Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-01-18

y.
house below was alive with gaety, but Coil
Dhu no longer found an interest in obsery-
ing it from his eyric When he watched
the sun to rise or set he chose to ascend
some crag that looked on no human habta-
ton When he sailed forth on his excur-
sions, gun in hand, he set his face toward
the most isolated wastes, dipping into the
lonclicst valleys, a I'd scaling the nakedest
ridges. When he came Ly chance within
call of other cXcursonists, gun in hand, he
plunged into the shade of some hollow, and
avoided an encounter Yet it was fatcd,
for all that, that he and Colonel Blake should
meet
Toward the evening Of one bright Sep
tembcr day. the wind changed, and in half
an hour the mountains were wrapped III a
thick binding mist Coll Dhu was far from
his den, but so we'll had he searched these
mountains and Injured himself to their eli
mate, that neither storm, ram, nor fog, had
power to disturb him. But while he stalk
ed on his way, a faint and agonized cry
from a human voice reached him through
tie smothering mist. He quickly tracked
the sound and gained the size Of a man who
was stumbling along in danger Of death at
every step
Follow me :" cried Coll Dhu to this man,
and, i'll an hours time, brought him safely
to the lowandS, and up to the walls Of the
cager-cyed mansion.
% | am Colonel Blake" said the frank sol
dicr, when, having left the fog behind him,
they stood III the starlight under the light
cd windows. "Pray tell me quickly to whom
| owe my life"
AS he spoke he glanced up at his bene-
factor, large man with sombrc sun-burn-
ed face
"Colonel Blake" said Coll Dhu, after a
strange pause, you father suggested to my
father to stake his estates at the gaming
table. They We're staked, and the tcmpter
won Both are dead but you and live,
and | have sworn to iniure you.'
The Colonel laughed good humorcdly at
the uneasy face before him.
" And you began to keep your oath to-
night by saving my life" said he. "Come!
| am a soldier and know how to meet an
enemy but had far rather meet friend.
| shall not be happy until you have eaten
my salt We have merry-making tonight
in honor Of my daughters birthday Come
in and join us ?"
Coll Dhu looked at the earth doggedly.
al have told YOU" he said, "who and
what am and will not cross your thres-
hold"
But at this moment ESQ runs the story a
French window opened among the flower
beds by which they were standing, and a
vision appeared which stayed the words on
Coils tongue \ stately girl, clad in white
satin, stood framed III the ivicd window
with the warm light from within streaming
around her richly-mouIdcd figure into the
night Her face was as pale as her gown,
her eyes were swimming in tears, but a
firm smile sat on her lips as she held out
both hands to her father. The light behind
her touched the gistening folds Of her dress
the lustrous pearls around her throat
the cOrouct Of bloOired roses which encir-
cled the knotted braids at the back Of her
head. Satin, pearls, and roses-had Coll
Dhu of the Devils Inn, never set eyes up
on such things before ?
Evlccn Blake was DO nervous fearful
miss. \ few quick words-"Thank God
youle safe the rest have been home an
hour"-and a tight pressure of her fathers
fingers between her own jeweled hands,
were all that betrayed the uneasiness she
had suffered
"Faith, my love, owe my life to this
brave gentleman !" said the blithe Colonel.
Press him to come in and be our guest,
Evlecn. He wants to retreat to his noun
tains and lose himself again in the log
where / found him or, rather. where he
found me Come, Sir" (to Coll "you
must surrender to this fair beseger"
An introduction followed "ColI Dhu ~
murmurcd EvIccn Blake, for she had heard
the common tales of him bnt with a frank
welcome she invited her fathers prescrvcr
to taste the hospitality Of that fathers 5
house
@ beg you to come in, Sir" she said ;
"but for you our gaiety must have been
turned into mourning. \ shadow will be
upon our mirth if our bcnefactor disdains
to Join us"
With sweet grace, mingled with GER
tain hautcur from which she was never free,
, she extended her white hand to the tall
looming figure outside the window to
have it graspcd and wrung in a way that
, made the proud girls eyes flash their am
azcment, and the same little hand clench
, itself in displeasurc, when it had hid ltScIi
/ like an outraged thing among the shining
folds Of her gown. Was this Coll Dhu mad,
f or rude
! The guest no longer refused to enter, but
followed lHC WHllc inquire lntO d IJIic Stu''S
| where lamp burned and the gloomy
stranger, the bluff Colonel and the young
> mistress of the house, were fully discover
t cd to each others eyes. Evleen glanced
S at the new comcr's dark face, and shud
d,red with feeling OF indescrbable dread
/ and dislike thcn to her father, accoun
/ ted for the shudder after a popular fashion
4 saying lightly There is some one walk
: ing over my grave.
: So Coll Dhu was present at EvleeI
t BIakc's birthday ball Here he was, undel
: a roof which ought to have been his own
1 stranger, known only by a nickname
,, Stunned and solitary. Here he was wh'
had lived among the eagles and foxes, ly
5 ING in wait with a fell purpose, to be re
!. v,ngcd on the son Of his fathers foe fo
0 poverty and disgrace, for the broken hear
;, Of dear mother, for the loss of self
D slaughtered father, for the dreary scatter
: ing ot brothers and sisters. Here he stood
d a Sampson shorn Of his strength and al
= because naughty girl had melting eyes
e a winning mouth, and looking radient IL
If satin and roses
g Peerless where many were lovely, SIN