The Portland daily press., 1867-06-15

text. Suddenly the doorway was darkehed,
and Duncan stood in the entry.
"WeIcome. lad" cried Tam. "Ye're jist in
time to hear the haverS they bulk folk pit in
prent ABBOTT the MGregors. Read that again,
Mel that whar he says
But Duncan interrupted him:
II didna cross the door to hear lees read. I
come to speak ABBOTT 4 lee, to tell ye"-and his
voice grew louder and hoarser as he spoke
"io tell ye that ane ye liked weel is q leer.
We're a frens here" he said in a different
voice, looking round .l
"Ay, ay, man. Sit doom" said Tam. taking
his pipe out of his mouth and turning To have
bettar look at Duncan. "Why, what als We,
man%
"Alickle ails me, Tam McGregor, "and cam
on grousome errand. have come to tax
ava ye're faith in man forever MAR, ana To
shame hypocrite wi the fair truth.
Helen laid down her knitting, ana Grew
nearer Neil; Tam glanced at nun 700, Sen
lace was crimson, and his eyes, Az Grated ana
eager, stared up at the great, wiz iooklns man
glowerinp down upon him, who went on
speaking.
aston him, Helen!" shouted Neil, trying to
set ND, but failing, he pushed the girl towards
Duncan. stop him, for Gods sake! The
lads mad. He doesn't knew what he's saying,
Don't listen to him, Tam. He's a fine fellow,
and you all hear me say ii. Duncan, man,
shake hands with me- and do go quietly away,
and let well alone" - 'i'f
Duncan's answer was to drop down upou his
knees by Neips side and, covering his face with
his hands sob aloud. a I'M '''I'
ma, ma, Neil, L Gamma let alamo. I maun
tell them. Let me bide, lad; it's the fittest
place. And when haze your forgiveness I'll
gang on my knees TO the Almig hty; but 1
Gamma ask Him till l haze confessed my sin"
Well, let me tell it, Duncan" said Neil
gently laying his hand upon the kneeling
mans shoulder.
MOI cried the other, sternly; "Ill ma get
the worst. Tam and Helen, am a murderer
or as bad, for l had the thocJ in my heart to
take his lie. Neil cut me cot wi you, Nelly
Mad wi Jealousy, said we'd gang TO the Rel
ver's Crag and fight, and the best man shall
win ye Neil would hardly gang till l telt him
I'd ca him through the country side for a cow
ard, and then he went. But whan got to the
top O the Crag the diel got possession O me,
and catchin' him unaware hurled him over,
thinking dead men tell no tales. 1 never
thoct O the colley. Whan l heerd tell he was
fund, was like to gang mad. Every fut
thocht was POLLS; but whan the days passed
and Neil never tauld it was wa than a.. The
hot burnin, Goals were heaped on my head
burnin' and smotherin' i the brain, till this
| cleaning the thoct COM to make a clean
breest, and then gang AVA where I'd never
| see kennel face till the day o. Judgment
Oh! Neil man, We ken what loving her is; but
even you Gamma tell what my heart was, and
| HOW hGltHcT HOT uaniHdUlOn were Ony
| worth if l could only ha' won her here. Ye
Gamma forgie me, Nelly lass, for 1 hae made
him cripple; but just say Duncan, I'll ask
| the Lord to forgie ye,' and I'll gang ava con-
| tent 4"
Tam was the last to hold out the hand of for
giveness; but he, too, did SO at last, and then
Duncan went away. ....
Upon the top of the bank he turned, and cap
in hand stood looking at the cottage. "Puir lad
he's prayin'," thought Mrs. McGregor, who had
| followed her old favorite to the door.
Two years afterwards, and a few weeks after
Mel and Helen were married, letter came to
the former-a letter written by comrade of
Duneans, and then they knew for the first
time that he had enlisted, and, going to India
with one of the gallant regiments afterwards
nicknamed "Sir Collins pettcoats " the poor
breken-hearted lad had found the death he
so much coveted, before the walls of Lucknow,
and was lying mortally wounded in the hospi-
tal where he dictated his first and last letter