, 1863-12-05
Sir David Homes Revenge.

tober, 1916, when horseman, spurring his
jaded steed, rode furiously down the path
leading to the strong tower Of Wedderbun.
He alighted at the gate, and knocked loudly
for admission.
"What would ye?" inquired the warder
from the turret.
"Conduct me to your Chief" was the Ia
comic reply of the breathless messenger.
ais your message 50 urgent that ys- must
deliver It to-nightH p continued the warder,
who feared to kindlethe fiery temper Of his
master, BY disturbing him with a triAing
errand. ~
"Urgent !-babbler replied the other,
impatiently-" to-day the best blood Of the
Homes has been hpPed by dogs upon the
street; sad I have seen It.
The warder aroused the domestics in the
tower, and the stranger entered. He was
conducted into a long, gloomy apartment,
dimly lighted by solitary lamp. Around
him hung rude portraits of the chiefs Of
Wedderburn, and on the walls were sus-
pended their arms and the spoils of their
victories. The solitary apartment seemed
like the tomb Of war. Every weapon
around him had been rusted with the blood
of Scotland's enemies. 1t was fitting
theatre for the recital Of tale of death.
He had gazed around for few minutes,
when heavy footsteps were heard treading
along the dreary passages, and the next
moment Sir David Home entered-armed
as for the field.
"Your errand, ,strangerT said the young
chief Of Wedderburn, fixing 4 searching
glance upon him as he spoke.
The stranger bowed and replied" The
Regent
SAyp interrupted Home, the enemy
Of our house-the creature Of our hands,
whom we lifted from exile to sovereignty,
and who now with his minions tracks our
path like q bloodhound what Of this
gracious Regent? Are ye too one of his
myrmidOns, and seek ye to strike the lion in
his deni 7"
"Nay," answered the other; "but from
childhood the faithful retainer Of your muir
tdered kinsman."
"My murdered kinsmanr exclaimed
Wedderburn, graspiDg thearmo Of the other,
awhat! more blood morel What mean
ye, stranger?"
"That to crafty the revenge Of the Re-
gent Albany" replied the other, q my lord
Home and your kinsman William have
been betrayed aud murdered. Calumny
has blasted their honor. Twelve hours ago
l beheld their heads tossed like footballs by
the foot Of the common executioner, and
afterwards fixed over the porch Of the
Neither Bow, for the execration and indig-
mites Of the slaves of Albany. All day
the blood Of the Homes has dropped upon
the pavement, where the mechanic and the
clown pass over and tread on it"
"Holdw cried Home, and the dreary hall
echoed with his voice. aNo morep he con-
tinued; and he paced hurriedly for few
minutes across the apartment, casting rapid
glance upon the portraits Of his ancestors.
By heavensl they chide m" !" heexclaimed,
athat my sword sleeps in the scabbard, while
the enemies Of the house Of Home triumph
He drew his sword, and approaching the
picture Of his father, he pressed the weapon
to his lips, and continued-sBy the soul Of
my ancestors, l swear upon this blade that
the proud Albany and his creatures shall
feel that one Home still livesp He dashed
the weapon back into its sheath, and ap.
preaching the stranger, drew himtowards the
lamp, and said, aye are Trotter, who was
my cousins henchman, are ye notl"
The same" replied the messenger.
"And ye comeito rouse me to revenge"
added Sir David. aye shall have it, man
revenge that shall make the Regent weep
revenge that the four corners of the earth
shall hear Of, and history record Ye came
70 remind me that my father and my brother
fell on the field Of Flodden, in defence Of .
foolish king, and that /, too, bled there
that there also lie the bones Of my kinsman,
Cuthbert Of Fastcastle, Of my brother Cock.
burn and his son, and the father and brother
of my Alison. Ye come 10 remind me Of
this; and that, as reward for the shedding
Of our blood, the head Of the chief Of our
house has been fixed upon the gate Of Ed
lihburgh as food for the carrion crow and the
night owl Go, get thee refteshment, TrOt-
ter; then 90 to rest, and dream Of other
heads exalted, as your late master's is, and
| I will be the interpreter Of your visions" !
Trotter bowed and withdrew, and Lady
| Alison entered the apartment. "a
aye are agitated, husband, !" said the gen
tie lady, laying her hand upon his; "hath
the man brought evil tidingsi"
aCan good tidings come TO Home an
swered Sir David, awhile the tyrant Albany
rides rough-shod over the nobility Of Scot
land, ,and, like viper, stings the bosom that
nursed himf Away to thy chamber, Ali
son-leave me; il is no tale for woman's
ears.n
aNay, If you love me, tell me-" she re-
piled, laying her hand upon his brow; "for
since your return from the field Of Floddcn,
have not seen you look thus" !.
aThis is no time to talk Of love, Aley,"
added he; "but come, leave me, silly one
| It concerns not thee. Noevil hath overtaken
the house of Blackadder, but the Homes
have become mark for the earrovs Of desc
lation, and their necks footstool for tyrants-
Away, Alison; tonight I can think Of but
one word, and that is-vengeaneeP
Lady Alison wept and withdrawn silence;
and Wedderburn paced the floor Of tho
gloomy hall, meditating in what manner he
could most efectually resent the, death of
his kinsman.
Il was only few weeks after the execu-
/ tion Of the Earl Of Home and his brother,