The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-28

OEAFIEh IA 6IhANAME WILD
LIGHT IT WAS.
20. Mary, darling! o. ma chreel ma
ehree! Is It true they have murdered poor
Allan O'Dell"
Flora McAlister. in an agony Of grief.
had come rushing into the darksome lit
tie, highland post office, where her friend,
the shop-keeper's daughter, sat knitting
besides the rough deal counter.
In from the bright sunshine Of that
sweet summers day. sunshine that glad
dened everything, that glittered on the
wee round leaves of the silver-droOpng
beech trees, that sparkled on every wave
let of wide Loeb CORN, and cast a dreamy
glamour over the lofty mountain peaks
that stood like sentinels over the glen.
Flora was wringing her hands in bitter
anguish. Her bonnie yellow hair fioated
unheeded over her shapely shoulders. ana
there was a little more of her dress open
in front, than, at another time she would
have considered consistent with the dig
nifty and modesty of a Highland maiden.
This. however but showed a skin that
rivaled the silk in its softness, the ala
baster in its purity Of white.
Mary dropped the stocking she had been
knitting-her eyelashes were believed with
tears. She came round the counter, and
Flora few into her arms, and sobbed like
grief-stricken child.
20, Flora, dear; is ii yourself that has
come? Ay, Flora, It's over true. It's
over true. He was shot on the top o. KEEL
pies Cliff. The pistol was found near him.
OH its over. over true. But dinna weep
sac sair, and dinna tremble sac"
Il Gamma help it, Mary. Tell me, tell me
more"
IT'S no right of me to tell you. Flora.
But, oh, dear heart the tussle they had
on the cliff-top must have been a terrible
one. The ground a roo was tramplea
and bloody. o, Floie, the very heather
wept blood. His life's blood. But the ago
MES O. death must haze gi'en him strength
for Allan had fought the villain to the
vera cliff edge, and hurled him over and
doom, doom, doom the murderer fell to the
black deep waters of the loch. Then
poor Allan, he had laid him down TO deer
For time there was nothing heard in
the humble Smelling except Flora's Bit
ter sobbing.
They were not sisters, those two girls,
but they loved each other none the less
on that account Perhaps-though a will
ing one-Mary was not an accomplished
comforter, for every word she said SEEM
ed only to add to Flora's grief.
Yes, Floie, and l thought of you, dear
lassie, when / heard o. Allan's awful
end. For weel l ken he ave had a tender
look, and a smile for you; and dearly,
] know, you loved him"
20, dinna speak me thus, ma chree; dear
Allan, he never knew loved him So"
'Harkl Listen!' cried Mary
Flora McAlister lifted her sorrowfui
face for a moment from her friends Shout
der and held her breath.
Adown the glen, borne along on the
light summer air, came the sound OF
voices raised in song. A strange, wild
1ilt 1t was, rising at one moment into a
loud and trembling wall of anguish, and
next dying in fnournful cadence away.
It was the Highland Coronach-the la
ment for the dead
TheNsad Tilt ceased ere long, but hardly
had the last echoes been heard faint and
FAR among the rocks, that frowned over
the loch beyond, before Mary's quick ear
caught another sound, that was still more
sad to listen to-the strains OF the bag
pipes coming nearer and nearer to the
low-thatched Smelling that Mary called
her home-but so plaintive, so touching
Youth of the darling heart, bright be thy
door,
AS the bodings that light up thy bold
spirit now;
gloom,
And the breath of the gray wrath hath
passed Ger his brow"
Both girls stood as still as If rooted tc
the spot but clinging to each other II
an agony of terror and expectation.
Nearer and nearer came the bearers Of
a sad burden. Louder and louder rises
the wall of the bagpipes.
The people of the glen had hurredlN
broken branches from the birch and The
pine tree, and formed thereof litter. or
this young Allan was tenderly laid. nj,
head--which fell back when they lifted
him ike that of dead bird-supportet
on pillow of soft green heather, hi.
plaid covering all.
one glance at the litter, borne shoulder
high by four sturdy Highlanders, one
look at the shape beneath the tartar
plaid, and Flora tainted dead away.
Mary, called her mother, and between
them they bore the poor girl into a bacl
room and placed her gently on the bed
She seemed to recover her senses pres
entity. flush stole over her cheeks. anC
Tor Just moment her blue eyes opened
wide. Then she appeared to sleep.
But in less than twenty minutes tim,
Flora was @once more awake, ave, am
very wide awake this time. She ros
slowly from the bed, and stood on tn,
noor. She gazed bewilderedly around he
ior few seconds, then, gathering he
little shawl around her shoulders. mad,
straight for the door.
U Flora, ma chree, where tor"