Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-02-26
HIS SHAD0WER.
Rx SARAH j. ATWATER.

the rear OF MS SnOp came ChlIu
cry. The man paused in his work and
listened. The child was hushcd by its
mother, and the shoemaker went on
with his work. Presently a woman
entered the shop She was young and
handsome.
II pray you, Alec" she said, give
up this mad freak. We are not strong
enough to successfully invade Eng
land Let the king lead an army over
the border If he likes and take the
consequences which will be sure de-
feat. But do you stay at home If you
go you may lose your life; II you re-
turn our people will reyile you for
bringing mieortune upon them"
II think you are wrong, Margaret,
replied her husband. Our people are
turning out In great force. l alone
am to bring hundred men to the
army Of invasion"
And wreck hundred families.
Scotland will be the gamer"
Scotland will be the sufferer l be
seech you desist."
Il have gone too far to retreat, Mar
gareC. NOulu Dt upblhiueu Ava
turncoat"
Margaret Hume returned to the
dwelling portion Of the cottage, but In
moment returned with their baby
girl, five months old. Holding the child
up to It's father she said:
"If you are killed, Alec, in this
war who will keep me and your child
from misery"
The appeal brought tears to the
mans eyes. Gladly would he nave
abandoned his intention. but pride held
him from doing so. He would not
desert his king and his country in their
hour OF need.
Your desire to be thought brave.
Alec" cried his wife, made desperate
BY his trmness, will not supply the
child whom you are bound to support
with bread or clothing. Honor. for
sooth. Here Is where honor lies for
you-dishonor In deserving your wife
and baby"
The couple parted in anger, Hume to
Join the force marching to battle.
In the fight that ensued Alexander
Hume was in the thick OF the battle
performing prodigies of valor. The
men he had induced to join in the EN-
terprise and whom he commanded, in
cited by his example, stood by nm
nobly. One man in leathern doublet
and with a small white feather in MS
helmet, who had come on to the field
Just as the battle began. took position
beside him and fought with equal cour-
age as himself. An English soldier
succeeded in getting very close to
Hume and was about to plunge his
spear between the clasps of his armor
when the man with the white feather
struck down the enemy.
Your name?" cried Hume.
Never mind my name" replied the
man who had saved his life.
Wherever Hume went that day the
man with the white feather went, pro-
tecting him from the many perils that
beset him and on many an occasion
forestalling an enemy who was about
10 crush him. At last the scattered
army gave way and fled in every di-
rection before the victorious English
men. Hume, with the others, escaped
from the field and for time lay con-
cealed to avoid capture. His first
thought after emerging from his hid
ing place was the soldier who had
lowered near him. OF every one he
met he inquired if he knew of the
fate of the man with the white feather.
Had he escaped or was his dead body
lying on the field of battle? All he
could learn was that the shadOwer had
disappeared.
Hume's next thought was for his
wife and child. lie hurried toward his
cottage his mind filed with her proph-
eCies as to the misfortunes the invad-
ers would bring upon Scotland by their
rash course and her pcadings for him
to take no part in it, reserving his life
for her and their child. He would ac-
knowledge her superior judgment, and
he would ask her forgiveness. He
longed to fold her and their child In a
single embrace.
He hoped as he approached his cot
tage to find her looking for him. She
would be at the door or he would find
her on the street, coming to meet him.
He did not meet her, and she was not
at the door of the cottage when he ar
rived. There was an ominous silence.
With a dread he could not account for
he lifted the latch and walked in.
There was no one in his work room.
and no sound came from the rear. En-
tering there he looked about him.
There was little light and he could dis
tinguish no one in the room.
Presently his eyes became used to
the darkness, and he distinguished
man sitting in chair. Going to him,
he saw on his head an iron helmet and
in the helmet white feather. Re
moving the helmet, he recognized the
pale face Of his wife Their child was
clasped tightly In her arms. She was
dead.
The coat OF arms OF the town Of
Selkirk show 4 woman seated on a
tomb on which is placed the Scottish
lion. The legend about this heraldlc
device Is the story of Alexander and
his wife Margaret Hume. 1t is his
tOrically true that when King James
was about to invade England the town
clerk of Selkirk, William Brydone,
tried his best to aid his sovereign by
persuading the Scots to enlist in the
royal cause. Among those was a
strong, brave young man, a shOemak-
er, named Alexander Hume OF SPikirk,
who brought hundred men TO the
royal standard. The rest may lie leg,
hut Nv hn I,, thn