Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-01-28
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-
teetor-The Sad Sequel to the Battle
That Was Lost.

teetor-The Sad Sequel to the Battle
That Was Lost.
The heraldlc arms Of the Scotch
, Town OF Selkirk show a woman seated
IN tomb, Oh which Is also placed the
Scottish lion. The legend told about
The arms Is this: King James Nv. Of
| Scotland, who was about to invade
England. needed recruits for his enter
Prise. The town clerk of Selkirk, VIII
liam Brydone. tried his best TO aid bis
king by persuading his fellow country
men TO enlist In the royal cause. So
earnest WIS he that he is said to have
moved over q hundred lusty Scots to
join his standard. Among these was
one of tue name of Alexander Hume.
This man was shoemaker of the
town of Selkirk. He was strong, stall
wart. bold and an excellent workman.
Brydone was very glad to welcome
him, as he reckoned him quite the best
man OF the hundred, and his comrades,
who were also brave men and true.
cheered him as he appeared among
them. such confidence had they in his
wisdom, prudence. valor and strength.
wiz. 61iSA. was ~ utl6
young woman and very fond and proud
Of her brave. strong husband. Now.
Margaret did not at all like this pro-
posed invasion of England. She felt
that 1t would mean great trouble to the
Scotch people. who would certainly be
vanquished by their strong enemy, and
the thought came TO her that her own
braVs husband might perhaps lose his
life In the struggle. She therefore used
all her best efforts to keep him at
home. She pleaded In vain. Alexan-
der was firm. At last she held up to
his face their-little 6ve-months-old
daughter and 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 girt 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 1t
will, until the couple parted In anger,
he to the field Of battle and she 10
remain at home.
Alexander had not gone far before
1t 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 he was nowhere to be seen.
he had gone OF 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 seep- His companions kept well
up to him. and In particular one man
who had lately Joined the party. This
man fought with courage equal to
that OF Hume himself. keeping contip-
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 be
was inserting his spear between the
clasps OF Hume's armor. Hume called
to the brave fellow and dema nded his
name, even In the midst OF the fight.
but the stranger said that that was no
matter.
This generous soldier wore a leath-
er jacket and an iron helmet, In which
tnere 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. |
lions. 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
ful 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 10
meet him; no child's cry met his eur.
On looking round the room he saw
seated In an armchair the knight who
mad fought SO bravely beside him in
the battle. wearing the same leather
jacket, iron helmet and white feather.
Fhat person was Margaret Hume. She
vas dead and clasped In her dead
arms the little child.
1
Broke the Combination.
The father OF Judge w. 81. Wad.
hams had q chicken COOP and n dog