The Red Cloud chief., 1875-10-28

overcome with fear that you could
scarcely hold il in the tabernacle.
"Here solemn Silence site eu,hronsd.
And sacred Awe confouEcs."
But LEI me now return To my story
This is the grave Of "Fair Helen Of
Kirkconnel." The two lovers rest under
this flag Of sold red sandstone" On the
stone We see the rude outline Of . sword,
q carabine and . cross. All that remains
Of the Latin epitsphis HE jdeet Addnsus
Fgeeming--here lies Adam Fleming.
And the touching story tina. tradition has
handed down is something like the fol
lowing:
A fair young lady named Helen Max
we'll was heiress of Kirkconnell, now
Spnngkell. She was very beautiful; Of
q tall, slender form. She had dark
flowing hair. and eyes Of the same color,
which lent 10 her complexion a wonder
full charm. Her movements were all
characterized by the utmost ease and
majesty. Her physical graces were in
tensifed by the purity and sweetness Of
her mind. She was loved by every one
who knew her. Two young men in the
immediate vicinity loved her more han
all others: one was named Bell Of Black
ct House, two miles down the river; the
other named Fleeming Of Mossknowe,
about eight miles further down. Tradi-
ton has it that a few years later the
Fec miDes were buInt in their tower
rather than surrender themselves to their
enemies. This incident originated. part
at least, of the name of the parish where
this occurred, Kirkpatrick Fleming.
OF the two rivals for the heart Of
Helen Maxwell, Fleming was victorious.
His eallantry and noble bearing Won
the heart of Fair Helen" in spite of his
opponent. Bell was favored by her
parents, Lowe:er, who openly objected
TO Fltem:ng's Wits, causing these TO be
less frequent AID comparatively in secret.
Bell saw iha: he vas 10 longer received
by Helen as in former days; her lustrous
eye CLEANED no noic with love for him.
The music of her voice was no longer
his. He knew that she loved Adam
Fleeming: who was Gitencr in her com.
rany. Breeding over his loss, he deter
mined to be IcyeDged for the insult and
wrong he had received at the hand of
Fleming. Several times he sought an
opportunity 10 take his life; he waylaid
him between Mossknowe and Springfield;
and though urged on by desperation. he
was afraid to meet his antagonist in
open hight. Then he would wander
about the woods near Springfield, catch
ing sight o snd then of Helen, some
times accompanied by his mortal foe.
He learned from some OF the servants
whom he had brlted for the purpose
that the two lovers sometimes met in the
twilight at this sequestered place-the
old graveyard strange that lovers
should wax there. Day after day he
concealed himself among the bushes on
the other side of the KirtIe, waiting like
a lion for his prey. Still the lovers we've
happy in each others worth, looking
for ward to years Of joy. We can almost
see them late in the afternoon of that cad
day, emerging from he wood beyond
the meadow. Slowly they approach the
old graveyard, she leaning Oh his arm,
list ening to the waiblIng of birds which
seem to join with them in their love.
The setting sun is shining fell in their
faces; she stoops to pluck some wild
gowans from the grass. Now he whis-
peIs in her ear some accents of manly
love. while she speaks the language of
her heart, by her downcast eyes and
dropping head.
They have now reached the graveyard,
and are just passing through that clump
of trees, about TO gaze into the river;
perhaps sit down on the bank, and
dream about the stream of life flowing
on and on. She is still leaning on his
arm; they have now reached the place
where that old cross so roughly carved
stands, and has stood since then; when
she, ever quick to think of evil, hears
some one among the bushes on the other
side of the stream. They look again,
and Bell steps from his hiding place |
with q look of wild determination, a
csrabinc in his hand, which is instantly
leveled at Fleming. She throws her
self into Fleeming's arms, thinking that
Bells love for her will save her lover.
But it Is too late; the fatal trigger has
been drawn, and she receives in her
snowy bosom the bullet intended for
another. She dies in the embrace of
Adam Fleming. Ttnderly her lover
laid her down on the grass, while the
warm blood was still flowing from her
heart; crossed the stream Will. Q. single
bound, pursued her murderer and over
took him. A desperate battle ensued,
in which Bell was slain on tie spot.
Slowly an sadly Fleeming returned to
the lonely churchyard, where he had
left the lifeless form Of his lovely Helen.
de now lifted her, carried her in his