The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-01

I of the court. that l may be permitted
free access to my brother during these
| his last hours? For there is much to
arrange between him and andre Glib
! son, my late fathers lawyer"
God wot, yes-an' it liketh you-so
in and bide with him till he gets the
garments for his martyrdom." said
Douglas. Il had not known you We're
so fond of your kith and kim"
| So he wrote me pass. For the pris-
on was held by a guard of the foot from
Tarhats country, ignorant landward-
men from the north, who had no knowl-
edge Of use of the dragons, and. in
deed, no good will to our colors.
So ! went away and groomed my
| horse, but had no stomach for supper.
Then l walked awhile on the banks of
the river on the Galloway side of the
| bridge. And as | walked | tried to
pray, but the words would not come. 7
| thought of Isobel Weir and her curse
| of me. So an hour ago ] came away
hither to my quarters and am now set
down to add few words to this story
| of my worthless and wasted life. God
! knows there is nothing l can say Or do
to obtain forgiveness, for lsobers curse
| lies justly upon me. My father and her
lover will both b. cold corpses in the
morning.
l know there is the way of the Scrip
ture-the preachers way. And as sit
and think the old words come back
repentance--forgive "Come
unto me. all We that labor''-how run
the words? But all these matter little to
me now. They were not meant for a
traitor and parricide. Besides, what
are words out of a book? I would give
something to cover my fathers face
from my sight.
Yet there is a text something about
shedding of blood-if only I could re-
! member it, I heard minister once
preach upon it. and thought him weari-
some. Would that / could remember it
now.
| / have it. Quite suddenly it has
leaped clear to my mind, shining in let
ters of fire like that writing on the
wall at the kings feast in the book Of
| Daniel.
without shedding of blood there is
no remission of SIM" Surely it runs
something like that.
|
| 1t has come to me. I see a possible
chance. ! will at least go and speak
with my brother. l have the colonel's
pass in my pocket.
|
IT is all done now save one thing. and
| / may add word or two to my paper
ere the sun rise and they come knock
ing at my door. I passed the guard
with my mandate. They were drinking
and carousing-the jailer with them.
My brother received me with cursings
| and hateful words-as, indeed, was his
right. But I told him the thing that l
had come to do. / bade him put on my
clothes and uniform and give me his
clothing in exchange. He could then
pass freely with the order which was
in my hand, for none would be at the
shooting that knew me-for our dra-
goons of Douglas regiment were to
march at midnight for Galloway.
But mark" said, this is not for
your own sake, Robert Vernon, nor yet
because you are my brother. 1t is for
the sake of the lass that put her arm
about your neck--even for the sake of
lsobel Weir. | pray you tell her this -
| 1T shall be DONE" said he, in the
cmooth way which I have ever hated
| ana hate now. for his tone changed
whenever he knew that there was a
chance of safety.
And you," he said, "what will you
do?"
II will abide the morning-and the
opening of the DOORS" said /, as lightly
as l could.
And they will find you in preachers
clothes." he said. "Ah, well, | sup
pose they have found you too good a
tool to punish you very severely for
helping a poor field preacher and your
own brother to escape"
Likely enough" said I, shortly.
And when he stood up in the regi-
mental dress. and when had done the
sword and the spurs upon him and put
the cloak about him. he looked none SO
i'll soldier. though not well set up
about the shoulders.
| pushed him through the door and
heard him tramp into the outer hall
where the Northern men sat singing
and carousing with the jailer.
Never mind your id pass-we've
seen it before. ODen the door. Jock"
cried the jailer, never looking up from
the dice, and, as l well understood
with his greed eyes fixed on the stake
Then l heard my brothers step die
down the street towards the bridge
end and liberty.
So here l sit. Will they pardon me
for this? For the sake of four years OF
service will John Graham overlook this
cOnnivance at rebellion? But what
matter, after all-Isobel Weir's curse
is on me. She would not take it off
even if lived to be hundred, and re-
leased to her a score of lovers.
But there Is the text. There may be
something in that. without sheddins
of blood there is no remission" There
fore in the shedding of blood there is
remission-that seems clear God heir
me! l think I can do no better. The
east is Frightening. They will be com.