People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-03-28
THE PORqBNT.
A Story of the Inner Vision of the
Highlanders. Commonly Called
the Second Sight.
By GEORGE MACDONALD.
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)

ngnted only by the dull glow OF the
fire. The night had gathered cloudy
and dark without, reminding me OF
that night when she tod Gle the story
of the two brothers. But this time no
storm disturbed the silence OF the
night. As soon as Janet was gone,
Margaret said
"Will you take the pillow from under
my head, Duncan, my dear?
| did so, and she lay in an almost
horizontal position. With the living
hand she lifted the powerlesS arm and
drew it across her chest, outside the
bedclothes. Then she laid the other
arm over it, and, looking up at me,
said:
kiss me, my BARN; I need strength
for what l am going to do for your
sake"
/ kissed her.
"There now!' she said, 81 am ready
Good bye. Whatever happens do not
speak to me; and let no one come near
me but yourself. 1t will be wearisome
for you, but it is for your sake, my
Duncan. And don't let the fire out.
Don't leave me-"
l sat thus for long time. had
again replenished the fire-that is all l
know about the lapse Of the time
when, suddenly, a kind of physical re-
pugnance and terror seized me, and l
sat upright in my chair, with every
fiber Of my flesh protesting against
some shall l call it presenee?-in the
neighborhood. But my real self re-
PEELED the invading cold, and took
courage for any contest that might be
at hand. Like Macbeth, | only inhab-
tied trembling; | did not tremble. | had
withdrawn my gaze from the fire and
fixed 1t upon the little window, about
two feet square, at which the dark
night looked in, Why, or when l had
done so knew not.
l saw two fiery eyes looking in at
the window, huge and wide apart.
Next, | saw the outline of q horses
head, in which the eyes were set; and
behind, the DINNER outline of mans
form seated on the horse. The sppari-
ton faded and reappeared, just as if it
rereated, and rode again up close to
the window. Curiously enough, | did
not even fancy that heard any sound.
lnstinctively / felt for my sword, but
there was no sword there. And what
would it have availed me. Probably
was more in need of a soothing
draught. But the moment l put my
hand to the imagined swOrd-hilt, a
dim figure swept between me and the
hOrSeman, on my side of the window
tall, stately female form. She stood
facing the window, in an attitude that
seemed to dare the further approach
Of foe. How long she remained thus,
or he confronted her, | have no idea
for when self-consciousness returned.
found myself still gazing at the win
dow from which both apparitiOnS had
vanished. Whether | had slept, or from
the relaxation of mental tension, had
only forgotten, l could not tell; but all
fear had vanished, and l proceeded at
once to make up the sunken fire.
Throughout the time l am certain
never heard the clanking shoe, for that
l should have remembered.
The rest of the night passed without
any disturbance; and when the first
:ays of the early morning came into
the room they awOke me from a COM
forting sleep in the arm chair. l rose
and approached the bed softly.
Margaret lay as still as death. But
having been accustomed to similar con.
ditiOns in my Alice, l believed saw
signs of returning animation, and with
drew to my seat. Nor was | mistaken;
for, In a few minutes more. she muir.
INJURED my name. | fastened to her.
"Call Janet" she said.
opened the door and called her. She
came in moment, looking at once
frightened and relieved.
''Get me some tea" said Margaret.
After she had drunk the tea, she
| looked at HE anu Salu.
go home, now. Duncan, and come
back about noon. Mind you 90 to bed.
She closed her eyes once more. ]
waited till I'saw her fast in an alto
gether different sleep from the for
mer, if sleep that could in any
sense be called.
As | walked home, before had gone
many hundred yards from the cottage
| suddenly came upon my old Con
stancy. He was limping about. pick
ing the best grass he could find amons
the roots of the heather and cranberry
bushes. He gave a start when | came
upon him, and then a jubilant neigh
But he could not be so glad as | was
When | had taken sufficient pains L
let him know this fact, walked on
and he followed me like a dog, witt
his head at my heels, but as he limpe.
much | turned to examine him, an(
found one cause Of his lameneSs to b,
that the loose shoe, which was a hint
one, was broken at the toe, and tina
onehalf, held only at the toe, haC
turned round and was sticking righ
out, striking his forefOot every tim,
he moved. l soon remedied this an(
he walked much better.
After removing the anxiety of m,
hostess and partaking of their High
land breakfast, | wandered to m,
ancient haunt on the hill. Thence
could look down on my old home
where it lay unchanged. though not on,
human form. which had made it HON,
to me moved about its precincts.
went no nearer. no more felt tina
that was home than one feels that tn
form in the coffin is the departed dead
| sat down in my old study chambe
among the rocks, and thought that /
could but find Alice, she would b
my home-of the past as well as of tn
future; for in her mind my necromar
tic words would recall the departed
and we should love them together.
Toward noon l was again at the col