Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-17
A HIGHLAND BRIDE.

| OF JOuD CdupDall O3u D6tnfOtQ6J o
daughter. Margaret, to Lord Linton while
they we're both children When the day
for the marriage approached the old b,,n..
regretted the bethrnthal, for tho young I',i d
was a man Of effsmina,e beauty, and not
all like the sturdy race of fighting Camp
bells.
He was taking parting walk with his
daughter on the day befne her marriage
when they found themselves suddenly eur
rounded by assailants. From their plsids
they recognized members of the outlaw
clan of McEagh. The two prisoners were
borns off to the camp of the enemy near by
under strong guard.
"Oh, if Lord Linton would only come to
our rescueP' said Margaret.
''That gilded popinjayp' exclaimed the
knight in sudden burst of bitterness.
"We might stay captives the rest of our
lives before he would risk the soiling of bi3
fine clothes in our rescue. Had for
moment supposed that the son of my old
friend could turn oct such lackadaisical
creature, l never would have bethrothed
you to him."
Margaret was attempting some defense
for her bethrothed, when the Highland
knight and his daughter.
'tyou will pardon the seeming suddeuness
which has brought you to tais fastness, but
am but little used to the milder mapner
of doing things in the Lowlands. Last
night, disguised as harper, l made my
way into your castle. There has long been
war between your race and mine. I had.
intended to remain in the castle, and, when
the night was far advanced, to have let in
my followers by the postern gate, and work
ed bloody revenge for the wrong commit
ted by the Sons of Dlarmid on me and mine.
But found your castle too we'll guarded,
too well garrisoned. saw your beauteous
daughter at whose feet I now lay my
heart"
Sir John uttered an angry exclamation,
and made as if he would lay his hands up
on bis sword, but his bonds prevented him.
"Nay, start not, Sir john" continued
the chieftain. "Give your consent to the
marriage of your daughter with me and
there will be peace between the Sons of
Diarmid and the Children of the Mist, as
the Lowlanders call US. You shall return
unhurt to your castle and all will be well. |
Refuse, and-well-the marriage will have
to take place without your pasernal bless
ing"
"Robber and outlawl" exclaimed the
you my blessing with this good sword in |
such wise that you will never need an.
other"
The chieftain started to reply, when sud- |
denly the mountain gorge was filled with a |
wild, tumultuous shout, and pouring into |
the narrow pass came half a hundred men,
some knights and gentlemen in armor and |
some vassals wearing the Campbell tartans.
The absence of Sir ] ohm aud his daughter
had occasioned alarm at the castle, and a |
patty had been sent out in search of them. |
In less time thai it takes to tell it the
Highlanders had been either killed or put
to flight with the exception of the chief.
tain. He stood engaged in desperate con-
fiict with tall and apparently youthful
man, clad in suit of light armor of the
finest Milan steel, &ho had led the rescuing
party.
Looking at the gigantic chieftain and the |
slender young man who opposed him, it |
did not sem as if the latter could stand |
for any length of time the assaults of the |
Highlander; but he welded his sword with
su h skill that the match was, after all, an
equal one. Their blows fell thick and fast.
Their swords struck fire. The Highland
er's sword clashed Cow and then on the
armor of his ad Tersary, and the sword of
the armored man fell occasionally with a
thud on the target of the chieftian. Some
Of the Campbells had liberated Sir John,
and the old soldier. respecting the bravery
and skill with which the chieftain fought |
forbade anyone to interfere, so that now all |
stood in ring watching the combat. FL
ually the man in armOr, watching his op-
portunity, gave skillful twist of his sword,
which disarmed his opponent, and sent his
sword flying through the air. Before the
spectators could recover from their sur
prise, or the young man follow up his ad-
vantage, the Highlander sprang through
the circle of spectators and disappeared up
the mountain side. The victorious com.
Blatant approached Sir John and his daugh.
ter, the latter of whom was trembling vio-
lently, and holding her hands before her
eyes to shut out the scene of the strife.
"Good knight, said Sir John, "you have
done US a notable service this day. Lift
your visor that We may know the features
OF him to whom We ara SO much indebted"
Margaret, more composed now that the
conflict was ever, raised her eyes at her fa-
ther's words TO the barred helmet of her
rescuer. The young man bowed and rails
ed his visor. 1t was Lord Linton.
The next day Margaret was married
with great pomp 10 the chapel of the cas-
tie, and the next she set out with her hus-
band for her Euglish home. Thither two
years after her father followed her to sperd
bis declining days. As for the chiefsain of
the McEaghs, he was killed in midnight
foray, aud died fighting like the desperate
man he was.
For the cure of the Inflammation and
congestion called "a cold in the head'
there is more potency in Ey's Cream Balm