New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1899-01-25

<,Ikine among themselves of thinge by
gone, and the yonn 81 people sEere play
ing at the Hal1oW Eve cantrlps and
games. but Helen Cameron sat by her
self, straining her ear for the step OF the
man she loved and watching for his
I hand upon the latch.
Long enough she waited, with the
sound Of the talking and laughing and
singing seeming afa1 of and meaning
less noise, for her heart was with Dou
gal ont on the moors on that night
when she knew that evil things have
power. The fear that was upon her was
as keen az pain, SO that when she heard
his foot drawing nigh to the door and
knew he was come at last she almost
swooned away with joy.
But at thu sight of his face when he
came in she caught her hand to her
heart with terror, for he was walking
like a man asleep, and the eyes Of him
seemed to be looking through every
thing into some place far away-into
Tir-nan-Og perhaps. A dead silence fell
upon all that were in the place as he
walked slowly INTO the middlesm the
barn. He was carrying set of pipes
that no one there had ever seen the like
of They would have served the piper OF
the prince his own self. God bless himi
He put the chanter to his lips and
began to play the most wonderful and
terrible piece of music that ever has
been heard in Scotland, or perhaps in
the whole earth besides. Ali the time
he was playing those who were listen
ing could see what the music was tell
ing about, and that was great clan
battle that must have happened hum
dreds of years ago-in Fionn MacCum-
halls time-up there on top Of Ben
Mhor.
First it was just the moor, lying
| very hot in the sum- with the bees hum
ming along the heath bells, and sthe
| young things Of the moor fowl talking
to themselves among the heather stalks.
Very sleepy and quiet it was, and the
moor was making the little noises it
does make on the very hot days, and
yet east wind was creeping over the
heath from the sea, very gentle and
| lonely and tired, making white shin
ing all over the moor, with gray blue
clear sky above.
Then, from very far off down the
/ wind there came the notes Of clan
march. 1t came nearer and nearer. It
was an old, old march, forgotten, along
with the clan that had owned it, for
generations past. and the clan came
marching over the brow and took the
battle order upon the moor, and stood
waiting, while from the opposite side
another clan came up and took the bat
/ tie array over against them. The duinhe-
wassel and the men were waiting for
the word of onset, stamping ID the
heather and snuffng the wind with the
battle madness coming upon them
"Then there came dead pauss s0f
4 one long moment, while the hearts OF
all stood still It is at a time like that,
you will have been observing, that very
email things seem as great as the whole
| world, and man will be watching
bee upon flower, or perhaps counting
/ the squares of his breacan, while his
soul is gathering herself together for the
call that is coming upon her even then
and instantly.
Then there was one awesotne scream
from the pipes, the yell Of the fighting
Tmen cleft the clouds, and with the rush
OF driven stays the two lines swung to
gether. Their meeting was the meeting
OF wind Maddenede tide and flooded
river The targets reared together The
short, sharp shrieks Of combat went up
amid the deadly crashing Of the clay.
mores and axes upon the helmets and
shields The heavy, dull groans Of death
were heard, and the thick, dark blood
ran into the black, hot ground among
the stalks of the heather, and over the
heads Of the fighters the wild people OF
/ the glen were shrieking in a black cloud,
their red eyes glared from among its
blackness, and the pipes were scream.
4 ing like eagles down storm wind,
changing and ringing. crying and call
ing.
And then the pibroch suddenly oeas-
ed-just ceased and no more, leaving
the world seeming strange without it.
! For moment there was dead 81
fence in the barn Then BARN burst
ont crying in terror, and the spell was
broken All made the holy sign upon
them. and the women draw together in
fear, while the men were providing
round Dougal. questioning him. To
small purpose was their questioning, for
there he stood answering nothing, with
the strange look still in his eyes. like
man bewitched
But Helen Cameron rose nm very
white and came to him and took the
Daoine SHE pipes from his shoulder.
and, crossing the room, flung them into
the great fire It Twas q dead. still night
as have said. Yet, as she did SO, a
great blast Of wind came that shook the
stone walls of the house. The fire fash
ed high. blazing>and roaring for an in
slant Then it died down. and the pipes
OF magic were gone The blast passed
on over the. moor, full Of shrieks and
laughter. and Dougal came back to him