People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-02-14
CHAPTER II.
MY OLD NURSES STORY.

NAA-AA 4 A@AN IL
Ny OLD NURSES STORY.
| was now almost 10. | had COM
pleted the usual curriculum of study
at one of the Scotch universities and
possessed } q fair knowledge of math-
ematcS and physics, and what l con-
,ilcled rather more than a good fOun-
datiOn for classical and metaphysical
requirement, | resolved TO apply for
the first suitable situation that offered.
But was spared the trouble. A GER
tain Lord Hilton, an English noble
man, residing in one Of the midland
counties, having heard that one of my
fathers sons was DESTROYS of such Il
situation, wrote to him, Offering me the
post Of tutor TO his two boys, of the
ages Of ten and twelve He had been
partly educated at 4 Scotch university:
and this, it may be- had prejudiced
him in favor OF Il Scotch tutor; while
an ancient alliance Of the families by
marriage was supposed by my nurse
to be the reason of his offering me the
situation. Of this connection, how
ever, my father said nothing to me,
and it went for nothing in my antici-
patiOnS. l was to receive q hundred
pounds a year, and to hold in the
family the position of a gentleman,
which might mean anything or moth
ing, according to the disposition of the
heads of the family. Preparations for
my departure were Immediately COM
menced.
| set out one evening for the cottage
of my old nurse, to bid her goodbye
for many months, probably years. l
was to leave the next day for Edin-
bCrgn, on ~ way t. London, whence
l had to repair by coach to my new
abOde-almOSt to me like the land be-
yOnd the grave, so little did l know
about it, and so wide was the Separa-
ton between 1t and my home.
Il am come to bid you goodbye,
Margaret, and to hear the story which
you promised to tell me before | left
home; l go tomorrow"
'DO you 90 so soon, my darling?
Well, it will be an awful night to tell
it in; but as l promised, l suppose
must"
Eyes, indeed. you must l replied.
"HOw old the story is, do not know,
1t has come down through many gen
erations. My grandmother told it to
me as l tell it to you; and her mother
and my mother sat beside. never in
terrupting, but nOdding their heads at
every turn. Almost it ought to begin
like the fairy tales, Once upon a
time it took place so long ago; but it
is too dreadful and too true to tell like
fairy tale. There We're two brothers
sons of the chief of our clan, but as
different in appearance and DISPOSE
ton as two men could be. The elder
was fair-haired and strong. much
given to hunting and fishing; fighting.
too. upon occasion, | dare say, when
they made fOray upon the Saxon. TO
get back a nlOuthful of their own.
But he was gentleneSs itself to every
one about him, and the very soul of
was very dark in complexion, and tall
and slender compared to his brother.
He was very fond of bOOk-learning.
honor in all his dealings. The younger
which, they say, was an uncommon
taste in those times. He did not care
for any sports or bodily exercises but
one: and that, too, was unusual in
these parts. 1t was Craftsmanship. He
was a fierce rider, and as much ut
home in the saddle as in his study
chair. You may think that, so long
ago, there was not much fit room for
riding hereabOuts; but fit. or not fit.
he rode. From his reading and riding.
the neighbors looked dOubtfully upon
him, aud whisper d at Ut the black
art he usually beStrO''e a great, DOW
rrful back horse, without a white hair
on him, and people said it was either
the devil himself, or demon-horse
from the devils own stud. What ia
vored this notion was, that, in or out
of the stable, the brute would let no
other than his master 60 near him.
Indeed, no one would venture, after
he had killed two men, and grievously
MANNED the third, tearing him with his
teeth and hOofs like wild beast. But
to his master he was Obedient as a
hound, and would even remble in his
presence sometimes.
'The youths temper coTesponded to
his habits. He was both gloomy and
passionate. Prone to anger, he had
never been known to forgive. De-
barred from anything on which he had
set his heart he would have gone mad
with rage. His soul was like the night
around US now. dark, and sultry. and
silent, but lighted up by the red levin
Of wrath, and torn by the bellowings
of thunder passion. He must have his
will; hell might have his soul. Imagine
then, the rage and malice in his heart
when he suddenly became aware that
an orphan girl, distantly related to
them, who had lived with them for
nearly two years. and whom he had
loved for almost that period, was loved
by his elder brother, and loved him in
return. He flung his right hand above
his head, swore a terrible oath. that
if he might not, his brother should not,
rushed out of the house, and galloped
of among the hills.
THE orphan was a beautiful girl
tall, pale, and slender. with plentiful