Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-10-19

they seemed fairly to swell out
with pride. Each wore a sword, and
by a movement of his haunch, thrust
clear the hilt of it, so that it might be
| drawn.
''Mr. Stewart. I am thinking says
Robin.
..Troth, Mr. Macgrogor, it's not a
name TO be ashamed of, answered Alan.
Il did not know We were in my coun-
try, SIR says Robin.
1T sticks in my mind that | am in the
country Of my friends the Maclarens,
says Alan.
That's 2 kittle point" returned the
other There may be two words to say
to that But / think l will have heard
that you are man of your sword!
Unless We were born deaf. Mr.. Mac
gregor We will have heard a good deal
more than that" says Alan. Il am not
the only man that can draw steel IN
Appin; and when my kinsman and cap
tain, Ardshiel, had a talk with gen
tleman of your name, not SO many years
back, [ could never hear that the Mac
gregor had the best of it.
''Do you mean my father, sir!' says
Robin.
'.Well. | wculdnae wonder" said Alan.
'"The gentleman | have in my mind had
the i'll taste to clap Campbell to ms
name"
my father was an old man." returned
Robin The match was unequal. You
and me would make better pair sir.
II was thinking that" said Alan.
l was half out of bed, and Duncan had
been hanging at the elbow of these fighting
cocks. ready to intervene upon the least
OCCASION But when that word was ut
tered, it was a case of nov or never; and
Duncan. with something Of white face
to be sure, thrust himself between.
Gentlemen" said he, Il have been
thinking of very different matter, what
effer. Here are my pipes, and here are
you two gentlemen who are bath ac-
claimed pipers. It's an auld dispute
which one of yes the best Here will be
Draw chance to settle it"
''Why, sir,'' said Alan, still addressing
Robin, from whom indeed he had not so
from him, ''why, SIR says Alan. Il
think l will have heard some sough OF
the sort Have We music, as folk say:
Are We a bit of piperT'
II can pipe like Macrimmon. cries
Robin.
''And that is very bold word" quoth
Alan.
II have made holder words good before
now" returned Robin, "and that against
better adversaries.
st is easy to try that says Alan.
Duncan Dhu made haste to bring out
the pair of pipes that was his principal
possession, and to set before his guests
d muttonham and bottle of that drink
which they call Athole brOse, and which
is made Of old whisky, strained honey
and sweet cream, slowly beaten together
in the right order and proportion. The
two enemies were still on the very breach
of a quarrel: but down they sat. one
upon each side of the peat fire. with q
mighty show of politeness. Macaren
10 foe &c ton .,tf
and 1.-THE wife's brose," reminding them
the wife was out of Athole and had a
name far and wide for her skill in that
confection But Robin put aside these
Inequalities as bad for the breath.
Il would have We to remark, sir said
Alan, shat | havenae broken bread for
near upon ten hours, which will be worse
for the breath than any brose in Scot
land"
Il will take no advantages, Mr. Stew
art" replied Robin. "Eat and drink; I'll
follow YOU
Each ate small portion of the ham
and drank a glass of the brose to Mrs.
Der of ciyilities, Robin took the pipes
and played a little spring in a very rant
ing manner.
GAY. We can blow" said Alan: and
taking the instrument from his rival, he
first played the same spring in a manner
identical with Robin's; and then wan
dered into variations. which, as he went
on, he decorated with a perfect flight of
grace notes, such as pipers love, and call
| the ''warblers."
! / had been pleased with Robins play
inc. Alan's ravished me.
That's no very bad, Mr.. Stewart, "
| said the rival. s'but We show a poor de-
| vice in your warbler"
"AIer'' cried Alan, the blood starting to
his face 81 give We the lie."
! NDo We own yourself beaten at the
pipes, them said Robin, "that We seek
to change them for the sword p
s'And that's very well said. Mr.. Mae
meantime" Qaying strong accent on the
world Il take back the lie. | appeal to
Duncan"
Indeed. ye need appeal to naebody.' .
said Robin. ''Ye're a far better judge
than any Maclaren in Balwhidder; for
it's a Gods truth that you're a very
creditable piper for a Stewart Hand me
the pipes
Alan did as he asked: and Robin pro-
ceeded to initiate and correct some parts
of Alans variations. which it seemed
that he remembered perfectly.
cay, we have music" said Alan, gloom
lily.
'And now be the Judge yourself. Mr..
Stewart" said Robin: and taking up the
variations from the beginning, he worked
them throughout to so new purpose.
with such ingenuity and sentiment, and
with so odd a fancy and so quick a
knaclz in the grace-notes, that [ was
amazed to hear him.
AS for Alan. his face grew dark and
hot, and he sat and gnawed his fingers
like 4 man under some deep affront.
Enough he cried. eye can blow the
pipes-make the most of that And he
made as if to rise.
But Robin only held out his hand as
if to ask for silence. and struck into the
slow music of a pibroch. 1t was a fine
piece of music in itself. and nobly played;
but it seems besides it was piece
peculiar to the Appin Stewards and a
chief favorite with Alan. The first notes
were scarce out before there came a
change in his face; when the time quick
cned, he seemed to grow restless in his
seat; and long before that piece was at
an end. the last signs of his anger died
from him, and he had no thought but
for the music.
robin Dig" he said. when it was
done, eye are a great piper. I am not
fit to blow in the Same EinodOm with vn