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

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enough. ana lid not even attempt 10
speak again.
Tweeddale, in Scotland, at no time
before the eighteenth century very
safe or quiet place OF residence, was
/ peculiarly unhappy in the year 1924. The
English army. under Suuy, was cncamp
ell near Jcdburgh, which place i.c Ad
mral so sorely burned and wasted that
no garrison nor mono other should be
( lodged there. From their camps the
ElgliSh made lorays and iucursions on
all sides, burning. wasting and plunder'
ing all that came in their way. The
! Scots, "cVen their enemies themselves
being judges, made Il brave resistance,
and according 10 SurrY's own account
they gave their invaders plenty Of work,
and kept them in 50 perpetual skirmish"
rs The Lord Admiral "neycr saw the like" "
The little tarm-if farm it conld be called
of Craig end, had hitherto escaped the
spoilers. Ii lay thoroughly sheltered
from notice in nolk OF the hills. where
The steep braeS, recedlng from small
aud rapid stream, lett room for a meadow
or level space of some sixty acres in ex-
tent. At the upper end OF lhi, tract OF
fertile land. stood the peal or tower Of
I Craig end. rude building of rough
( tone, three stories in height, surrounded
by a wall and oat,baiidlngs, tho latter
constructed cnielly oil mud and turf, and
sewing rs \ shelter Tor the cattle at night
/ Not L,r from the tower, Tho stream tum
/ Ulcd over precipice in a considerable
cascade, and a0cr winding from side TO
/ side OF the valley, il issued at the lower
, cad through a pass so narrow, intricate
and precipitOus. that five rc>oluIe men
might easily hold il against : hundred
/ Tho holder OF this little loualicc was
| Ilaibcrl Scott, or lialbett OF Craig-ond, =
retainer of the laird OF Fcrnichurst, who
/ in his turn owed lcudal service to the
. lord OF Bucc,cuEh lIabort was m old
man. unable to bear arms, but his two
sons, Ambrose and David, were with
,hcir loud, helping to garrison the strong
hold of Fcrniehur,t, which lay bui u lcw
miles distant across the hills.
Duncan Scott WAS El,ic's cousin, aud
hcr bcuolhcd lover. This was by no
mean, their 6yst quarrel, Tor Duncan WAS
ica,ou. and Elsie WAS proud, but never
hAJ matters gone 50 iar between them aS
now. Never had E,,io shown herself So
implacablc. Her anger was not wholly
unreasonable, for Duncan Ind done her =
srieyous wrong. lie had seen his be
lro,hed in earnest conversation with the
laird Of Fcrnichurst for IN hour together
in the gioam,uE. lie had not been able
to oyeyhear their words rs they paced the
burnside. but he had seen Ferniehurst
pa, into her hands something made OF
gold which giiltcrcd brightly in the
moonlisht-ol that he WAS ccrt1in-and
thea speed away, while Else put The love.
token in her bosom and took the path to
old ,ryslinS.placc by the we'll as il moth
ing had happened.
Aye, so" thought Dlncani "she
thinks to meet ms there, aud to bcgUilc
me " nh her Gno words while she has
FcruiuhuIst's loye.loken resting on her
yer meant. Bat she shall hear my mind
OH i, before we part"
Ald 50 it came to pass that when Elsie,
ia the innocence OF her heart, came gayly
forward 10 meet her lover, she WAS as
sailed by torrent OF accusation and
reproaehcs. Elsie answered him collly
and stclnIy, with face that cleaned
white rs marble in the moonlight:
duncan Sco;t,yo have dared 10 lightly
mc-mc. ualJcr, OF Craig-cnd's daughter.
on whose fair fame no man or woman
ever brea,hed before. And wherefore !?
Because YOU saw me talk with my foster
brother, rs near OF kin 10 me as my own
born brother. II were tell my father or
my brothers, or Ferniehursi himself what
would you have said. no hole in Craig.
burn moss would be deep enough 10 hide
YOU from their wrath. But wish YOU no
i'll. You may 90 Your own gate and
keep your own counsel, bat never dare.
| by day or by night, to speak TO me again"
| With that she drew from her finger her
bctro,hal ring, aud throwing it on the
= ounl at his feet, she passed from him
ike q shadow aad was gone.
This quarrel had taken place 4 week
since. and not once had Duncan found 4
chance 10 speak to Elsie alone. This
evening, however, believing him to be
still at work in the harvest field. she had
ven,ured once more to the well for water,
aud here Duncan had surprised her and
pleaded his cause, UuSuccessiuilY rs wc
have heard.
The well was hidden IN hlt,c recess
or the hills. behind Il great projecting
crag. As Elsie TUNED round this clag,
>he uttered vehement exclamation OF
surprise and terror, and casting away hyr
pitcher Wi'h little regard Tor IL safety,
She started to run down the steep pilh
which led TO the burn side. Duncan
arrived Il little later, and stood FOR mo
mcnt rooted to the spot. 4 sorrOwlul
procession had entered the valley at its
lower end, and was vending lis way
ln,rnrd ihe lnwer. Foremost came Am