The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-11-19

playfully, hugged bis violin, as # exultIng 10
its power, to his bosom, embraced It as If It
had been living thing, and hurried with +
to the chest from which he bad originally
taken il. and there again carefully deposited
il. His reception on now returning to the
party whom be bad Just been entertaining
with his music, was very different from what
it had been on his first entrance. Their
better and kindlier feelings had been touch
ed by his strains--a sympathetic chord in
each bosom haa been struck; and the effects
we're sufficiently visible in the altered man
ner of those who were thus affected towards
him whose skill had produced the change.
The transition of the feelings Of admiration
was natural and easy from the music to the
musician, and looks and words of kindness
and forgiveness now greeted the mountain
Orpheus, who took bis place among the rest.
\ to share in some refreshment which had
been IN the meantime III preparation.
Leaving the katherans employed in dis
cussing this repast, which consisted simply
Of roasted KID, we will proceed to diyulge
the whole Of that secret regarding the chief
parsonage Of our tale, which we have hith-
erto 50 carefully kept This parsonage, then,
was no other than the celebrated freebooter,
Macpherson. THIS man, as is well known,
was the illegitimate son Of gentleman OF
family and property in Inverness-shire, by
woman of the gypsy race. He was brought
up at his fathers house, but, on the death of
the latter was claimed and carried away by
bis mother; when, joining the wandering
tribe to which she belonged, be acquired
their habits and finally became the charac-
ter which we have represented him-name-
ly, leader of a band of katherans. lie was
a person of singular talents and accomplish
ments. Of uncommonly handsome form and
feature, of great strength, yet, though Of a
lawless profession, Of kind and compassionate
disposition. Such was the hero of our tale
such the lover Of Ellen Martin, although
little did that poor girl yet know how un-
happily her affections had been placed.
Having nothing whatever to do with the
proceedings Of Macpherson and bis band
during the interval between the parting Of
the former with Ellen and the period Of the
proposed meeting-these having but little
interest in themselves, and being in no way
connected with our story-we will at once
pass this space of time, and bring up our
narrative to the day on which Macpherson
was again to set out for the trysting place.
His motive and feelings in this matter be
eon6ded only to one friend out of all bis
comrades. This man, whose naLe was
Eneas Chisholm, was the son of the person
at whose house the reader will recOllect the
party, of which Ellen was one. was so hospi-
tably entertained on the night they had lost
their way on the mountains. 1t was he,
also, who bad eulogized the generosity and
clemency Of Macpherson. as we a short while
since recorded. He was young man, and,
both in manner and disposition, much like
Macpherson himself He possessed all bis
warmth and sincerity Of heart, katheran ss
be was; but was greatly bis inferior in talents
and in personal appearance. Taking an op-
portunity when none else were near, Mac
pherson informed that be intended on that
! evening repeating bis visit to BaDff
1T is madness, Macpherson" )" said Eneas,
downright madness. You surely do not
calculate on the risk you run, in these des-
perate adventures of yours, of falling into
the hands of the sheriff You are well
known, and it is next to a miracle that you
escape"
No danger, EneaS, none at all, man, "
replied Macpherson, in the confidence of his
own proves, and not little, perhaps, in
that of bis agility. Il have done more dar-
ing things in my day on far less inducement;
and, " he added proudly, 'give me fair play,
Eneas, my sword in my h,nd, and not any
six men in Banff will take James Macpher-
son alive"
But they may take him dead, though,
Macpherson" said Eneas, "and you can
hardly call that escaping, think"
"Cheer up cheer up, my bonny, bonny MayI
Oh, why that look Of sorrow
Hes wise that enjoys the passing hour
Hes fool that thinks Of the morrow
exclaimed Macpherson slapping bis friend
loosely on the shoulder "Wby man, Ellen
Martini must see, and Ellen Martin | will
see, let the risk be what it may--ay, al.
though there we're halter dangling on every
tree between this and Banff, and every moose
were gaping for me.