Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-12-11
A SCOTTISH LEGEND,
The Story Of the Knight With the
White Feather.
TWO COURAGEOUS WARRIORS,
Heroic Alexander Hume and His still
More Heroic Fellow Soldier and Pro-
tseter-Ths Sad Sequel to the Battle
That Was Lost.

tsetor-Ths Sad Sequel to the Battle
That Was Lost.
The heraldic arms OF the Scotch
Town of selkirk show woman seated
on a tomb. on which Is also placed the
Scottish dion. The legend told about
the arms is this King James ~. OF
Scotland. who was about 10 invade
England. needed recruits for his enter
prise. The town clerk Of Selkirk. VII
liam Brydone. tried his best to MD his
king by persuading his fellow country
mon 20 enlist IN the royal cause. So
earnest was he that be Is said To have
moved over hundred lusty Scots TO
join his standard. Among these was
one OF the name OF Alexander Hume.
This man was shoemaker Of the
town OF selklrk. lie was strong. stall
wart. bold aud an excellent workman.
Brydonc was very glad 10 welcome
him. as he rcckoned him quite the best
man Of the hundred. and his comrades.
who were also brave men and true.
checrcd him rs he appeared among
them. such confidence had they Ia his
wisdom. prudence. valor and strength.
Humes wife. Margaret. was a tnc
young woman aud very fond end proud
II her brave. strong husband. Now.
Margaret did not at all like this pro-
posed Invasion of England. She felt
that II would mean great trouble To the
Scotch I,eoplc. VINO would certainly be
vnnquished 10y their strong enemy. and
the thought came 10 her that her own
brave husband might perhaps lose his
life I'm the struggle. She therefore used
all her best efforts 20 keep him at
home. She pleaded In vain. Alexan-
der was firm. AZ last she held NJ TO
his face their little five-months-old
daughter and asked who would look
after the child II he should die and
who would keep her from misery aud
misfortune.
Hume losed his wife and child. and
these appeals brought the tears 10 his
eyes. but they did not break down his
resolution. which he had girt about him
ms armor. Nothing could move him
10 become untrue TO his King and coun-
try.
Finding that no entreaties could
move him. Margaret ut last gave way
TO anger and told him that his eager
desire 10 be thought the bravest man
OF selkirk would not supply the child
Inc was bound TO work for with a bite
of bread. She said even more than
this. Her tones grew higher. and one
word led TO another. as you know II
will. until the couple parted In anger.
he 10 the field of battle and she 20
remain at home.
Alexander had not gone far before
il flashed across the mind Of his wife
that perhaps she might never see hin
alive again. Unable TO control herself.
she dung 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.
lie had gone oif with his comrades.
The poor wife wept bitterly. Her
grief was deep.
Hume and his fellow were soon en-
gagged IN battle. lie displayed the
greatest bravery. Wherever h. Went
numbers of the enemy fell. In eyerv
direction upon the dcld OF battle he
was seen. His companions KEEP well
up TO him. aud ." particular one man
who bad lately joiued the party. ibis
man fought with courage equal 10
that Of Hume himself. keeping contin'
ually beside him aud defending him
In many pcris once when an Eng
llshman from hehlnd drew very near
| to The Scot this soldier struck the COW
ardly fellow To- the earth just rs he
was inserting his spear between the
clasps OF Humes arnlor. Hume called
To the brave fellow aud demanded his
name. even In the midst of the tight.
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 n small white fcath-
er. Wherever Hume fought ON the
battlefield there might be seen beside
him the iron helmet aud the white
feather.
AZ last the battle ended IN defeat for
the Scotch. who scattered In all direc-
lions. Hume. who. with other sol
diers. was Obliged 10 lie concealed In
the forest for some time. took the tirSi
opportunity OF inquiring after his faith
full attendant But all his inquiries
were without avail. lie could not truce
him. Nothing could he learn Of him
hut that he had disappeared when the
! fight was over.
Alexander Hume hurried TO his cot.
tage. lie was anxious TO see again his
beloved wife aud bcstow upon her the
kiss OF reconciliation. When he reach
cd II he listened nj the door. and his
heart beat fast lie had kind words "a
say TO her from whom he had parie'l
In anger. and his deep wounds needed
; dressing. He lifted the latch and walk
ed In All was still. No wife came C
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 30 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 10 her dead
arms the little child.