The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-04-28

generally made themselves mutually nm
pleasant from time i1nmemorial. The
two branches of this amiable family
sprang from twin brothers, and, accord
ing to tradition, were to carry on the
same bloodthirsty relations till they be;
came simultaneously extinct.
"And may / ask hew you and the
representative OF the other line conduc!
yourselves when you happen to meet in
society nowadays 2" inquired.
MacHeish laughed.
"We don't meet. Tdchoran was sold
generations ago, and the MacLeish Of
that date died abroad. We have often
tried to trace out his descendants, but
with only partial success. Perhaps It's
as well, he continued. with en- etabar-
rassed laugh, fer they say that, though
we don't slay and plumber nowadays, the
the curse is On us YET When one Of
each line shall meet, there follows cal
anlity."
| Hooked as profoundly impressed as
| he could desire.
"Ten years ago a clergyman In the
South, Chaplain to hospital, wrote to
| my father to say that his cousin,
Fergus MacLeish, lay diving, MORALLY
wounded in some discreditable brawl.
My father, good man, started at once.
| He was in time to sec the dying man,
| and to promise to befrlend his only son,
a boy of about a. Fergus MacLaish
died with his hand clasped III my faith
er's. TWAS their first and last meeting.
Wen, no harm came of it, sup
pose?"
"My father never saw his home
again. He was killed III the great
railway accident On The Great Northern. .
What became Of the b6y?"
"Young Fergus? He was an utter
good for-nothing. My mother gave the
Chaplain carte blanche, and he did his
utmost to reclaim him. IT was no use.
He was in and ont of prison half dozen
times. and at last we shipped him off to
the colonies: but I'm almost sure / met
him last year at the Derby"
Chow did you know him ?"
"By his likeness to myself. It's curl
ously strong. Also, by another mark
a cut on one eyelid- that gives him a
most sinister look. The Chaplain men
toned it to me-"
"Did anything happen p I could not
resist asking. MacLeish's face grew
dark.
"Don't ask me-enough to ruin my
life, and make it little worth having from
henceforward. Hulloi it's o'clock.
Do you dine at mess tonight ?" and he
left me to dress.
Still got no nearer to any explanaA
ton of the occurrence on the first night
of the meeting. He always avoided the
| Westwood road, noticed; and another
peculiar fact which struck me was the
way in (which his servant Alistor-his
foster brother, he told me- kept us con-
stantly in sight. It was as if he ex-
| pected me to do his master mischief.
| Wherever he went Alistor's red head
and foxy eyes appeared at unexpected
moments. One day MacLeish came into
my room in great distress. An accident
had happened in the town--a scaffold
had fallen, and Alistor, who was passing
at the moment, had been knocked down
and iniured-some iron-work had struck
his head, and, it was feared, destroyed
the sight of one eye.
"He must go up 20 town as soon as
he can travel. Everything that the best
man there can do for him shall be done.
TIL trust him to no one here. My poor
| Alistor r.
| was able to assist in making ar
engagements for his stay in town, and
both master and man were inordinaUely
grateful
] went with MacLeish to see him off
| At Westwood There had been an ago
nizlng scene when he heard that the
ocalist would require him to be at least
month under treatment. He refused
to go-wept, expostulated, implorel
MacLeish on his knees not to send him
away-at least so I guessed, for the con-
versation was carried on in Gaelic.
MacLeish promised to go up and see
him every week-argued, coaxed, tested,
and at last ordered him sternly to be
silent and obey, and the poor fellow
submitted. Tears were in his one visible
eye when we said good-by at the station,
and he poured out what seemed to be q
food of impassioned warning. MacLeish
answered good-humoredly, saying in
English: 'You will find me safe enough.
you foolish fellow. Don't you think
Mr.. Jones here can take as good care
Of me here as you?" Alistor turned
suddenly -lpon me, scanning my face
with his sharp eye.
Are you in truth his faithful
friend 2"
was too amazed to reply.
Z" Let all who wish we'll to Caolchairn
stand by him now, for his dark hour is
at hand"
MacLeish hurried him into the train,
and saw no more of him.
We walked back together down the
memorable Westwood road.
"Can you guess what he means /"
asked MacLeish, after long silence.
''Not in the least" | replied.
DO you remember that night we
came?"
Perfectly" / answered. We turned
the corner as spoke, and the broad
white road to Cinqhaven sloped down
the hill at our feet-with the milestone
standing out white ana distinct against
uhO u1th ASttSS. 4MdCAGlSu SUODD~f9
There, by that stone, on that nigh
stood Fergus MacLeish. I saw him
clearly as I see you now. He held on,
his hand and said: Welcome we are
waiting you, Caolchairn. His face was
clear in the moonlight. Ii was the face
Of dead man"
81 don't believe q word of it" I said
energetically, to assure myself was not
frightened.
"Do as you please said MacLeish,
coldIy.
1T was evident" reasoned taking
counsel with myself, "that poor Mac
Leish's brain had become diseased liv-
ing all his life in bogie-ridden High
land stronghold, in an atmosphere of
Gaelic superstition. He would be bet.
ter without Alistor lowering about him
and ministering to his fancies, and /
must do my best to drag him in society.
He certainly hates thesightof his fellow
creatures as much as any man know. ("
Accordingly, next day. instead of our
usual secluded seat on the shingle, by a
deserted Martello tower, I suggested
that we should take our books to the
parade, study in public being a Cinq-
| haven fashion.