Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-07-21

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"Alack and woes me :" exclaimed the
old man. "Aly dear and honored lady,
has it come 10 this ?"
Even rs you see. my good friend.
answered the lady sadly.
"But how? But whcn?'
"Dacrc, with his EugIishmen, came
upon us at daybreak, answered the lady
OF Forniehurst. "Our men 10 Ight bravely,
none could do better; but the enemy were
in overwhelming force. My son is q
prisoner; most of our brave kinsmen aud
servants are slain, and there Is not lett
one stone upon another ut Ferniehurst.
But Tor these, your brave sons, had not
iccn here TO tell the tale, and lear that
IS wounded to DEATH"
"IIe could never die better" answered
the old man, giving his hand to the lIly
whom Ambrose had by this time lifted
| from her horse. "Yuu are most welcome,
lady, TO my roof, which MAJ le sAlcr in
these times than many a lordly hall The
English will scarce win this length. and
II they DO, there are The caves in the hill
to which we may retreat ill the storm be
oyerpast."
All was now hustle in and around The
| little tower. Tho best accommodation
the place afforded WAS hastily provided
lor the old lady Of Fcrnichurst and her
women, while tho men fond sctlce
rougher shelter in the barns and out
houses. \ sheep WAS quickly killed and
dressed. the hurts OF the wounded were
attended 10. and ,omo degree Of quiet be.
gan 10 be restored. when Elsie, passing
from the house 10 the cow.shcd. camc
upon Duncan Scott, bringing with his own
manly hands The iull pals OF milk.
II have sorted The cows Tor You, Este, 81
said he. numbly enough.
MANY thanks; but YOU need na' have
flashed yourself" WAS TIE lofty answer.
"E.sic, will nothing | can do wia yow
forgiveness p asked poor Duncan.
Aye answered l. Isle, turning swiftly
upon him. bring back my foster brother
to his mother arms-my foster brother,
who was taken bravc'y lighting while you
were hidiug here, and will forgive YOU"
y, soou as the words were spoken,
Elsie wished them unsaid. She knew
that they were crnclly unjust and unkind (;
that Duncan had slail q; homo solely that
Lc might help her father to secure their
,Canty harvest OF oals. She knew that
no Drawer man than Duncan ever came OF
The name of Scott But she was too
proud 10 take bacl, her words, and she
passed on. She returned in half an hour
20 see her rcj clcd lover standing in the
same place and attitude in which She had
lett him. She would have passed, 5ut he
!ail OBTAINING hand on her arm.
"Elsic!" said he, in voice which
trcmb!ed at first but grew stronger rs he
proceeded. Elsie, we nye now even,
for il | called yor IN III name, IS did to
my shame. lou have cvenel m5 to q
coward. You BID me bring back your
loslcr.bro.har. | will bing him back or
never return more. Fare you well, and
if YOU never again hear o! Duncan of
EIdin. think that he is dead, and that he
died blessing you"
Before she could answer. il, indeed, she
had made up her mind what to say, he
had kissed her forehead and was gone.
The next morning Duncan was missing.
A shepherd on the hills had seen him
early in the morning s,riding down the
glen. Day after day paascd. and yet hc
did not return.
Surry was still cncampcd near jed.
burgh. Dacro had just returned from his
successful loray. after three or fou. days
absence, bringing great store Of booty IN
sheep and cattle, and many prisoners.
among them the young lord OF Fernie.
hurst, near kinsman OF Bdcelcugh, and
prize of no mean value. Lord Dacre
had not chosen to join his forces 10 those
OF Surry, but lay encampcd on the hill.
side at some little distance, the horses of
his troop being together in field close
al hand, and under propes guard. The
prisoners, carefully watched, occupied q
tent by themselves. Lord Dacrc himself
having leIt everything in pdricct security,
was supping with the Admiral. Thomas
'rimms, keeping watch ever the aforesaid
horses, was listening 10 the adventures OF
his bosom friend and boon companion,
John Davis, who had been out wilh the
maraudng party, when he suddenly made
the latter signal for silence.
"What now?" asked the latter. in q
low tone.
"Didst ever hear that the men OF these
parts had horns like u hau?' asked
Thomas Timms. in Il somewhat tremulous
whisper.
NO. What means that fools qucS-
ton ?"
"BecAuso here in the last five minutes
have seen Il pair Of horns raised above
yon wall, and the last time there was a
mans head under lhem-and there again |!
Jack, the devil is among us?"
"More likely some Scotch spy" an
swered the mole valiant Davis. IL will
try il his deyiship's hide will turn cloth
ward shalt. Where did you see him p
"Oror right the thorn YOnder-and