Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-14

| - 70 DC my wife.
Alaster's eyes were fixed upon the little
window as he listened to these words, and
ne saw fair face appear there. An en-
| ergetic shake of the head said very plainly,
! mo, mo-" to Malcolm's assertion, and the
fair vision disappeared
Il wish you joy" replied Alaster, with a
quiet smile; happy will be the man who
calls the lovely Annie his.''
a white hand was waved for moment
| from the easement, and quickly with
drawn. Alaster was understood and an
swered Malcolm was totally unconscious
of this novel courtship
"A rare place this for an esealade 4" said
Alaster, leaning over the parapet and point
| Ing to spur of Ben Nevis that reared its
craggy head almost on level with the bat
| Elements.
| For goat, yes, answered Malcolm dis
painfully. NO human being could scale
| yon cliff. Look at the distance; it is twelve
feet from the battlement, with yawning
| abyss between. An enemy will never enter
inverlochy from that quarter"
"A lover might scale yonder cliff to
speak with his sweetheart" returned AL
| aster carelessly, "and he. would think
| lightly of the danger for the boon of one
sweet smile"
And break his neck for his palms," an
swered Malcolm with a laugh. "Come,
| the night is nearly spent, and you are well
come to a share of soldiers couch"
They left the battlements without fur
| Their words and descended to Malcolm's
| chamber.
In the morning early Aiaster departed,
| for he had no excuse to prolong his stay,
| and Malcolm MacPhie drew long breath
| OF satisfaction when he saw the stalwart
form of the young Highlander disappear
| up the glen.
That night when the moon yelled her
sllvery face behind the towering head of
old Ben Nevis, Annie of Lochiel wandered
pensively upon the battlements of Inver-
lochy, gazing ever and anon upon the crac-
! gy platform that jutted out from the
mountains side.
A tall form emerged from the shadows
and advanced to the edge of the cliff.
"Alasterg' whispered the maid in eau
tIo1s tones, bending over the parapet
- am not goat" answered Alaster
| with gleesome laugh, "but it is even |.
Alaster, fair Annie''
How brave you arer' cried the maid.
invoiantarily. You have undergone this
| danger to see me once again?"
You know right well what brings me
here. Annie, l love you. Short as our ac-
| qualntance has been, you have enslaved
my heart. l have scant time for wooing
My presence here may he discovered at any
moment. If You bide in Inverlochy, it will
be to become the wife of Malcolm Mac
Phie. Fly with me to the land of kintyre,
and share chieftain's home"
"Alaster, would willingly fly with thee
to escape the dreaded fate that awaits me
here; but how can | escape? Malcolm
Machine has watched me closely all the
day.
Aye, and he watches thee now,'' cried
Malcolm, suddenly emerging upon the bat
tlement. "Fickle jade! didst think to out
wit me?"
Annie uttered a faint shrek of despair.
Leap, Annie, leap" cried Alaster, in
sharp, ringing tones. 1.-The space is mar
row-spring boldly from the parapet-tby
lovers arms await theel'
Scarcely conscious what she did-im-
PEELED by desperation and that instructive
feeling of obedience which true love
prompts-Annie avoided the grasp of the
eXasperated Malcolm, ran a few stems upon
the parapet and leaped boldly across the
yawning void. Malcolm paused aghast:
he expected to hear her death shrek and
the dull sound of her form rs it struck the
rocks beneath But he only heard a cry of
joy, and saw Annie twining her arms
around AIaster's neck, while his clasped
her in safety to his breast
10 this day the curious traveller who
visits the old gray ruins of Inverlochy is
shown the spot from which Annie spra1y
and that part of the Lattlement still bears
the Name of the "Maidens Leap"
Alaster and Annie disappeared in the
gloom, and Malcolm FASTENED to alarm the
castle and urge a hot pursuit But who
could follow the bold Highlander as he
laaf. lirrhr "
his precious burden in his arms. Pursuit
was unavailing; the fugitives could not be
found, and Malcolm MacPhie returned
sullenly TO Inverlochy, swearing a deep
and bloody vengeance
There was high feasting in the land of
kintyre, and Castle Mingarry opened its
hospitable gates, so that all of the Clan
Donald might witness the nuptials of An
ME of Lochiel and Alaster, their young
chief
a year had scarcely elapsed when NAL
colin MacPhie urged the Campbells to
undertake All expedition against the Clan
Donald. Castle Mingarry was surprised
and burned, but Alaster and his bride es-
capped and fed into Ireland. So ended the
Raid of kintyre."
When Monirose raised the royal stand
ard in Scotland for the service of Charles |,
the Marquis of Antrim promised him as
sistance and looked about for leader for
his troops. Alaster presented himself aid
claimed the post.
ION what ground do you ask for the
commando" demanded the marquis.
Alaster drew forth his claymore and re-
piled, This, this is the best hand to WELD
the claymore of any in Scotland"
And which is the next bests" asked
Bears MacAlister, a brave Highlander,
who also wished the command.
Faith, this!' replied Alaster, shifting
the claymore from the right hand to the
left. The others withdrew their claims
and the command was given to Alaster.
And now the work of retribution was
commenced. In the fierce strife that began,
under the able generalsLip of James Ora
hame, marquis of Montrose, the first man
slain was Malcolm MacPhie.
Alaster led the claymores which decided
the day at Tippermuir, Perth and Aber-
deem.
On Capdlemas day 1915 the royal army