The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-25

which he seemed to be weighing the ques-
tion of having a border thief, as he had
called tho young Scott, for a son-in-la ";
''you arc right, Gsizel. my bonny woman n;
he shall take Mickle-Mouthsd Meg for his
wife, or strap for IL. Meg il not so we'll
favored a. her mother. but she is far too
good for Scott of Harden"
And the laird OF Elibank actually went
to his prisoner and offered him lifo and
liberty and the hand Of his daughter.
Scott OF Harden had too often heard the
three Elibank dnmsels made the subject Of
mirth among the young lairds OF his ac-
quaintance to relish the thoughts of marry
ing one of them aud being thereby subject
to such ridicule a. he knew must attach to
him. and he quietly rejected Sir Gideon's
proposal in a. few words as possible.
The laird of Elibnnk was powerful in his
had his life at his option and he %obstinatsly
refused to profit by 1t. Soon a day when
ali nature seemed 10 rejoice in the glory of
its creator. when sky and sen and earth
were all arrayed in beauty ana it seemed
happiness enough to cxist-the young and
handsome laird Was led out to die. An
ugly. creeping sensation cnmo over him, az
he 10 imagination fe.t the rope about his
neck, bat he was brave md had that at ong
determination that is bora Of obstinacy.
and he kept on his way. VITA u Highlander.
we'll armed. keeping fast hold Of him on
each side.
just before they reached the public square
where the hateful gibbst was erected the
procession had TO pass the castle of Eli
bank, az SIP Gideon loved to designate the
old hall in which his ancestors had lived
two centuries ngo. II had a towor and a
pnrapet, it is true. and the knight loved to
keep = horde Of retainsrs. but his mansion
hardly attained TO the dignity OF castol-
lated grandeur. and its general designation
Was simply Elibank hall. Pest Elibank
hall therefore the dismal troop wended its
slow march. 1hs prisoner i%nvolun,arily
cast his evca upward when close upon it
and in q moment the tide Of feeling in his
whole being rushed lifeward.
At a window OF Elibnnk hall in tina upper
portion Of the house sat a lady whose re-
peated applications Of her handkerchief to
her eyos betrayed that she Was weeping.
Sho seemed to have gone ~ thither to es-
cape obseryat on. the lower windows ard
bal conies of the houBo being crowded with
people assembled to sec the winsome laird
of Harden dragged to his execution. Far
above these %thronging witnesses the pris-
oner's oyo wns raised, AM HIS glauca took
In q form and face that. bat for n single
fault. would a been considered perfect.
G%sntlensss and goodness snt enthroned in
the face. aud the throat. neck and shout
dora wee such az n sculptor might delight
in copying. Only the mouth waS too wide,
but the lips were full. rich and Iose-red,
and tho Mouth was redeemed from uglinsss
by the beautiful expression of mute sorrow
that fingered round it.
At such q moment this expression of SYM
patty was moro and deare. to him who WAS
about to lay down his life than the most
perfect beauty that the world ever saw. A
moment moro and their eyes met. As If en-
tiHely abandoned to her feelings. the lady
at she window suddenly rose, leaned from
the narrow sill md stretched out her arms
az ii entrsating him TO come back to life
and to her. Impelled by a sentiment I'M
known before. the prisoner threw up his
white. cmanoipated hands toward her ~ il
answering her signal.
Before the procession had half gone by
Margaret Murray was in her fathsr's Ii
b arr, whittier he had gone to remain alone
until the sad sceno should DO over. Already
he had buried every particle OF enmity
against tho poo, youth. Already he woulu
havc given worlds to hold him back 10 life.
To weigh this young man'A existsnce-his
bright, free. glad l~ife-against that OF n
few sheep! He felt that he was guilty Of
murds-, and when poor Meg came In With
Streaming eyes and knelt AZ his feet, bag.
ginr him to go to him moe mote for her
sake, he could not refuSs 20 heed her.
Sit Gideon was largo aud III wisldy, and
the morning was warm. He hurried aa fast
az possible. the streams Of Precipitation on
his face attesting to his exertions. Meg
know the hour that Was to witness the fatal
decd, and il only wanted a fow minutes,
Would he GET there In timer Oh, the
human being turns! Her father WAS