Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-08-09

DcOte OF naruen naQ TOO often
heard the three EIibank damsels
made the subject Of mirth among
the Young Lairds Of his acquaint-
ance to relish the thoughts Of mar
rying one Of them, and thereby sub
Jet himself to such ridicule as he
knew must attach TO him, and he
quietly rejected Sir Gidesn's pro-
sal, in as few words as possible.
The Laird Of Elibank was power
fnl IN his position Of fayorite 1T
court, the prisoner had his life at
bis option, and he obstinately re-
fused to profit by it. Soon a day
when all nature seemed to rejoice
in the glory OF its Creator, when
sky and sea and earth were all ar
rayed in beauty, and it seemed
happiness enough to exist--the
! young and handsome Laird was led
out to die. An ugly, creeping SEN
sation came over him, as he, in i'm
agination, felt the rope about his
neck, but he was brave, and had
that strong determination that ia
born OF obstinacY, and he kept on
bis way, With d Highlander, we'll
armed, keeping fast hold Of him,
on each side.
Young Harden had no such
thought. Just before they reached
the public square, where the hate
iul gibbett vas erected, the proces-
sion had to pass the Castle Of Eli
bank, as Sir Gideon loved TO desig-
nate TIE old hall in which his an.
eestors had lived two centuries ago.
II had tower and a parapet, il is
true, aud the knight loved to keep
horde Of fetaihers, but HE man
sion hardly attained to the dignity
Of castellated grandeur, and iss gem
ersl designation was simply hi.
bank Hall. Past Ehbank Hall,
therefore, the dismal troop wendell
ils slow march, The prisoner il
voluntarily cast his eyes upward,
when close upon il. aud IA mo-
mont the tide Of feeling in bic whole
being rushed lifeward.
At a Sindow Of Elibank Hall, in
the upper portion Of the house, sat
a lady whose repeated applications
Of her handkerchief to her eyes be-
trayed that she was weeping, She
seemed to hayo gone up thither to
escape observation, the lower win.
dows and balconies OF the house be-
ing crowded with people assembled
to sec the winsome Laird OF Hard.
en- dragged to execution. Far above
these thronging witnesses, the pris-
ouer's eye wac raised, aud his
! glance took in a form and face that,
but for single fault, would have
been considered perfect. Gentle.
ness and goodness sat enthroned in
the face, aud the throat, neck, and
shoulders were such as sculptor
might delight in copying. Only
the mouth was too wide, but tho
lips we're full, rich, aud rose-red,
aud the mouth was redeemed from
ugliness by the beautiful expression
OF mute sorrow that fingered around
| it.
! At such a moment, this express
ion OF sympathy was more and dear
er to him who was about to lay
down his life than the most perfect
beauty that the world ever saw. a
moment more, and their eyes met.
AS IL entirely abandoned to her
feelings, the lady at the window
suddenly rose, leaned from the mar
row sill, and stretched out her
arms as il entreating him to come
back to life and to her. Impelled
by a sentiment unknown before,
the prisoner threw up his white,
emaciated hands toward her, as il
answering her signal.
Before the procession had half
gone by, Margaret Murray was in
her fathers library, whittier Ne had
gone alone to remain alone until
the bad scene should be over. Al
ready he would have given worlds
to hold him back to life. To weigh
this young mans existence-his
bright, free, glad life--against that
OF a few sheep He felt that he
was guilty Of murder, and when
moor Meg came in with streaming