Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-30
GRIZEL COCHRANE.
A TALE OF TwEEDMourH MOOR.

When TIE tyranny and bigOtry of the last
James drove his subjects to take up arms
against him, one of the most formidable enc
mics to his dangerous usurpatiOn was Sir
John Cochrane, ancestor to the present earl Of
Dundonad. He was one of the most prOmi-
nent actors in Argyle's rebellion, and for ages
settled gloom seemed to hang over the
house of Campbell, enyelopng iii common
ruin all who united their fortunes in the cause
Of its chieftainS. The same doom encom-
passed Sir John Cochrane. He was sur
rounded by the kings troops-long, deadly
and desperate was his resistance, but, at
length, Overpowered by numbers, he was
taken prisoner tried, and condemned to die
upon the scaffold. He had but a few days to
live, and the jailor waited but the arrival of
his death warrant to lead him forth to execu-
ton. His family and friends had visited him
in prison, and exchanged with him the last,
the long, the heart-yearning farewell. But
there was one who came not with the rest to
receive his hlessing-One who was the pride
of his eye, and of his hOuSe-even Grzel, the
daughter of his love. Twilight was casting a
deeper gloom over the gratings of his prison
house, he was mourning for last look of his
favorite child, and his head was pressed
against the cold, damp walls of his cell to
cool the feversh pusations that shot through
it like strings Of fire when the door Of the
apartment turned slowly on its unwiedy
hinges and his keeper entered followed by a
young and beautiful lady. Her person was
tall and commanding, her eyes dark and tear
less; but their very brightness spoke of sorrow
too deep to be wept away, and her raven
tresSes were parted over an open brow clear
and pure as the polished marble. The UNI
happy captive raised his head and they en-
tered
"My child! my own ,Grizel!' he exelaim-
ed, and she fell upon his bosom.
my father my father" sobbed the mis-
cradle maiden, and dashed away the tear that
accompanied the words.
''Gour interview must be short, very Short"
said the iailor, as he turned and left them for
a few moments together.
God help and comfort thee, my daugh-
teri" added the unhappy father, as he held
her to his breast and printed a kiss upon her
brow. 81 had feared that | should die with
out bestowing my blessing-on the head OF my
own child, and that stung me more than death
hut thou art come my love- thou art come
and the last blessing Of thy wrctched faith
ct"
NAY, forbear!" she exclaimed; ''not thy
last blessing, not thy last!-my father shall
not die"
"Be calm! be calm, my child" returned
he; ''would to heaven that | could comfort
three days and thou and all my little ones
will be-fatherless-" he would have said, but
the word died on his tongue.
"Three days" repeated she, raising her
head from his breast, and eagerly pressing his
hapd; ''my father shall live! Is not my
grandfather the friend of father Petre the
confessor, and the master of the king? From
him he shall beg the life of his son, and my
father shall not de!'
NAY, nay, my GriZel," returned he, ''be
not deceived, there is no hope; already my
DOOM 10 scaled, already the king has signeu
the order for my execution, and the messen-
ger of death is now on the way"
''Yet my father shall not, shall not die!'
she repeated emphatically, and clasping her
hands together.
''lIeaven speed daughters purpose" she
exclaimed, and turning to her father said
calmly, "We part now, but we shall soon
meet again"
"What would my daughter?" inquired he,
eagerly, gazing anxiously on her face.
'iAsk not now, my father" she replied,
''ask not now; but pray for me and bless me,
but not with thy last blessing"
lie again pressed her to his breast, and
wept upon her neck. In few moments the
jailor entered, and they were torn from the
arms Of each other.
On the evening of the second day after the
interview we have mentioned, a waytaring
man crossed the drawbridge at Berwick, from
the north, and proceeding down Marygate, sat
down to repose upon bench by the door of
an hostelry on the south side of the street,
nearly fronting where what was called the
Mainguard then stood. He did not enter the
inn, for it was above his apparent condition,
being that which Oliver Cromwell had made
his headquarters a few years before, and
where at some earlier period, James the Sixth
had taken up his residence, when on his way
to enter on the sovereignty of England. The
traveller wore a coarse lerkin, fastened round
his body by leathern girdle, and over small
cloak composed of equally plain materials.
He was evidently young man, but his beaver
was down so as almost to conceal his features.
In one hand he carried small bundle, and
in the other pilgrims staff. Having called
for Il glass of wine, he took crust of bread
from his bundle, and after resting a few min
utes rose TO depart. The shades of night
were setting in, and 1t threatened to be night
of storms. The heavens were gathering black,
the clouds rushing from the sea, sudden gusts
of wind were moaning along the streets, ac
companied by heavy drops of rain, and the
face OF the Tweed was troubled.
''Ieaven help thee, if thou intendest to
travel far in such night as this" said the
sentinel at the English gate, as the traveller
passed him and proceeded to cross the bridge.
In Il few minutes he was upon the borders
of the wide, desolate, and dreary moor of
Tweedmouth, which for miles, presented a
desert of whins, ferns, and stunted heath, with
here and there dingle covered with thick
brushwood He slowly toiled over the deep
hill, Drawing the storm which was now raging
in the widest fury. The rain fell in torrents,
and the wind howled as a legion of famshed
wolves, hurting its doleful and angry echoes
over the heath. Still the stranger pushed on
ward, till he had proceeded two or three miles
from Berwick, when, as if unable longer to
brave the storm, he sought shelter amidst
some crab aud bramble bushes by the way
side. Nearly an hour had passed since he
sought this imperfect shelter, and the darkness
of the night and the storm had increased to-
gether, when the sound of horses feet was
heard hurriedly splashing along the road
The rider bent his head to the blast. Sud-
denly his horse was grasped by the bride, the
rider raised head, and the traveller stood be-
fore him, holding pistol to his breast
"Dismountm cried the stranger, sternlv.
The horseman, benumbed and stricken with
fear, made an effort to reach his arms, but in
anioment the hand of the robber, quitting the
bride, grasped the breast of the driver, and
dragged him to. the ground. He fell heavily
on his face, and for several minutes remained
senseless. The stranger seized the leathern
bag Which contained the mail for the north,