The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-06

morning light lay the ruins of what had
once been HIS prosperous heritage, with
the black smoke still rising from the
embers of house and barn. Fast down
the hill he ran to learn the worst, and
the worst was bad enough. All his
buildings burned, all his stock driven off
and Grace Armstrong abducted by the
maraudersl
The rest of the family were safe, but
sorrowful, in Annaples cottage. Heavy
was the blow which had, in single night.
swept away all Hobbies possessions and
changed his wealth into poverty. but all
his other afflictlons were swallowed up in
the loss of Grace Armstrong. He learned
that Earnscliff, with some gentlemen
whom the young laird had summoned, had
two hours before taken the road to Cum
berland, in which direction 1t was reported
the plunderers had gone.
Hobbies kin OF the Elliots had begun
to, assemble armed and ready to avenge
the wrongs of their cousin, and these he
babe ride after Earnscliff and, successful
or not to meet him at the Trysting Pool,
well known spot. He himself rode swift
to Mucklestane Moor. He remembered
Elshies prophecy of evil and thought
within himself that the man who knew of
the impending disaster would know some
thing also of those who caused it. I'll
speak him fair" said Hobbie, "but he
shall tell me what he knows of this
nights job or l shall right well know the.
reason why"
Arriving at Elshie's hut he found the
hermit shut up within and 1t was not un-
til after repeated halls that the voice of
the recluse replied TO him and Hobbie told
the story of his troubles. The recuse at
last reached an arm out of the window
and threw bag of gold at Hobbies
feet There" said Elshender, there lies
a salve for every human ill-at least
so every human wretch thinks Begone.
return twice as wealthy as thou vert be-
fore yesterday and torment me no more"
"Ah, Elshie, it is not the gear not the
bonny farmstead / am consulting you
about it's Grace Armstrong; Seek her
in the west" replied the recluse and shut
the window "The westr' repeated Hob
breaking in upon him he exclaimed, by
heaven, it is Westburnfiat.' Off spnrred
Hobbje to the Trysting Pool and found
there gathered his friends and kinsmen
The party under Earnscliff had tracked
the stolen cattle as far as the border, but
the young laird hesitated to cross into
England without legal warrant on an ex-
petition of force and had drawn back
his men to join the Elliots.
| When Hobbie announced his conviction
that it was the Red Reiver who had
wrought him such scath and scorn, the
whole party galloped away to the lonely
tower in the morass where William
Graeme had his stronghold. AS they rode
up to the tower they caught sight for a
moment of a slender female arm waving
a handkerchief to them from one of the
small Sits of windows which admitted
scanty light into the interior of the an
cient fortalce. Earnscliff summoned the
tower in due form, demanding that the
Reiver surrender with his prisoner, who
no one doubted was Grace Armstrong.
Hobbie, indeed, declared that he would
| know that arm IL seen at a distance of
miles. After some parley the Reiver
agreed to give up his prisoner If the be-
siegers would depart, and, as for his
quarrel with Hobbie, he would meet him
at an appointed place and fight 1t out
man to man. Hobbe joyfully agreed to
this, the ironbound door was opened and
thrust through 1t to liberty came-not
Grace Armstrong but Isabel We're. "Ye
who by force take this lady from my
protection shall answer to those who
placed her Under it!'' cried the Reiver
from the security of his tower.
Rage and despair filed the heart of
Hobbie Elliot but to his demands and
entreates that the Reiver tell him what
| had become of GRACE, Willie OF West
burnfat turned deaf ear and cut snort
the colloouy by CLOSING the shutter OF