River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-03-20

y
ing, IN order that he might devote many
years after them 10 travel and study.
But at length the baltic succeeded, the
wretched home was abandoned, and
Sholto took his desk in the designing
room of the great sewed muslin firm OF
Bailie Archibald Allister.
1t was about six months afterward
that Lawyer Brodie called one evening
on his cousin Allister. There was busl-
ness OF an important nature In the cali,
but after it had been completed their
conversation gradually drifted into less
personal and less selfish strain.
"Hew is Sholto MacNair getting along,
bailie?'
'He is doing well-saving money and
working hard.
"Humphi 1t is the fourth generation:
maybe the curse lift little by this time.
Unto the third and fourth generation
that's how it reads, baihe."
81 never rightly understood the matter,
Brodie. This Ranald McNair was law
yer and judge of the court of session.
"A scoundrel and a murderer OF the
worst kind, Bailie. My grandfather sat
beside him on the bench for twenty
years
Then there was a pause, but Battle
Allister knew better than to break
it. lie let the spell of the Pickering fire.
light and of the sensitive expectant
silence tell upon the heart of the old law
yer; and presently he said, in low,
thoughtful voice, "Ill tell you, Bailie,
what j know about it, and there is no
one knows more, for we have done the
McNair business nearly eighty years,
though I am free to say it is quite against
my oriinar to talk about my clients.
This Ranald McNair was a black. look
ing Highlandman, and son of Donald
Dhu McNair, as fierce and bad man as
ever ruled the MacNair clan. | have
naught at all to do with the quarrel be-
tween him and his father and elder broth
er; he aye boosted that it had not been
a dry quarrel. but in those days the
dirk settled every dispute north of the
Gram plans, and civilized folk hardly
cared to interfere.
Anyhow Ranald came southwark with
6 dark name, and, strangely enough for
such fierce spirit, he entered a term of
| law with the house of Caldwell s
Faulder. Some folks just hated his dark
face and domineering ways, but my
grandfather took to the proud Highlander
wonderful. | don't know what for, I'M
less maybe that David MacMaister hated
him, and DaTid and my grandfather were
| born foes.
"They had no personal or particular |
quarrel, but David and Ranald had; for |
both OF them fell in love with bonnie |
Maggie Faulder-ju lust as mad in love as
two such proud, set-in-their own way fell |
lows were like to be. Maggie kind of
favored David, and Renald swore if he |
married her, he might be a dirk with the
wedding ring.
'Then old Faulder sent Maggie away
to some southwark friends, and David |
and R4nald went on to the roll of his
majesty's attorneys, and both of them set
tied down pleading causes and attend
ing to other peoples business.
''But they we're always watching one
another; and when David was put up for
some rich county office-clerk of the rolls,
| think -Ranald was furious, and spent
both time and gold freely in order to de-
feat hirn. l suppose he did it. Any
how, his opponent, James Laing, won,
and David was out of place and pocket.
Soon after, James Laing, was found dead
in his office, with dirk through his
throat.
suspicion gathered swiftly and Ger
tainly around David McMaister He
was, as | have said before, a passionate
and proud man. 1t could not be denied
that be had spoken very bitterly of his
opponent, and many threat uttered in
anger VAS Aow remembered against him.
"His arrest and Imprisonment seemed
almest to deprive him of his senses. He
denied his guilt in the most solemn terms,
put could give no account ofhimself dur
ing the hour in which the murder had
been committed, except that he had been
in liquor in his own room. This apology
added little to his defense; and many,
even of his intimate acquaitances, be-
ieved him to be guilty.
Probably because of the well-known
hatred between the men, the prosecution
elected Ranald McNair to conduct their
case. Nothing so exciting as this trial
had aaitated every circle of society since
the landing OF Prince Charlie. Houses
were divided, friends quarrelad, and i'm
mense bets were laid on IS issue.
"Wble it was pending Maggie Faul-
der1eturned, and Ranald was now doub-
Nv anxious for the success of his prosecu
ton. It was wonderful what acumen
and industry and eloquence he brought
to bear on it. His summing up and
final speech electrified everv one. There
was solemn and awful stir of applause
at its close, and everybody considered the
verdict settled.
But .he Judge was ai1t and fu
man, and he did not put the question TO
the jury that night; he thought, you see,
that it was only fair to let the men have
time ia look at both sides coolly. Still,
RanalG was sure Of his verdict, and great
iv elated at the sensation he had made,
especially as Mr.. Faulder stopped to con-
graduate him; and even the beautiful
Maggie, pale and fearful as she was, fall
tered out some words which he took for
a compliment.
He had his dinner in his own cham
bers, aud then IN reflection after his own
heart passed several hours. In them he /
fell asleep, for toward midnight he was
aroused by shake so powerful that he
would have leaped to his feet, only that
two brawny hands held him tight in his
chair.
"ln a moment his senses were all alert, |
and he saw. bending over him, a gigan-
tic Highlander, in whose thews he knew |
even his strength would be as that of a |
baby.
"'You are Campbell, know by your
plaid. Now what do you want with me2' |
asked Ranald, fiercely,
"'Sit still, and don't move an inch,
while tell you. killed James Laing
| killed him because, while he was shoot |
ing on the braes of Angus last year, he
wrongrd my sister so deeply that be-
hooved to kill her too. / watched until |
all his new followers had gone; then l
wake INTO his room and put my dirk
thr his throat. I had wrongs to |
rig. and righted them; but the man
YOU spoke against to-day knows nothing |
OF the matter / ST want to murder |
him too. Tell the police that the man
who killed James Laing is Alexander |
Campbell. They can look for him in
| .}ute; maybe they viii find him, and may |
| be they will not
| Without another word he was gone,
and Ranald was too shocked to detain
him, even if he had the power. Howev
er, be made no spontaneous effort, and
y hen reflection came he determined not
I to DO it, He could not bear to give up
| his triumph; he knew the temper of pop