Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-06-20
CHAPTER XXvl
HOME AND VICTORY.

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honor.
CHAPTER X&VL
HOME AND VICTORY.
So once more we are among loved and
familiar scenes, the torrid sands are left
behind, and we are back to the scented
heather and the fellowship of friends.
That ONE coming was such as had never
been known in the sedate valley that in
cludes Kilgour and the Elms. Old people
talk of it yet by the chimney cheek in win
ter nights, and the young listen with open
mouths and wide eyes to the wondrous tale
of the sudden appearance one quiet evening
Of a company of outlandish folk with the
jargon and garb of heathendom. wish
some of these people were now at hand to
describe what they saw and thus save me
much trouble, for have come to point
that seems to touch me more closely in my
tenderest part and to make it more difficult
to write than anything that went before.
But l will briefly relate what remains OF
this extraordinary history and endeavor to
be lucid.
In his wanderings in the east Donald
had imbibed high notions Of pageantry and
the picturesque, and so he insisted we
should 90 home in the best style at our
command-that is to say, in full oriental
costume and special carriage.
1T will be free sight for the natives, 4"
he said. "It isn't every day that Arabs of
our standing arrive in Scotland"
Accordingly on reaching Perth we In
yoked the aid of my old friend of the
'tHound and Stag" who procured for US at
q cost that, in his own words, was "perfeck-
" awfae," the best barouche and the, fast
est pair in the city.
To make the more imposing show 'Tabal
and Mahomet were to ride behind on Fa-
TINA and Hassan, accoutered in Arab fash
ion, with a spear and half dozen daSSers
apiece Very glad they were to get into
the saddle again, both to stretch their mus
cles according to wont and to display their
horsemanship. The horses also whinnied
with delight at the touch Of the familiar
girths, and when mounted danced Jig un-
known to the sober steeds of these isles.
The town gathered to witness the specta-
Gle of our departure, and it afterward leak
ed out that the provost and council were at
the moment eHcitedly considering the ques-
ton of entertaining the Indian nabobs who
had so unexpectedly honored their city.
But we were off before the good men could
decide, with half the population at our
heels, as if we exercised the charm of the
Pied Piper of Hamelin. And the mighty
sensation of the starting was continued all
along our route. People rushed gaping
from houses and fields to get a glimpse of
us at close quarters, and those whom we
met generally turned and followed US as
long as they had breath. Some saluted US
as if we were foreign potentates, others
stared as if they had been turned into stone,
and yet others, by their looks, seemed to
apprehend an invasion.
When we swept through our little village,
there was the commotion that an earth
quake or the descent of an armed band OF
robbers might have caused. Fain would
have stopped to make myself known to the
villagers and see their establishment, but at
that stage we could not bear to tarry. Two
miles ahead was Kilgout lad little beyond
was the Elms. So we sped on without draw
ing rein, our hearts beating short and fast,
with the expectation which the returning
exile alone knows The carriage horses
were lathered and blowing after their 40
miles, though Fagima and Hassan, with
more trying work, did not show wet hair.
But no consideration for blown horses could
have induced US to delay. The coachman,
rather against his will, whipped up, and in
stead of slackening the pace increased.
AS we rolled, humping and shaking, over
the mountain road In the midst of many
whirling thoughts, suddenly old Duncan's
parting words flashed upon me.
God bless ye, take it. 1t will be the sill.
To-, ,al ro to m
the seas yell can gle a skirl at times to
mind ye Of old friends, and when ye come
back yell can march to your own quick
STEP"
Why shouldn't II In less time than it
takes me to write this sentence the silver
pipes were out Of the green bag.
''You shall be played home like hero,
Gordon!" cried, leaping upon the dickey
to the great discomfort of the coachman,
,,ho was evidently unable to make up his
mind whether we were great folks or SIM
ply maniacs.
The scream Of the pipes made the horses
almost as wild as was myself.
II Gamma haud them" yelled the coach
man, laying his weight on the reins. "Ill
never win back to Perth safe. Woa! Woa!
They're off, sure. May be burned alive
II ever take q trip Ike this again. Woa,
Dandyl Woa, Meg! Ah ye limmer, TAX
ing the bit atween your teethl If smash
this kerridge, may just go and hang my
SELL"
'tLet them out, you FOOL" I said breath
lessly. The speed was glorious to me.
They could not go too fast. Another mile
one short mile, but it was too much to
think of.
Iblew as I had never blown but once be-
fore, and that was when I thought I was
playing a ranting air as my own dirge.
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
was now my tune, and the birds flew In
terror from the rocks at the mad excite
ment of the strain. Another half mile
two or three minutes more. Couldn't the
ass of coachman use his whip2 Then all
at once the chimney tops of Kilgour ross
amid the dusky heath as had seen thera
rise when last returned from Edinburgh,
and almost dropped.
''Thereitis, Gordon!" screamed, pointing
to the right. Don't you see it standing
alone there? All the chimneys are smok-
ing. They must have company"
And settling down to work again 1played
fiercer and fiercer, and Rance stuffed her
ears, and Donald encouraged me, and the
coachman, hanging on the reins, swore we
should be headlong over precipice, but
the speed was not checked.
A quarter of mile more, and / saw a
man in field near the house. He stood
looking toward us, shading his eyes with
his hands. He gazed thus for perhaps half