Daily globe., 1879-03-16

Wo&9 O SO4OnA duO AWFUL SC1r OF aDDl8u6e
at its close, and everybody considered the
verdict settled.
But the judge was just and mercifu
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 to look at both sides coolly. Still,
Ranald was sure Of his verdict, and great
ly elated at the sensation he had made,
especially as Mr.. Faulder stopped to con-
gratulate him; and even the beautiful
Maggie, pale and fearful as she was, fal-
tered out some words which he took for
a compliment.
"He had his dinner in his. own cham
bers, and 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 moment his senses were all alert,
and he saw: bending over him, gigan-
tic Highlander, in whose thews he knew
even his strength would be as that of
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 l tell you. l killed James Laing
l killed him because, while he was shoot
ing on the braes of Angus last year, he
wronged my sister SO deeply that I be-
hooved to kill her too. watched until
all his new followers had gone; then I
walked into his room and put nv dirk
through his throat. I had wrongs to
right, and I righted them; but the man
you spoke against to-day knows nothing
of the matter. I don't want to murder
him too: Tell the police that the man
who killed James Laing is Alexander
Campbell. They can look for him in
Butte; maybe they will find him, and may
be they will not:
"Wlthout another word he was gone,
and RanaId was too shocked to detain
him, even if he had the power. Howev-
er, be made no spontaneous effort, and
when reflection came he determined not
to do it. He could not bear to give up
bis triumph; he knew the temper of pop
ular feeling. and was sure that David's
innocence assured, David would become
the popular Idol. He had labored for
his ruin-bow could he now give up his
object? And then he thought of Mnggie,
and that though decided him.
No, nothing should now induce him to
1etrace his steps.
"The next morning in court he had
another chance to clear his soul. The
prisoner had received from some person
in the press a paper assuring him that
Ranald had been notified Of his innocence,
and would proclaim it in the court.
David begged the officer to pass this pa
per over to Ranald, and he eagerly scan
ned his face while he read it. The two
enemies looked moment into each 9TH
er's eyes, and then Ranald, with a
scornful Smile, tore the paper into
fragments.
$50 David was sentenced that day, and
in due time hung with all the cir
cumstances of barbarity and indignity
then common to the last act of the law.
II Ranald felt himself a murderer, he
did not show it, and no visible judgment
TO lowed his crime. He rose rapidly in
his profession, married Maggie Faulder,
built yon house at Crossbasket, and was
finally made one of the lords of session.
"But long before this some people had
begun to notice that he was haunted
man. say some people, because there
are men and women that are just Jumps
of clay, and never see anything beyond
their own meat and money matters.'
"A haunted man, Brodie! What do
you mean?"
"Just what say, Allister. The man
he had hung called him from bed and
board and bench, and he was compelled
tolgo. His face turned gray as ashes with
terror and mortal agony; and the sew
ants told strange tales of cries and voices
and of fierce struggles, which left their
master more dead than alive. The doc
tors gave these attacks some grand Latin
name; but the man was far beyond their
help.
"One night he was awfully wretched
and restless, and insisted on having only
the company of his eldest grandson, a
bright lad of three years old. At mid
night there was the old struggle and the
old cries, and the child ran sobbing down
the great stairs. half crazy with terror
that he never could explain; for it was
not likely he could describe in the Ian
guage of this world things that belonged
to another one."
"And Ranald NcNair?'
"Was found dead this time, and his
room is locked to this day. The little
lad present at that last awful struggle
was Sholto's father. He carried the
memory of that hour into every hour of
his life, and I think that he never either
hoped or tried to avert the poverty and
sorrow he believed to be the Just iudg-
ment of his house. He was a pious man,
but held the worlds goods with loose
grip. Sholto, you say, is prudent and
world-like?"
81 have nothing against him but his
constant hankering after work that will
never pay him. Nobody cares for his
torical paintings and picture castles,
Brodie."
:. mo, no; and why should they? Tell
him to paint portraits; every one thinks
his own face makes the best piclure:"
But in few months Bailie Allister had
still graver cause of disapprobation.
Among the girls in his factory was one
OF extreme beauty, known generally by
her companions as "Lady Jennie"
Popular nomenclature is rarely wrong,
and Jennle's stately beauty deserved the
title given h,r. Sholto:s admiration was
so marked that his old friend could
hardly avoid interfering in the matter.
SO he made the inquiries he thought
proper, and then asked Sholto to come
and dine with him.
Sholto was quite prepared for the dis
cusslon, and when Bailie Allister pro-
posed that he should now go to Rome and
pursue his studies, the proposition had