out hints mysteriously, that
he would never return. Once or twice, in
the bitterness of his heart, he tainted his
daughter with her partiality for menial ;
and, but that she deemed it impossible, she
would have entertained a doubt from the
language of her father, that their secret
union had been betrayed.
A drawbridge spanned the ravine, reach
ing from the entrance to the Castle yard,
to the far moorlands of the mainland, and
here summer reigned in rich luxuriance,
the silvery waters of the Forth adding a
GOODNESS to the scene. There was wild
ness in the stern scenery around, for in
those days laborious industry was little prac-
ticed, when the chief part of cbieftain's
revenue was obtained by forays on the Dor,
der, and the few patient tillers gained moth
ing but the goading thorns of arbitrary rule,
from the strong arm of power, which stretch
ed forth to exact the supplies. Scarcely a
breeze ruffled the silver sea, nature was
hushed, save where the distant murmurings
of the restless waves struck on the ear, and
afforded a pleasant reliefto the placid scene.
The sun sinking majestically behind the
hills, threw around his cheering beams, COL
oring with tints of gold and crimson the
rugged promontories and towering rocks,
which concealed the entrance to secret
way that led to a cave below the Castle,
and thence by narrow staircase to its in,
terror apartments. This subterraneous pas
sage was known to few, and Sir Robert
Anstruther had caused it to be blocked up
with huge masses of stone, to prevent all
ingress but Evan had contrived to remove
part of the obstruction, and thus afford
himself opportunity of enjoying the society,
unsupported, of her he loved.
In romantic glen, fragrant with the
perfume of the blooming heather, dog rose,
and gay gorse, and overhung with the sweet
birch, where Evan and Beatrice had spent