The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-06-21

more beautiful maiden was not to be
found in all the Barony of Dunluce.
Adjoining the Neil farm lived the
widow of Robert Ferguson, who had
persisted several years before our story
commences, in vain effort to relieve
a shipwrecked crew. whose vessel was
driven by one of those terrible storms
peculiar to that Northern coast, upon
the rocks of Dunluce. The widows
family consisted of twin brothers, who
had now grown to mans estate, and
who were looked up to by all the coun-
try round as models of manly beauty
and human perfection.
Robert and Hugh Ferguson had,
from their earliest years, been the play
mates and associates of pretty Mary
Neil and is it to be wondered at that
both the brothers hearts had kept en-
shrined the image of their childish play
fellow, and their manhood's love.
At the period of our story both were
desperately in love with Mary, while
she, poor maiden, for the life of her
could mot have told which she liked best.
But time was at hand when she must
make a choice, and as Robert knelt at
her feet and poured his burning cOnfes-
siOns of love before her, she found by
her own heart that he alone was dearer
to her than anything on earth.
Robert Ferguson left that night
happy in the consciousness of Mary
Neil's undivided love. The happiness
that pervaded his being was too great
to be borne alone, and in a passionate
strain he related to his brother Hugh
what had TRANSFERRED between Mary and
himself.
Had Robert noticed the expression of
his brothers face as he proceeded in his
recital, the bright pictures he had paint
ed of the future might, perhaps, have
become overcast; but being absorbed
in the details, he ratified on, noting
nothing but his own unbounded happi-
ness.
Hugh was silent all through the re-
cital, but his thoughts were at work,
and the bitterness that filled his heart
then was the originator of events that
followed.
Early next morning found Hugh
Furguison at the dwelling of Mr.. Neil.
Making his salutations he enquired for
Mary, and being told where she was,
FASTENED to seek her himself. He
found her in the garden, and joining
her, he opened desultory conversation
about things very foreign to his mind.
At length turning suddenly around he
asked the maiden was it true that his
brother Robert was engaged to her.
The unnatural appearance of the man,
while asking the question, actually af-
frighted the girl, and being unable to
answer, he took the silence that fol-
lowed as an acknowledgement. Then,
in storm of frenzy, he accused her of
having trifed with his best affections,
and wound up with a terrible threat of
revenge. Mary had become so much
afirighted athis wild manneran and strange
language that she sank OH the
ground unable to utter word. Leav-
ing her there, Hugh Ferguson rushed
to his own home, where he arrived in
a state of the widest excitement.
Going straight to his room he threw
himself upon the bed and gave vent to
his excitement in flood of passionate
tears. By strong effort he subdued
the unmanly display, and with appar-
ent calmness entered the dining room,
where his mother and brother were
taking their morning meal. But the
thoughts of his heart were black, and
by nursing the fend throughout the
day, night found him with darkest
murder in his soul.
The next day, and the next, found
Hugh nursing these morbid feelings,
until desperation had usurped his sober
reason, and left him in a mood to do
anything desperate.
On the morning of the fourth day,
Robert, as was his wont, with book in
hand, wandered off to the solitude of
the old keep, where, seated in the shade
of its stored walls, he could grasp
fully the happiness that was truly his,
and build, undisturbed, his airy castles
of futurity.
Hugh had watched him, and seeing
him take the road towards Dunluce
keep, stealthily followed, avoiding ev-
cry possible chance of being observed
by anyone.
1t was n beautiful morning i'm the