Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-20

aroused by shake so powerful that he
would have leaped to his feet, only that
two brawny hands held him tight in his
chair.
I'm 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 meG'
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
wronged my sister so deeply that be-
hooved to kill her too. ] watched until
all his new followers had gone; then
walked into his room and put my dirk
through his throat. I had wrongs to
right, and j righted them; but the man
you spoke against to-day knows nothing
of the lnatter. 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
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
| when reflection came he determined not
to do it. He could not bear to give up
his triumph; he knew the temper of pop
ular feeling, and was sure tnat 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
retrace 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 paper assuring him that
| Rsrald 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 a 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
If Ranald felt himself a murderer, he
did not show it, and no visible Judgment
| 70 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. l 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 meanw
"Just what 1 say, Allister. The man
he had hung called him from bed and
board and bench, and he was compelled
togo. His face turned gray as ashes with
terror and mortal agony; and the serv-
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. -sat
zone night he was awfully wretched
and restless, and insisted on having on,y
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."
sAnd Ranald McNair2'
"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 think that he never either
hoped or tried to avert the poverty and
sorrow he believed to be the Just judg-
ment of his house. He was pious man,
but held the worlds goods with loose
grip. Sholto, you say, is prudent and
world-like2"
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 they9 Tel
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 Jennie's stately beauty deserved thu
title given her Sholtos admiration wa
so marked that hiss old friend could
hardly avoid interfering in the matter
So he made the inquiries he though
proper, and then asked Sholto to com'
and dine with him.
Sholto was quite prepared for the dis
!, cussion, and when Bailie Allister pro
posed that he should now go to Rome ant
pursue his studies, the proposition haC
been foreseen and considered. Fl
answered, quietly, that he had been Pre-
! pairing for such step some, that he hat
, finished designs sufficient for the house
, need until his place could be properl,
filled, and that he was now only waitin,
for his marriage, which would be per
! formed the following week.
"You know who you are going t
I, marry, Sholto, l supposed"
: Eyes, know. l was afraid she woul
not have me; but she is an angel, and ha
i forgiven ALL
. 'sShe has heard, then, Of the wrong you
r grandfather did her house,"
/ ..She has heard that Ranald MacNai
e deliberately kept back facts which woul
8 have saved her great-uncle from shame