The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-06-20

Ad4o a OlOOo} StdAVi4 w 40
thought good shelter
1t was nearly month since the day
Mel had been carried home
from the .Crag- Night had just
come, still, warm, and almost like
twilight. Tam was smoking his pipe
preparatory to his early bedtime, the
womenafolk were knitting, and Mel,
lying upon a couch the laird's sister
had sent him, was reading Rob
Roy " aloud, much to Tam perplex-
ity, who interrupted many times with
denunciations against the text. Sud-
denly the open doorway darkened, and
Duncan stood in the entry.
:. Welcome, lad,'' cried Tam.
Ye're jist in time to hear the havers
bulk folk put in prent ABBOTT the NJ
Gregors. Read that again, Mel, that
whar he says"
But Duncan interrupted him.
didna cross the door to hear
lees read. [ cam TO speak abouta lee,
to tell We and his voice grew loud
er and hoarser as he spoke to tell We
that ane We liked is leer. We're a
friends here" he said, in different
;'Ay, ay, man. Sit DOOM said
Tam, taking his pipe out of his mouth
and turning to have better look at
Duncan. Why, what ails We, MANI
Mickle ails me, Tam M'Gregor,
and cam on q grousome errand. l
hae come to tax ava ye're faith In
man for evermair, and to shame
hypocrite wi the fair truth"
Helen laid down her knitting and
Il Mil. fH.,n oil Of
him, too. Niel's face was crimson,
and his eyes, all dilated and eager,
stared up at the great, Withholding
man, glowering down upon him, who
went on speaking. -. -A Il.
: Mel says he slippet doom the
Crag. He didna slip. An enemy"
Stop him, Helenn' shouted Mel,
trying to get up, but failing, he pushed
the girl towards Duncan. Stop him.
for God S sakel The lads mad. He
doesn't know what he's saying. Don't
listen tc him, Tam. He's fine fell
low, and you all hear me say it. Dun
can, man, shake hands with me, and
do go, quietly away, and let we'll
alone"
! Duncan answer was to drop down
upon his knees by Niers side, and,
covering his face with his hands, sob
aloud.
= Ma, ma, Mel, / Gamma let alane. l
maun tell them. Let me bide, lad:
it's the fittest place. And whan haze
your forgiveness, I'll gang on my
knees to the Almighty; but l Gamma
ask Him till l haze confessed my SIM"
: Well, let me tell it, Duncan, sale.
Mel, gently laying his hand upon the
kneelIng mans shoulder.
No" cried the other, steruiy;
- I'll no get the warst. Tam and
Helen, [ am murderer, or as bad,
tor had the thocht in ny heart to
take his life. Mel cut me DOT wi you,
Nelly. Mad Wi jealousy, said we'd
gang to the Reiver's Crag, and fight,
and the best man shall win ye. Mel
was hardly gang till L telt him
L d ca him through the country side
Tor coward, and then he went
But whan L got to the top O the
Crag. the diel got possession O. me,
and catchin' him unaware | hurled
him over, thinking deed men tell nae
tales. | never thocht o the coliey.
When heerd tell he was fund, L was
like to gang mad. Every fut L thocht
wus POLLS; but when the days pass
ed, and Neil never tauld, 1t was war
than a.. The hot burnin' Goals were
heaped on my heed, burnin' and |
smOtherin' i the brain, Gill this gloam-
ing the thOcht cam to max clean |
breast, and then gang ava where I'd |
never see kenned face till the Gay o.
judgment. Oh! Neil man, we ken what
loving her is but even you Gamma tell
what my heart was, and how neither |
biuid nor damnation were ony. worth |
If | could only ha' won her here. Ye |
Gamma forgie me, Nelly lass, for [ haze |
made him cripple; but just say,
Duncan, Iii ask the Lord to forge
We, aud I'll gang ava content"
Tam was the last to hold out the |
hand of forgiveness; but he, too, did |
SO at last, and then Duncan went
away.
Upon the top of the bank he turned, !
and, cap in baud, stood looking at the |
cottage. : Puir lad he's prayin', |
may be, thought Mrs. M'Gregor, /
who had followed her old favorite to |
the door.
Two years afterwards, and a few |
weeks after Mel and Helen were mar
ried, letter came to the former-a |
letter written by comrade OF Dun
cans, and then they knew for the first
time that he had enlisted, and, going
to India with one of the gallant reg
iments afterwards nicknamed Sir
Collins petticoats," the poor broken
hearted lad had found the death he
coveted before the walls of Lucknow,
and was lying mortally wounded in
the hospital, where he dictated his
first and last letter RI Mel Kidding |