The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-01-13
FERGUS MACELETSE;
OR,
The Last Elm of the Avenue

He was tall, handsome fellow, with
dark complexion and curiously light,
eager eyes; by name discovered, Cap
tain Angus MacLeish, of the Thirty
fourth (Royal Cromariy) Highlander.
Here 1 may introduce myself to my
readers, Lieutenant Jones, Royal North
Wales Militia.) Captain MacLeish was
rather stiff and high and mighty at first,
l thought-very much the Highland
chieftain. "Caolchairn, or some such
pretty name, was, found, his correct
designation. Still, let him see that l
considered Jones of Prybwllych the
equal of any man in her majesty's SER
vice, and we gradually warmed into
socisbility over the landlady's blazing
fire, and such refreshments as the Gree
Lion afforded.
The landlady's prediction was verified
in less than the time mentioned. The
storm blew over, the clouds parted, and
clear white moon ShOne out,
Half an hours quick walking brought
us to the top of the hill, under which lay
the little town of Clinqhaven. Its red
roofs looked pretty and picturesque in
the moonlight beyond, and to westward
the sea and the marshes stretched away
gray and mysterious; below us a row OF
lighted windows showed where the bar,
racks stood.
That's welcome sight," said Mac
Leish.
"Were you ever here before?' asked
"Never. only heard of The place las
week-ah!' he stopped short.
looked round in amazement. HI
was standing upright and rigid, his eyes
fixed on some point in the road befor,
us, his finger extended.
why, what's the natter" 1 asked
looking down the road white and lone
ly-and seeing only a milestone stand
ing distinctly from the dark hedge
"There!" His eyes dilated with a fixe,
stare of horror, his breath came shor
and quick, and at last. with sharp cry
he swayed forward and fell insensible o.
the path. l thought he tried to sa
something, but failed to understand b; m
The soldiers had halted, AMI two cam
rushing up vociferating in some III
known tongue. They knelt beside hiI
and raised him all stark aud white, i
the moonshine. l gave few directions
to which they vouchsa:ed not the small
est attention ;but somehow they contrive
to support him between them, and "
proceeded to the barracks; no great dii
tance fortunately.
l Questioned the sergeant, who ha
looked on meanwhile with undisturbe
compasure. He declined to commit hin
self to any opinion whatever. The pr
Yates were "CRolchairn's" own peopl
poor ignorant Highland bodies, who coul
hardly speak English. Aud here Sc
geant Tulloch's communication Came
au abrupt stop, aud could only extrac
in addition, that the Highlnnders kne
best what to do with their chief, and tht
'he'll be a RIGHT in the morn"
So he was. He appeared on parat
right enough. found that he and We,
in the same section. also that of all Il
sixty officers composing the course,
was the only one with whom l had II
slightest acquaintance He was in Il
same position, fancy-so We fraterniz,
to a certain extent-walked over to Boat
town together the popular anus, me
Of the period, and worked at the red boz
in company. He was an odd young Il
low, as staTchly repellaut as a Spaui
Don one moment, and the next boyish
expansive aud communicative. l thin
he was really desperately shy-the 7, St
Of Eome-breeding. He gave me desert
lion of his Highland home one day. wi
his mountain aud moor, loeh and fore
where the MachLeishes lived in feud
state, naught appertaining to the true d
= nifty of a real Highland ehieftain b i
, lacking, from the pipers to the deat
feud. The MaeLeishes of Tuchoran b
killed, burned. betrayed, massacred a
generally made themselves mutually ,
pleasant from time immsmorial. I
4, two branches of this aminble fam
= sprang from twin brothers, and, aeco
ing tn tradition, were to carry on
same bloodthirsty relations till they
cane simultaneously extinct.