The morning call., 1892-05-19
SLAIN MANS lee.


friend, casting himself down upon grassy
hlllock which reared itself in the center OF
the little plain In which we stood.
Wherefore so strange a nameY in
quired
Beneath this grassy covering rest the
bones of hundreds of great men"
''Thls then has been the scene Of some
battle in the olden time?"
'It has. l brought you from Selkirk on
purpose to show it to you," answered my
friend. Harry OgiIyie, 'and tell you a story
about it, If you like"
1 instantly appTised my friend Of the
qualification il would afford me to listen to
him, and took q seat beside him on the
''Slain Mans Lee" 1t was not without a
shuddeT, however. that / repOSed my frame
upon the sod that covered the remains Of
those who had once been living and breath
ing like myself.
Philiphaugh. on the 18th or September in
the year 1647. If my memory serves me
Alright" began OgllYie, "the Marquis OF
MoBtToSe received his first defeat 10 the
war he had undertaken for the king. Here
his victorious career received a terrible and
almost iTrsmedlable check There were
several causes which led to this defeat.
The marquis eDcamped here late at night
with only half his usual force The men Of
AthOle had returned to their native hills
Two of his bravest officers were absent
Alaster McCOl was wagiDg an old feud
amidst the rocks and glens OF Mlngarry,
and Lord George Gordon had been slain at
Afford. On this night the marquis, who
had never neglected II before, entrusted the
placing of the picket guard TO other hands.
1t seems as If Fate had determined TO intllct
8 defeat upon the Great Marquis
IL relate this story in tho words OF my
ancestor, Lord Lionel 0gilYie, who was one
of MOntrOse's officers at The time, and whose
wonderful preservation from death viii, l
think, interest you.
They were sitting in their tent, Mont
rose and his captains, wearied by a long
ride, leisurely slipping their wine, and
never dreaming of the close proximity of
the enemy, when they were suddenly
charged upon by three sQuadTOns Of the
lOwlRndS troops
''The rOut was instant and decisive. Be
set on every side. the rOyalistS gave way
and fed in disorder Upon this spot did
MOntrose succeed in rallylng a portion OF
his army, and here the fight became des-
peTGte and deadly and the slain of either
side lay so thickly together after the battle
that 10 was found impossible 10 inter each
soldier separately, so a deep pit was dug,
friend and Zoe were cast into II indlscrlmi-
nately ana the turf lightly heaped above
their mortal remains. From that time this
spot has been called The Slain Mans
Lee.
But have something more entertaining
90 tell you than these funeral details.
"MOntTose succeeded in effecting his
escape with most Of his officers and cavalry,
TetTeating step by step, but maintaining a
determined front TO the foe, and repeatedly
charging them with great skill and ValOr.
1t was in one Of these desperate charges
tnat the Lord OgiYie, who was but a strip
ling at the time, was taken prisoner
- He crQVPVPd in Piasa pUst01U IN Sal
kirk. The cOVenanters exercised the most
unTslenlng rgOT against all TOyalists who
were so unfortunate as TO fall into their
hands. Sentence of death was instantly
pronounced against Lord Osilyie and the
day OF execution was fixed at an early date.
His mother, the Countess OF Airlie, and
Lady Flora Leithinte. his sister hastened
TO SelkiTk TO unite their applications in
mitigation Of his doom. Tears, prayers, the
offer Of princely brlbes Tor his escape, were
useless-the judges we're inexorsble.
The fatal day drew rapidly near, and
the night preceding that morning which
was TO be Lord Ogilvie's last upon earth,
his mother and sister visited him in his
dungeon to bid him last farewell.
81 will not liBger over the agony OF that
meeting. For awhile they folded each
ether in SAD embrace, mingling their tears
together.
"'Must you die, my brothers? exclaimed
Flora, with checked utterance. $50 young
so Draye-thus early to be cut off-Oh!it is
dreadfulr
"T expected DEATH answered Ogiivio
with sad cOmposuTe. I took the common
chance of all when I engaged Ia this strife,
and what matters il if l meet death by the
ak. instead Of the sword
The ak is for felons,' said the Countess
Of Airlie, with aspeTty; you are nobe-an
Ogliyle-at least they might have granted
you a soldiers death
ba uR nv -
Flora, with sudden energy. There is one
chance for your escape. l shrank from dis
closing II 10 you before, for / knew your
noble nature would scOrn to accept the
alternative. But / will accept it for you. l
bad rather make any sacrifice than see you
die
"'What sacrifce? asked Ogilvie.
Countess
Listen. You know Colonel Roche
your laIleT, and c0mmandant OF this tOwn?'
An unDrincipled lbertiDe and reckless
adventurer. a soldier in the German wars.
hired by the canting Covenant to fight its
battles
Yet still he holds your life in his hands,
and possesses the power to set you free
Undoubtedly
Then you shall be free
Ny dear Flora, you speak in riddles
My riddle is easily solved. Knoy that
have made conquest of this bluff soldier.
he has confessed bis love for me- and made
pro1fer Of his hand
And youp questioned the countess.
sternly, and bTIdllng with suppressed wrath
Laughed 10 bis FACET
You did we'll answered the countAss
Modified What presumption! an unknown
soldier asking for the hand Of Lady Leitbin-
ue4 4hat comes OF your Covenant
tCOncladed t0-m0rrO1oj
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