The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-06-11
ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA, L,

little hands that were 90 strong and
ready with their labor Of love. It was
only when psin kept him restless 1t
night that the thought Of being Grip.
pie for life crushed him, and brought
ont oil tho training given by q good
mother, and the stanch religious feel
ing inherent in almost every Scottish
heart, the spirit that gave the world
what Alexander Peden called "the
praVing folk" who carried their 70.
hgion triumphantly through those ter.
rible days when bloody sc.fold wa,
thought good shelter.
1t "a. nearly = month since the day
Mel had been carried home from the
orag: Night had just come, still,
warm, and almost like twilight. Tam
wa' smoking his pipe preparatory to his
early bedtime, the women folk were
knitting, and Mel, lying upon couch
the laird's sister had sent him, was
rsadiog "Rob Roy" aloud, much to
Tsm's psrplexity, who interrupted
many times With denunci.tious against
the text Suddenly the epen doorway
Ida.keuad, and Duncan stood in the
jentry.9
'"Weloome, lad," tried Tam. "Ye're
jist In time to hear the havers they
bnik folk pit in prsnt shoot the
m'Gfegons. Read that 'sgsin, Mel,
that whsr he says"
But Duncan interrupted him.
II didna GROSS The door to hear lees
read. l cam to .psak about : leo, to
tell Js"-1,nd big voice grew louder aud
hoarser .s he spoke-"to toll 70 that
ens ye liked veel il leer. We're a
frien's here" he ..id, 10 . different
voice, looking roued.
"Ay, y, man. Sit DOOM" said Tam,
taking bis pipe outof hp mouth, and
turning to have better look at Dun
can. ''Why, what ails 70, man ?"
"Mickle .ib me, Tam N'Gregor,
and I cam on a grousone .err.nd. 1
h.e 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
drew nearer Mel; Tam glanced at him
too. Niel's face was crimson, and his
eyes, all dilated and anger, stared up
at the great wild.looking man, glover
ing down upon him, who went on speak.
ing.
| ~"Nisl says he sippet doom the Gag.
| Hs d;dns slip. An susmy-"
| 9stop hin, Helen r shouted Mel,
trying to get up, but failing, he pushed
The girl towards Duncan. "stop him,
for Gods sake! The lads mad. BE
doesn't know what he's saying. Don't
listen to him, Tam. Hs's . fine fellow,
fand you all hear me say it. Duncan,
! man, shake hands with me, and do 20
quietly away, and let we'll alone.''
Duncan's answer was to drop down
upon bis knees by Nieps side, aud, GOV.
eringhis face With his hands, sob aloud.
"Ns, ns, Mel, I Gamma let alaae. I
maun tell them. Let me bide, lad {;
it's the tittest place. And ~han l
hae your forgiveness, I'll gang oa my
knees to the Almighty but I Gamma ask
Him till I hae confessed my SIM"
'WsN, let mo tell Duncan" said
Mel, gently laying his hand upon the
kp peeling mans shoulder.
"No!" cried the other, sternly ; "I'll
no get the varst. Tam and Helen, 1
am = murdarer, or as bad, for I had
tho thooht in my heart to take his life.
Mel eut me cot vi you, Nelly. Mad
W. jealousy, / said ve'd gang to the
Reiyer'e Cr.g, and fight, and the best
man shall win 70. Mel wad hardly
gang till I tslt him I'd ca him through
the eopntry.slde fox "A coward, and
then he want. But vhsn I got to tho
top o'',ths Crag, tho diel got possession
| ol ne, and e,tahin' bin unaware I
J hurled him ewss, thinking deed men
tell pse tales. I :nsver: thocht o the
eollsy. Whap 4 heerd tell he was
fund, I v.s like to gang mad. Every
fat I thooht " . poll. i; but rb.n til.
aeys pissed, aqd Md mover t.uld, il
u; Har Than :. Tho hot buinip'
opls ter, b..ped On ~ heed, BUN.
in + the br.ip, till thi is cleaning tho
thocht cam to max 4. clean braast, and
then gang AVA whaz I'd never SEQ 4
kenned @acs till tho day q judgment.
Oh! Mol man, 10 ken what loving
her is; bnt even you Gamma tell what
ny heart was, and how neither bluid
nor damnatlon were ony worth il I
could only ha' won her here. Ye Gamma
forgie me, Nelly lass, for I hae made
him : cripple but just say, Duncan,
Pll ask the Lord to forgie ye,' and I'll
gang ava content"
Tam was the last 70 hold out the hand
of forgiveness ; but he, too, did 50 At
last, and then Duncan went away.
Upon thetop Of tbe bank he turn
ed, and, cap in hand. stood looking at
the cottage. "Puir lad j.! he's pravin',
may be-" thought Mrs. M'Gregor,
who had followed her old favorite to tho
door.
I'm v..,, .ft.,v.,d. and Eav