Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-29

daughter anu asked who would look
after the child If he should die and
who would keep her from misery and
misfortune.
Hume loved his wife and child, and
these appeals brought the tears to his
eyes, but they did not break down bis
resolution, which he had grit about him
as armor. Nothing could move him
to become untrue to his king and coun-
try.
Finding that no entreaties could
move him, Margaret at last gave way
to anger and told him that his eager
desire to be thought the bravest man
of Selkirk would not supply the child
he was bound to work for with bite
of bread. She said even more than
this. Her tones grew higher. and one
word led to another. as you know It
will, until the couple parted in anger.
he to the field of battle and she to
remain at home.
Alexander had not gone far before
it flashed across the mind Of his wife
that perhaps she might never see him
alive again. Unable to control herself.
she flung the child into its crib and
rushed out of the house. She must
see her husband again and get from
him one parting glance or word OF
reconciliation. She hurried through
the town. she sought everywhere for
him, but be was nowhere to be seen.
He had gone off with his comrades.
The poor wife wept bitterly. Her
grief was deep.
Hume and his fellows were soon en-
gagged in battle. He displayed the
greatest bravery. Wherever he went
numbers of the enemy fell. In every
direction upon the field Of battle he
was seen. His companions kept we'll
up to him. and in particular one man
who had lately joined the party. This
man fought with a courage equal to
that of Hume himself. keeping contin.
ually beside him and defending him
in many perils. Once when an Eng
lishman from behind drew very near
to the Scot this soldier struck the COW
ardly fellow to the earth just as he
was inserting his spear between the
clasps Of Hume's armor. Hume called
to the brave fellow and demanded his
name. even in the midst Of the fight,
but the stranger said that that was no
matter.
This generous soldier wore leath-
or jacket and an iron helmet. In which
there was placed small white feath.
er. Wherever Hume fought on the
battlefield there might be seen beside
him the iron helmet and the white
feather.
At last the battle ended in defeat for
the Scotch. who scattered in all direc'
tons. Hume, who, with other sol.
diers. was obliged to lie concealed in
the forest for some time, took the first
opportunity of inquiring after his faith
full attendant. But all his inquiries
were without avail. He could not trace
him. Nothing could he learn Of him
but that he had disappeared when the
fight was over.
Alexander Hume hurried to his cot
tage. He was anxious to see again his
beloved wife and bestow upon her the
kiss Of reconciliation. When he reach
ed 1t he listened at the door, and his
heart beat fast He had kind words to
say to her from whom he had parted
in anger. and his deep wounds needed
dressing. he lifted the latch and walk
ed in. All was still. No wife came to
meet him; no child's cry met his ear.
On looking round the room he saw
seated in an armchair the knight who
had fought so bravely beside him in
the battle, wearing the same leather
jacket. iron helmet and white feather.
That person was Margaret Hume. She
was dead and clasped in her dead
arms the little child.