Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-11-02
with a storm about to break over
their heads.
CHAPTER TT

fellows, if they are true to the king;
but did not Wantthem to hear us. -
He approached the girl as he
spoke, and halted near her side.
He was tall, gailant-looking fell
low, clad in the brilliant costume OF
a highland trooper, and strong
enough to WELD. the great sword
that dangled at his side. She was
not tall, but well formed and beau
tlful, with deep blue eyes that pro-
claimed her gentle, and white
cheek that told of great anxiety.
"nhen you have heard, Mary ?''
1.-The trooper continued, seeing that
she was silent.
"Heard? ? No James !" and she
looked into his face with a strange
mixture of eagerness and fear.
James Graham came nearer still,
and took the white hand that hung
at her side.
"He was our friend" he said.
Together we fought the English
but the king hated him, and for
three weeks the English hounds
have tracked him everywhere"
"Ah! you speak of Duncan"
Mary Colleen cried, her eyes, bright
ening, but his look drove the flush
away.
"Gias p he said. ''They say that
twenty English fell before they cut
him down."
Instantly the girls face became
/ deathly white, and with half
suppressed shrek she grasped his
arm.
''Tell me what has happened to
him I" she cried. "Do keep moth
ing back F.! In the name of the love
you seek, tell me all ~
Thus abjured, the trooper, with a
triumphant flashing of his black
eyes, went on:
"They caught him in M'Gregor's
pass last night-thirty English
dragons. He fought like a god,
cutting down one after another, un-
til his horse fell. Even after that
they say his claymore found the
brains of three more miscreants.
All! how | should have liked to
have been at his side"
"They overpOWered him ?"
"Aye, Mary"
"Where is he now ?"
"They left his body in the pass,
but
She did not hear the ending of
the sentence, for with a piercing
shrek she reeled from his arms and |
fell to the floor like one sudde ly |
stricken with death.
James Graham smiled as he |
stopped and lifted the fainting girl,
whom he bore to cot at one side of |
the little room. Then he sat down
upon the edge and commenced to
restore her to consciousness, all the
while smiling triumphantly, and
admiring her pallid beauty.
At last the girl opened her eyes,
and started at seeing the borderman
so near.
She waved him away, but he was
reluctant to leave.
shudder. Il will try to forget that
you deserted the king"
A flush of anger mounted to his
temples.
"James Graham desert the king
of Scotland ?' he cried.
"Aye at the raid of Solway Moss
you gave up your claymOre."
"Mary ="
NAY, James Graham, she inter-
rupted, tive are true to the king
here. | will try, to forget, say,
that you deserted him."
For moment the troopers face
grew livid heseemed angry enough
to tear the girl from the cot and
fling her against the wall"
"Who says that James Graham
deserted the king? Who dares to
proclaim that he has turned traitor
to Scotland ?'' he cried.
ar"
The unexpected answer came
from the door, and Graham, starting
violently, turned upon the intruder. ;
He stood face to face to Duncan !
the Highlander, the man whom he
declared had fallen before the Eng ;
lish in M'Gregor Pass. .
81 say you are a traitor, James
Graham - cried Duncan. "But an {
hour since / heard a boat-load of
King Henry's soldiers tell how
zealOusly you were aiding their
cause by hunting the Highland pa {
triots down. You have been hunt
ing me-"
James Graham stared aghast. All !
at once Duncan Sprang upon him
and deprived him of his sword.
$50 !" he cried, pointing to the |
door. "Go! traitor to Scotland and
her king-dying now in his palace {
for the shame of such as you! Mary {
here, spurns the love of the traitor t
TO his native elan !" {
The trooper sullenly skunk from {
the house, and Duncan broke his {
sword and flung it after him. t
"Vengeance," was the only audi t
BILE word that fell from his lips as he 1
turned away. c
Duncan answered with derisive i
laugh. I
CHAPTER III.