, 1864-05-07

w
water of Enver, his body could nowhere be
found, although the spot where he fell
into the river was known, and every exer-
ton made to recover it; Several nights
after the accident, when they had given up
the search in despair, our grandmother
dreamt that her husband came to her, and
told her that, if they looked for him at IL
certain part Of the stream. which he mi
nutcly described, they would find him with
one of his feet lockel fast between two
stones; which was the reason, he said, of
his not having been carried any length by
the current-as those who searched for him
had calculated. The spot, thus mysteri-
Ously pointed out, was examined next day,
and the body found exactly in the circum-
stances described.
al have heard something of that story"
said Roderick; "but what has it to do with
my dream, John?"
"Don't you perceive, brother?" replied
the latter. "We'll 20 and see if we can
find any apartment resembling that you
dreamt Of. Who knows but your vision
may be realized. Was its situation pointed
out to you, Roderick!"
at was," said the latter, half jocularly
and half seriously. "lhe chamber was
on the west side of the building"
Let US seek it" rejoined his brother,
starting to his feet.
with all my heart" replied Roderick; I;
and he also arose.
They proceeded to the old castle; but
whether they found what they sought or
not, belongs to another part of our tale
In the meantime, We return to the cottage
of Isabel Macrae, in Glen Spean.
1t was at the close Of u suitry day, in
the beginning Of September, and about0a
week after her SONS had left her for the
low country, that Isabel, us she sat knitting
u stocking at the door, saw man approach.
ing the house. 1t was now dusk; and, nj
the distance he was yet from her, she couid
not make out who he was; but, us he ap-
preached nearer, her heart began to beat,
for the figure resembl,d that Of her son,
Roderick--but 1t could not be. lie came
yet nearer. 1t vast was Roderick-dnd
uO other.
"Gracious Heaven!" exclaimed Isabel
to herself, in great alarm what does this
mean? ROderick back already, aud with,
out his brother! D God! U God" ejacu.
lated the terrified woman, "sOme fatal ac-
cident has happened to my boy. My fears
were but too well tounicd.
She few u meet her sun, who was now
close at hand, to question him regarding
his brother; but that son was changed
man-ay, changed man w,thin the space
of one short week. II face, before glow
ing with the ruddy hue Of health, was now
pale aud haggard Ills eye, before beam
ing with gentleness aud kindness, was now
wild and unsettled. His manner was SUI.
len-nay, even ferce; and he returned
not his mother greeting, for notwithstand-
ing her alarm and anxiety, she hailed his
return with her usual marks aud express
ion-but doggedly walked ON towards thu
hOuse. Ills mother inquired where was
his brother. He answered nearly in the
words Of Cain: and, without vouchsaing
any further explanation, passed into the
cottage, out of which no inducement could
again make him stir. When he entered,
he took seat by the firc; and there, wrapt
in gloomy abstraction, be sat for several
days and nights, taking no food. and never
retiring to rest. During all this tune, toO,
be never opened his lips, excepting /, re
turn brief aud surly answers tO the M, :
tunities Of his distracted parent re-arI,ns
his brother. From these, however, the
former at length ceased; finding she could
not elicit from him any information she de-
sired. IL was stran, Q, IN unaccountabie
change. ROderlck, VINO us sd to be 81
cheerful, 50 active, so kind, SO gentle, wa
all at once become mOrOse, indolent, and re-
pulsive in his manner. He seemed to care
for nothing, and to have lost all interest in
the affairs Of his mother household. For
hours together, he sat gazing on the fire in
dark and moody i ence, tlll at length, how
ever, the appalling mOnotony Of this scene
was broken 10 upon.
One day, about week after Roderick's
return, his mother hastened IN great alarm
to her son, to inform him that she saw
three men, strangers, approaching the house,
adding" What on earth eau they be, ROD.
erick, and what can they be wanting?"
They want NE, = said ROderick, freely.
"They have come for mo, and am glad oi
It,"
"For you, my son, my life!" exclaimed
his mother in great agitation, and bursting
into tears. "0h, what eau they want with
you, Roderickl l am sure you are indebted
to no one; and still more sure am that
you have harmed no one--you are incapable
Of il. Tell me, then, in Gods name, my
son, since you seem to know, what it is they |
want with you"
"You will know ali too soon, mother"
replied Roderick, suddenly, aud now, for the
first time since his return, resuming the
mild manner and tone which was natural to
him" You viii know all too soon, " he sa d, |
throwing his arms around his mothers meek |
in parOxysm Of grief aud despair. sol
unhappy woman, he exclaimed, "why did |
you bring such wretch, such q monster
rs am, 20 the world y
"What do these dreadful words mean,
my childl" said his mother. 30 Roiei.
lex, have pity On the mother that bore you,
that nursed you, that watched over your in
iant years, and tell me at once the worst
have to learn. Where, again ask you, in
the name Of God, is your brother John r
And without waiting for his, reply, 80 Col,