The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-04-21
What hadsCapt. MacLeish

tons came to an abrupt stop, ana l.
could only extract in addition that the
Highlanders knew best what to do with
their chief, and that she's be a right
the MORN"
So he was. He appeared on parade
right enough. l found that he and
were in the same section also, that OF
all the sixty officers that composed the
"course," he was the only one with
whom had the slightest acquaintance.
He was in the same position, fancy,
so we fratefnized to a certain extent
walked over to Poatstown together-the
popular amusement of the period, and
worked at the red book in company. He
was nm odd young fellow, as starchly re-
pellent as Spanish Don one moment,
and the next boyishly expansive and
communicative. L think he was really
desperately shy-the result OF home
breeding. He gave me description OF
his Highland home one day, with its
mountain and moor, Ioch and forest,
where the MacLeishs lived III feudal
state, naught appertaining to the dig
nifty of a real Highland chieftain being
lacking, from the pipers to the deadly
feud. The MacLeishs, of Caolchairn,
and the NacLeishs, of Tuchoran, had
killed, burned. betrayed. massacred and
generally made themselves mutually I'M
pleasant from time immemorial. 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 l ask how you and the
representative of the other line conduct
yourselves when You happen to meet in
society nowadays ?" inquired.
MacLeish laughed.
eve don't meet. Tuchoran 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 an embar-
raised laugh, for 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
amity"
looked as profoundly impressed as
he could desire.
"Ten years ago a clergyman in the
South, Chaplain to q hospital, wrots 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 see the dying man,
and to promise to befrlend his only son,
hoy of ahout IA. Fergus MacLeish
died with his hand clasped in my faith
er's. 1t was their first and last meeting"
"Well, no harm came Of it, | sup
pose ?"
"My father never saw his home
again. He was killed in the great
railway accident on the Great Northern. !"
"What became of the boy?"
Young Fergus? He was an utter
good. for-nothing. Ny mother gave the
Chaplain a carte blanche, and he did his
utmost TO reclaim him. 1t was no use.
He was in and out of prison half dozen
times. and at last we shipped him off to
the colonies: but I'm almost sure l met
him last year at the Derby"
"Bow hid 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 ?" 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. Hullo it's Z o'clock.
Do Won dine at mess tonight ?" and he
LETT me to dress.
Still / got no nearer to any explana-
ton of the occurrence on the first night
Of the meeting. He always avoided the
Westwood road. l 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-
stantlv in sight. 1t was as if he ex-
pected me to do his master mischief.
Wherever he went Alistor's red head
and foxy eyes appeared mt unexpected
moments. One day MacLeish came into
my room in great distress. An accident
had happened in the town. 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 to town rs soon as
Ouu blihV thc DCob
man there can do for him shall be done.
I'll trust him to no one here. My poor
Alistor T.
/ was able to assist in making ar
rangements for his stay in town, and
both Muster and man were Unfortunately
grateful.
went with MacLeish to see him off
Mt Westwood. There had been an ago.
nizing scene when he heard that the
oculist would require him to be at least
month under treatment. He refused
to go-wept, expostulated, implore1
MacLeish on his knees not to send him
awav-at least so / 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
eve when we said good-by at the station,
and he poured ont what seemed to be q
flood 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 your" Alistor turned
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