Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-07-30
From the Household Journal.l
THE MAIDEN's WEIRD.
OR, THE SANDS OF FoRvIE.



About two hundred years ago, on level track
where the river YthaR unites its waters with the
herman ocean, stood the gray old castle of For.
vie, surrounded by r0ok -tenanted ancesti nj
trees. This quaint mansion was the abode of 4
gentleman named Gordon. who lay dying in a
low-built room in the rear of the building, and
on whose couch the blending rays of the setting
sun fell with chilling glow, that hung to the
feelings like winter frost
The silver cord was rapidly loosening, the
golden bowl was suspended by the slightest
thread, and the hand of the expiring man, which
he feebly extended 10 his weeping daughter, was
already cold aud clammy with the dews Of death.
The solemn voice of a reverend divine, pouring
forth fervent prayer, alone broke the dread
stiffness OF the chamber, and hardly had the
sound hushed, than, with an effort, the invalid
eeckoned TO his side n kinsman who stood near
the door.
Sir Evan he said with difficulty, my days
on earth are closing. remember the precious
charge leave to you, see that you faithfully
perform the trust.
Hear me whilst swear, replied the knight
pressing towards the bed, and raising n copy of
the Scriptures to his lips, he registered the vow
upon the sacred volume.
Thou knowest the punishment Of traitors,
murmured the sick man, and turning a look of
tenderness on the pale and shrinking maidens,
he added: Fear not our kinsman will do his
office faithfully
Have not always proved myself devoted to
your interests I? replied Sir Evan, whilst an ex-
preston Of soorn he could not repress cured his
lip, unnoted by the laird, on whose ghastly fea-
lures the hand of death pressed heavily.
Raise me up he faltered; and as his friend
complied with his request, placing pillows for
his support, he went on Heaven bless them
fear nothing" and suddenly fixing his dim
eyes on Sir Evnn Remember I" he exclaimed.
and fell back on the pallet.
The almost fainting girls gazed on tho corpse
with Speechless agony, then, throwing them
selves on his body, tWined their arms around
the neck of their dead father aud frantioaly
kissed his bloodless lips.
Weep on in peace; l will not bid you stint
one tear that love provokes to flow. But, hark
ye, young damsels, leave you now, to execute
necessary duties let your grief be brief, and
henoeforth your prompt action testify obedience
said Sir EvaR, as he stood with folded arms
calmly surveying the scene.
The distracted mourners, surprised by his
words, could not at first realize their meaning,
and as he Quilted the room with q mooking smile
they sprang to their feet, gazing into each others
faces; then, pressing each others hands in con-
vulsive agony they poured out their sorrow in
the widest noles of despair.
Those were unhappy times when the unhappy
attempts made by King Charles ii to overthrow
Presbyterianism in Scotland had involved the
country in q religious war, and such US declared
themselves friends of Episcopacy were sustained
by the government In whatever deeds Of fraud
and violence they chose to peTpetrate. Although
the laird of FOrvie had taken no active part in
the general hostility, he attended conyenticles,
harbored intercommuned persons, and declined
to render himself responsible for his tenants.
So that during his lifetime Sir Evan vascilated
between both parties, in order to nsinuate him
self into the post of trust with which he was iu-
vested. But after the funeral, he openly went
over to the prelates, as he judged by this course
no inquiry would be made, if he should despoil
the helpless orphans of their inheritance.
Had the laird OF Forvie been childless we'll
titled domains Of fair fields and romantic undu-
lations, finely clothed with trees, would have,
at his demise, passed to Sir Evan as next OF
kin and it was not without many feelings Of
impatience he saw himself deprived of what he
considered his rights by some feeble iris. But
he resolved to bide his time.
In person he was strong and athletic, which
prepOssessed a beholder at first in his favor, un-
til q closer acquaintance betrayed designing
cunning ia his looks, that would hive Inspired
distrust, had be not so artfully entwined himself
into the confidence Of his kinsmen that he could
listen to nothing in his disiavor, and it dimin-
ished his fear OF death to know that he left his
childrens interest thus well protected.
The old castle had originally been strongly
fortified, and in front was courtyard enclosed
by high wall, indented with embrasures and
pierced By on arched gateway the whole sur
rounded by moat, at this period dry and near
ly filled with rubbish. Beyond, the ground
sloped to the granite preoipes against which the
ocean ever chafed, and the river hoarsely muir
INJURED, whilst north and west we're verdant val.
leys, trenching into blue hills, bounded ut last
by the gloomy and rugged Grampans
II was about month after the evanescent
remnant OF trall mortality had been laid in the
tomb, and Sir Evan was absent 10 the capital.
that the sisters sat at window which overlook.
ed the ocean, on May evening, just as the twi-
light was loosing the last CLEAN of day in the
thickening gloom. Although the atmosphere
was serene, ever and anon, moan and long
Whistling would sound in the chimneys, and
around the tnrrets, whilst the sea emitted bol-
low mutter. that prelude Of a storm which ever
impresses the listener with an ntuitiye sensation
OF awe-struck melancholy.
Sisters spoke the elder of the orphan,s A
beautiful girl Of some eighteen years, come
with mo while hold some converge with vou
touching our guardian, whose manner have
aoted of late, and like not This new sorrow
has so tanned my heart that the tide of mourning
has nearly ceased to flow."
oh, katherine you are ever harsh in your
JNNbA~t.r NAN Anu1N W uiihthhtn. We're o not
bequeathed to his care by our dying father, to
whom he sWore to shield us2 There would be
peril in any unlicensed act, If he meditated it,
cried Isabel, a fair-haired girl, just entered on
heE teens
Would to heaven il were SO, Isabel but if he
finds us "A hindranee and obstacle in his path,
think you he will scruple to remove us p asked
the eldest sister.
He surely dare not be villain enough to muir
der us = exclaimed Annie. 'We can appeal TO
the king, who cannot have so thoroughly forsa-
ken the paths Of humanity as 10 be lost TO all
the liner feelings of nature
-Atas, you are unmindful of the gloomy pc
riOd in which We live, and that party feud has
rent asunder those ties which God himself crea-
ted. What justice can we expect from one who
drives his wretehed subjects 70 seek refuge in
caves and on the hills, and renders himself SO
terrible by his cruelty that his very name is
odious 2
Il fear me, then, We are at the mercy of Sir
Eva 3, should he be forgetfnl of his duty and
join the sons Of Bslial, who act as if they sup