Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-12-21
CHAPTER Ill,
THE NEW WARS GREETING.

Old Donald was at the door anxiously
/ looking out in the direction of Saddel. Dur
ing those long hours, while Mary Morrison
had been away, and while the old year was
passing into the new, he had tossed to and
fro, but could not sleep. Nor could Luath, for
| ne had gone restlessly backward and forward
from the hearth to the door, and had whined
and howled through every one of those
weary, anxious hours. His master had
ceased his endeavors to keep the dog quiet ;
the collie's feelings were in harmony with
his own. If only Mary Morrison would re-
turn, thought old Donald, skull or no skull,
he would forgive all, and would allow her
and his son to go their own ways Up to
now, he had not realized the gravity of his
proceedings; he was not bad man rather
was he a just man, though very stern and
self-willed but he had formed other views
for his only son than that he should marry
farm-servant, however brave and bonnie
she might be. But in those silent watches
of the night, when the year had slipped
| away in death, even as his own years OF life
were now drawing to their natural close, it
had been revealed to him how very near he
had become to being murderer, in intention
if not in fact; and that, in sending Mary
Morrison for the murderer's skull, he was
dismissing her to a deed that might bring
upon himself punishment righteously de-
serving the Macdonald's doom. The night 8
solitary meditation and anxiety had
wrought good work for old Donald Mac
bane.
But it was Luath, the faithful Luath, who
had first discerned the brave girl, ere yet
her old master, with his dimmed sight,
could view her coming down the snowy hill
side, with her plaid wrapper tightly about
her. Luath had seen her. and with Joyful
bark of recognition, and despite the whist
ling land something worse) of old Donald
had dashed forward into the dim light of
the early morning, and with his beautiful
silky coat flying in the breeze, and his in
telligent head erect, was bounding rapidly
on until he had soon covered the ground be.
tween himself and Mary Morrison, and had
placed his paws lovingly upon her shout
ders There was only one doubtful moment
in his affectionate reception of her. He
shifted CHASTITY something that she carried
under her plaid, and he was suspicious and
uneasy in his mind. Nevertheless, by the
time that they had reached old Donald's
home he had recovered his gayety OF spirits,
and was bounding round Mary in a way
that betokencd effusiveness of delight.
In his own secret heart old Donald was
not less pleased to see her-she was alive
and we'll, that was patent to the eye; she
was wearied, no doubt, but that could soon
be remedied. Had she, however, fulfilled
her mission? il not, he had loop-hole of
escape should he desire to make use of such
a subterfuge when few days calm refec-
ton had enabled him to shake of the
gloomy terrors OF the past night, and to for
bid the marriage OF his son to any other
maiden than the heiress, Janet Baillie. 1t
was, therefore, with an outward demonstra-
ton of m amer very different from his in
ward feeling, that he calmly accosted his
servant when she came up to him outside
his door, amidst the boisterous demonstra-
tons of the faithful collie. $50 you have
come back, my lass-down, Luath, you
camstary fool v'
"Yes, am back again, master"
"And did We find the murderers skull on
the great Macdonald's tomb?':
YES, found it,"
"And of course we've brought it wi We,
agreeable to your promise 2"
Eyes, have brought it and OF course
master, you'll be agreeable to your prom
Use ?' and from underneath the folds OF the
plaid she brought out the skull.
Old Donald was somewhat taken aback
by the sudden sight OF it. He had the gu
perstitious fears of his neighbors, and he
shrank from looking upon that grinning
relic, much less from contamin ating him
self by laying so much as a finger upon it.
"Take it away" he cried take the horrid
thing away l was never too fond of dead
mems bones"
She folded 1t again in tho end Of her
plaid, and, as they passed into the house,
she dropped YEARLY upon a seat, spent out
by her fong night d fatigue and excitement