The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-07-28
4 STAMPEDE IN 1924.


STAMPEDE IN 1924.
And you'll no give me ono good word,
Elsie ? You'll not even speak to me 2
The questioner was tall, handsome
map, though somewhat worn.looking, aud
decidedlp shame-iaced. The person he
addressed was winsome lassie of some
seventeen years, who had come to the
well-head, where small stream of pure
water trckled through rude spout in
serted in crevice of the rock Elsie
had put down her pitcher and was wait.
ing for it to fill leaning meanwhile with
both arms on the rude stone wall which
protected thevpriug from the encroaeh-
ments Of the cattle, aud looking every.
where but at the speaker. You'll no
even LOOK at me- repeated Duncan Scott,
wistfully, and this perhaps the last time
we'll ever meet by the well-side where
we have spent SO many happy hours.
Won't you just speak to me, Elsie 2
That will l no = answered Elsie, turn.
ing on him with womanly indignation and
inconsistency. That will | no, Duncan
Scott wonder you dare so much as
look at me after what you said, and what
you evened inc to the last time we met
here. | think it shame that ever |
cared for the likes Of you
To judge from his face. Duncan semcd
to fud comfort even in these sharp words ::
But, Elsie, womau-'
III hear nothing Duncan-not word!'
Interrupted Elsie, her blue eyes flashing
iro at the remembrance Of her wrongs
III never wed jealous.pated fool. Aud
Jealous Of whom p she asked in tone of
tho utmost scorn OF my own foster.
brother that was nursed at tho breast of
M mother! wonder you did ma think
ps Habbie, or poor witless Michael in the
iugle.nook.'
But, Elsie, would you but listen
No. LII no listen. For what suld
listen p
but you might tell me how it was
Elsie ? You might say a word to explain
what you were doing with young Fcrnie.
hurst so late ut cen p
Again Elsie turned on nun,
Explain ?-and what for sud | ex
plain, or what right have you to think
any explanation needed ? Is not Feruie.
hurst my own ioster-brother. as | told
you, and as you knew well enough /? Aud
is it not the same as mine own brother,
and more ? Bat | will explain said the
poor girl, forcing back the tears which
were too ready to run over .Fcrniehurst
loves bonny Mary, Hardcn's daughter,
that's away in Edinboro with her auu.
| for safety; and knowing me to be an old
friend and playmate Of the young leddy's,
no gave me a letter and token for her,
against her coming home, knowing that
no mans life is safe for day with the
English camped here in our very midst.
So there, ye have the tale, and much
good may it do Fo, no You needn't try
to como round me that gate, Duncan =
she added, in u firm but scorniul tone,
Withdrawing the hand that Duncan would
have taken, 'All's over between US. |
have borne much ere this from your jeal
Gus humor, but I'll bear no more. III
have naught to say to any man who can
call me what you called me that night.
Go your ways-with whom you will. |
wish you ro i'll, but all the good in the
world; but you are no more aught to me
nor to you Fare ye well .
| So saying, Elsie took up her pitcher
which had been for some time brmming
over, and walked down the path. without
so much as casting look behind. Dun.
can seemed to feel that his cause was
hopeless, for he followed sorrowfuly y
enough, and did not even attempt to
speak again.
"weedale, in Scotland, al no time be.
fore the eighteenth century a very safe OF
quiet place Of residence, was peculiarly
unhappy in the year 1924. The English
army, under Surry, was encamped near
Jedburgh, which place the Admiral SC
sorely burned and wasted that no garri.
son nor none other should be lodged there.
From their camps the English made for.
ays and incursions on all sides, burning
wasting and plundering all that came il
their way. The Scots, even their enc
mics themselves being the judges, made
a brave resistance, and according to Sur.
rvs own accouu: they gave their invader.
plenty of work, and kept them in so per.
petual skirmish' as the Lord Admiral
never see the like The little farm-i
farm it could be called-of Craig. end
had hitherto escaped the spoilers. 1t lay
thoroughly sheltered from notice in a nook
Of the hills, where the steep braes, recei
ing from small and rapid stream, lef
room for meadow or level space OF somt
sixty acres in extent. At the upper enc
of this tract of fertile land stood the pea
or tower Of Craig.end. rude building o
rough stone, three stories in height, sur
rounded by wall and out.buildogs, tn,
latter constructed chiefly of mud ant
turf, aud serving as shOlter for the cat
tie at night. Not far from the tower
the stream tumbed over precipice 10
considerable cascade, and, {" iter windin,
from side to side Of the valley. it issue,
at the lower end through pass so par
row, Intricate and precpitous, that fv
resolute men might easily hold it agains
hundred. The holder of this little fort
alice was Halbert Scott, or Halbert o
Craig. g.end,a retainer Of tho laird Of Fern
iehurst. who in his turn owed feuda
service to the lord Of Baccleugh Hal
bert was an old man, unable to bear arm,
but his two sons, Ambrose and David
we're with their lord. helping to garriso
the stronghold Of Ferniehurst, which la
but few miles distant across the hills.
Duncan Scott was Elsies cousin, an
La. kaIroIhad Lana. Tl:. .-.- l. =