The Washington times., 1907-03-16
CHAPTER /.

COsmo Comyne Brawardine, esq,
commonly called in Scotland the
Baron Bradwardine because of his
possession of an ancient barony be
slowed on his ancestors by King
Duncan, was entertaining at his
feudal mansion Of TuIly-Neolan, in
Perthshire, Capt. Edward Waverley
the nephew and heir of his old
friend and fellow-Jacobite, Sir Ever
ard Waverley. of Waverley-Honour.
The baron dispensed the rude but
bountiful hospitality characters
tic of the landed gentleman of the
period, and had as his guests TO
meet the young captain at dinner his
two neighbors, the Laird of Balma-
whapple and the Laird of Killan-
cureit, rustic squires whose feats of
eating and drinking astonished the
more temperate Englishman.
When the barOn's daughter, a
motherless girl whose simple and
unaffected manners and delicate
beauty already had made a strong
impression on Waverley, had left
the dinner table the wine circled
freely, and, when it seemed to Wav-
erIey as if all hands had already
drunk as much as was possible, the
baron's chief treasure, an antique
drinking cup Of preposterous size,
in form like a bear and called The
Blessed Bear OF Bradwardine," given
10 the house of Bradwardine cen
turies ago. was brought forth, filed
and sent circling around the board.
Then the guests departed, walking
down the long avenue to the park
gates, the baron insisting upon es-
corting the two lairds as far as the
village tavern, where they had left
their horses, and where they would
have a stirrup cup.
The stirrup cup proved simply an ex-
cuse for prolongaton or the iestlEltles-
The stout old baron sang French hunt
ing songs, for his political principles
had made him for some time an exile
in France; interspersed his talk with
scraps Of Latin, for he had been edu-
Gated for the law, and told intermin-
able stories OF Field Marshal the Duke
OF Berwick, under which commander he
had made several campaigns In foreign
service, Balmawhapple roared out
Scottish ballads and talked of hunting.
and the Laird of KillanCureit disCOursed
OF agriculture.
Sometimes they sang or talked by
turns. and sometimes all together, but
in high good humCr, until BalmaW nap
r,1. hi
Insulting TO the reigning family and all
who served H.
WaVerlav was clear-headed enough.
for he had passed the cup as often as
he could do so undiscovered. 10 realize
that his uniform had been insulted, but
before he could resent the afirOnt the
baron had taken the quarrel upon MINI
self and his sword ClaShed against that
of the ill-bred laird. The laird was
young and stout but the baron was a
celebrated master of fence. and would.
no doubt, have soon ''pfnked' his ad-
VcrSary had not Waverley created dl-
version by rushing to interfere. and the
mistress Of the inn at the same time
appeared with a plaid which she threw
with the skill of experience over the
clashing swords. The servants rushed
in and the cOmbatdnts were separated
/ The two lalrds mounted their horses
and rode away, while Wuverley and the
baron walked back to the mansion
house. the sturdy host apologizing all
the way for the rudeness of Balma-
whapple
Unaccustomed 10 the use OF wine.
Waverley slept until late the next morn
ing. and awoke TO the unpleasant recol-
lection that it had become his duty 10
challenge the Laird OF BalmaWhapple.
and. perhaps, either Kill him or be killed
himself in the foolish quarrel What
was his surprise however. when upon
descending into the lower apartments
OF the house. he saw the baron and the
a In -
is, the baron had hold of one Of the
laird's arms while the other was done
up in 4 bandage and rested in G sling
They seemed to be on good terms. and
the laird made a complete. il somewhat [
surly apology 70 the Young man Cor
, his rudeneSs of the preceding evening
It was not until long afterward that
Waverley learned that before retiring
the baron had sent a challenge TO Bal
mawhapple and had met him at dav-
break in a glen. The aged baron. whose
head was as clear after n night of rev
elry as before one had not only run
his rapier through the sword arm Of the
strong young laird. but had forced him
/ at the point of his steel TO promise the
apology.
The picturesque old mansion. the feu-
dal state maintained by the baron. the
wild and romantic character Of the sur-
rounding country. and. last but not
least, the pleasure which he found in
the company Of Rose Bradwardine all
fitted in with Waverley's natural in
clinatiOn and disposition that il was
easy for the baron to induce him to pro-
/ long his stay at Tulley-Veolan
One morning. after Waverley had been
I for some time an inmate Of the house.
1 the establishment was thrown into agi-
/ tatiOn by the discovery that the baron s
1 cattle had been driven off in the night
: by a band Of caterans. or robbers who
/ had descended from the neighboring
/ highlands.