The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-03-03

ask ye to speak in Scotch, for here Is q
young gentleman with me that has
name of the other This is him." he
added, putting his arm through mine.
ga young gentleman of the lowlands,
and laird in his country, too, but am
thinking it will be the better for his
health if we give his name the go by"
James of the Glens turned to me for
moment and greeted me courteously
enough; the next he had turned to Alan.
"This has been dreadful accident"
he cried. 1T will bring trouble on the
country" And he wrung his hands.
"Hoots!' said Alan, ''ye must take the
sour with the sweet, man. Colin Roy is
dead, and be thankful for that"
"Aye," said James, land by my troth
wish he was alive again! It's all very
fine to blow and boast beforehand; bat
now it's done, Alan, and who's to bear
the wyte [blamel of it? The accident
fell out in Appin-mind We that, Alan.
It's Appin that must pay, aud ! am
man that has a family"
While this was going on l looked
about me at the servants. Some were
on ladders, digging in the thatch of the
house or the farm buildings, from which
they brought out guns, swords and diff
ferent weapons Of war. Others carried
them away, and by the sound of mattock
blows from somewhere farther down
the brae supposed they buried them.
Though they were all SO busy there pre-
vailed no kind Of order in their efforts.
Men struggled together for the same
| gun, and ran into each other with their
burning torches, and James was contin-
ually turning about from his talk with
Alan to cry out orders which were ap-
parently never understood. The faces
in the torchlight were like those Of peo-
| pie overborne with hurry and panic, and
though none spoke above his breath
their speech sounded both anxious and
angry.
1t was about this time that lassie
came out of the house carrying pack
or bundle, and it has often made me
smile to think how Alan's instinct awoke
at the mere sight of it.
whats that the lassie has?" he asked
"We're just setting the house in order,
Alan" said James in his frightened and
somewhat fawning way. They'll search
Appin with candles, and we must have
all things straight. We're digging the
bit guns and swords into the moss, we
see, and these, I'm thinking, will be your
| ain French clothes.
BURY my French clothesw cried Alan
"Troth, nor And he laid hold upon
the packet and retired into the barn to
shift himself, recommending me in the
meanwhile to his kinsman.
James carried me accordingly into the
kitchen and sat down with me at table,
smiling and talking at first in a very
! hospitable manner. But presently the
gloom returned upon him. He sat
frowning and biting his fingers, only rcd
membered me from time to time, ana
then gave me but word or two and Z
poor smile, and back into his private
terrors. His wife sat by the fire iG
wept with her face in her hands. is
eldest son was crouched upon the t 4r
running over n great mass of par 49,
and now and again setting one all o.;
and burning it to the bitter end. -.
the while a servant lass with red + q.
was rummaging about the room il, a
blind hurry of fear and whimpering
she went, and every now and again c.
of the men would thrust in his fu,
from the yard and cry for orders.
At last James could keep his seat p
longer and begged my permission to L..
so unmannerly as to walk about. II {; .
but poor company altogether SIR" s.,
he, "but can think of nothing but
dreadful accident and the trouble ii %
like to bring upon quite innocent per
sons"
A little after he observed his son burn
ing u paper, which he thought should
have been kept, ard at that his excite
Inent burst out so that it was painful to
witness He struck the lad repeatedly.
"Are YOU gone gyte?' mad he cried.
"Do you wish to hang your father" and
forgetful Of my presence carried on ut
him long time together in the Gaelic.
the young man answering nothing, only
the wife, at the name of hanging, throw
ing her apron over her face and sobbing
out louder than before.
This was all wretched for stranger
like myself to hear and see, and | was
right glad when Alan returned looki ~
like himself in his fine French clother,
though, to be sure, they were now grown
almost too battered and withered to do
serve that name. was then taken ont
in my turn by another of the sons, and
given that change of clothing of which
had stood so long in need, and pair
of highland brogues made of deer
leather, rather strange at first, but after
little practice very easy to the feet.
BY the time came back Alan must
have told his story, for it seemed under
stood that was to fly with him, and
they were all busy upon our equipment.
They gave us each sword and pistol,
though l professed my inability to use
the former, and with these and some
ammunition, a bag of oatmeal, an iron
pan and bottle of right French brandy
we were ready for the heather. Money
indeed was lacking. had about two
guineas left. Alans belt having been
dispatched by another hand, that trusty
rposeauUar hal M mora tba, cayaptaap