The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-05-08

uOcNt uc muucut WHWteNor DC ucT pal Uut-
age, on the day thai I should be free, she
should be my wife, though hsve preferred
death TO the hand OF Sir Gideon's c0msly
daughter"
"Lassie," said the lady, weeping as she
spoke, "my poor Willie talks deal o the
kindness ye have shown h,m IN the hour o
his distress, and for that kindness bis moth
er's heart thanks ye. But do you not thirk
thai ii Is possible that could accompany ye
70 L bank and, il ye can devise no msans
fo- hIn TO escape, perhaps, i We could get
me admitted INTO his presence, when ne saw
his poor, distressed mother upon her knees
before him, his heart would saften, and be
would marry Sir Gideon's daughter, ll-tea-
tuTed though she my be-"
"My leddy," answered the maiden, ''it is
little that | can promise, aud less that can
do; but II ye desire TO see your son, | think
| could answer for accomplishing your re-
queet; and though nae good mici.. come DOT
o., could also ssy that | wad see We safe
back again."
Within an hour, Lady Scott, disguised as
peasant, ami carrying basket 90 her Arui,
set out for Ehbank, accompanied by the fair
stranger.
Leaving them upon their mel; acholy jour
ney, we shall return TO the young laird.
From the windows Of his prison-hOuse, he
beheld the sun rise, which was co be the last
on which he was 70 look. He heard the
sentnels, who kept watch over him, relieve
each other; he heard them pacing to ano fro
before the grated door, and as the sun rose
towards the south, procla;ming tue approach
81 noon, tie agitation OF Simon lncI eased
lie sat in cOroer Of the prison, and sIrvve
to pray; AMI, rs the footsteps Of the senti-
nels quiekened, be groaned 10 the bitterness
of his spirit. At length, the looi booming
of the gong announced that the ial-Piate
upon the turreI market the hour of twelve.
Slmo5 clasp d his hands together. MAS
teri mals;e :" ne cried, "our hour is come,
md one word from yer lips could save as
bath, ana We wlnna speak il. The very
holding DOT D yer hand could 90 il, but ye
are Stubborn even unto death"
"Simon," said the laird, II hae left i as
an injunction uP"u my mother, that yer wife
and weans be provided for-she will fulfil
my request. Therefore, be ye content. DE
like man, sn' uinna disgrace both yourself
au' me"
so, SIT, Wilma disgrace, oT in any man
uer dishonour ye," said mon-"only 40
noe see the smallest necessity for Us to
die; and, especially, when both our lives
could be saved BY yer doing yersell good
turn
While ne spoke, the sound OF the senti-
nels' footsteps, pacing u aud ITO, ceased the
prison door was opened; Simon lei upon his
knees-the laird looked towards the intruder
prou ly.
s'your lives are spare1 for another day, -
a voice, "Ihat the lalrd O. Harden may
Asse time TO fleet upon the proposal that
has oeen made 90 him. Bat let him not hope
that be will fad mercy upon other sermsi Or
that, refusing them for another day, his life
Will De prolonged.
Tue door was again closed, and the bolts
were Drawn. The spirit Ot SIR Gideon was
100 proud and impatient 70 spare the lives
Of his prisoners for four dAvs, as he had
promised his daughter to do, and he now re-
so,scd tnat they should die on the following
1aY.
The sun had again set, and the dim lamp
shed around its fitful and shsdoEy lights
from the table Of the prison room, when the
maiden wno had carried the letter TO the
larrd's mother, again entered
"Tnis il kini, very kind, gentle maiden
said he; "woult that | could reward NJ J
And LOO fares it with my puir mother p
what answer does she send ~
"An' on, ma'Am, or mistrAssr' cried 81
mon, s" hoo fares it wi my dear wife and
BARNS | hope ye told them eli that J de-
sired We to say. Hoo did she bear tue news
o. being 2 made a widow An what did she
say to my injunction that she was never 90
marry again =
"Ye tex wildly, man." said the maiden,
addressing Simon; 1T wasna 10 my power to
carry yer cor. ,l=ads to yer vile; but q nst
4 VIII be longer than ve expect before she
will b. a widow, or hae It IN her power TO
marry again"
40, We angel We perfect picture" cried
Simon, " Suat is that which | hear ye say ?
Do ye really mean 10 tell me that stand
chance q being saved, an that shall see
my vi ana bairns ags,n Z"
Even q" SAID she, "out whether ye do
or do not, rests with yous master"
"Sprsk not o. that, swees maiden" said
the airdi ''but tell me, what says my moth
err How does she bear the fate o. her sln;
aud how does sue promise to aveuge my
death 2"
"She is as one whose heaIt-strings are
torn sssunder," Eas the reply, "snd VINO re-
fuses to be coiniorteJ; bat she would Iath r
ule another dochter tasn lose an only son;
an her prayer is that ye will live aud max
her happy by marry ihg the maiden ye des-
pise."
50 tar forgot herself as 70 desire me 70 mar
ry the doctner O oor enemy, wnom no other
man could be found 70 take ! IL snall never,
never be. would obey her in anything bat
that"
''But," said the maiden, "I still think ye
are wrong e. reject aud desplse pulr Meg be-
fore that ye hae seen her. she may bath
be better and look better than ye are aware
o. There are ~ guid as Scott % Harden
who hae said thai, we're il in tnelr power,
they wad max ner their aifr; ami yp -hould
remember, SIR, that il will be as pleasant for
you to hear the blithe laverock singing over
yer head, as for another person " hear the
wind sougnIng and tine long grass Fustli. 9
over yer grave. Ye hae another day to live,
and sec her, and speak TO her, before ye de-
cue rasbly. Yours Is . cruel loom, but Sir
Gideon is q wratbfu' man; an even for his
alta hesh and bluld, he has but sma' com
passion when his anger Is provoked. DraLn,
too, is an awfu' thi z to think abOOt; az,
therefore, tor yer ain sakr, an TOR the sake
O. yer puir, distressed mother an sisters,
dinna come to q rash determination"
"Sweet lass" replied he, respect the
., mpathy which " avIuce; bot never shall
SIR Gideon Murray that, IN order TO save
my life, he terrified me inIo marriage with
his daughter. An when m, mothers grief
has subsided, she will think differently O.
my aecision."
"W-el, sir" said the maiden, .since ye
will not listen to my advice-an' own that
| hae nae richt to offer It'll will send
ane 70 ye whose persuasion win hae mair
avail
"Whom will ye sendg'' inquired the laird.
"it isna possible that We hae been plsYing
me falseg'
"No," she replied, "that isna possible, an'
fiOm her that will send to you, you will
see whether or not hae kept my word, guild
and truly, to fulfil yer message"
SO sa,ing, she withdreg. leaving him