The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-06
G@FWR6d1s l@l9SY JVTS FQllEEe ALL REd56Y REsERVTE

cliffes remarks upon the account which
We're gave him of the carrying away of
Isabel were such as to cause We're to red
den and bite his lips. for they plainly
intimated that the father had at least
been a party to the daughters abduction.
| 1t was Radcliffe who, when explorations
had been made in every direction, urged
in terms not to be disregarded that the
! company should look in the direction of
the Red Reiver's tower.
With evident reluctance We're led his
friends in that direction and met. as we
have seen, his daughter returning to
Ellieslaw under the escort of Earnscliff
At the sight of Earnscliff and Isabel rid
along together We're burst out into a
furious passion and called out, There is
the vile abductor-I told you so. my
friends. Let us ride the villain down-no
quarter But young Mareschal and some
of the more temperate among the COM
pany, declared that they would not at
tack, without first demanding an explana-
ton, a gentleman who was approaching
them in apparent good faith, nor would
they permit violence by We're until
parley had shown upon what grounds
they stood. So Earnscliff, riding up, re-
| turned Isabel to the care of her father
and briefly told the story of her rescue
| from the Reivers tower. The other gen.
tlemen received his explanations politely,
but We're, bowling haughtily, said when
I know exactly how much I owe Mr.
| -,1f ap
acknowledgements" A sullen bend of the
head was Earnscliff's answer and, taking
| his daughters horse by the bride, Mr..
We're rode off with his party to the castle.
Meanwhile Hobbie Elliot, having recov-
cred from his rapture at finding Grace
restored to him, began to turn his
thoughts to the lesser matters of his
burned buildings and stolen gear" Then
1t was that he thought of the bag of gold
which Elshender had thrown to him from
the window of his hut, and, telling the
story of 1t to his family announced his
intention of riding back with the morning
| light and, II the gold was still where
Eishie had thrown ii, to take it as loan
for tile rebuilding and restocking of the
|
plored him not to touch it, as it was
wizard god,' and nothing but harm
could come from it. Faith mother" re-
turned Hobbie, II am in the mind that
witches and warlocks have ma half the
power they did lang syne; and that one
Ill deviser, like old Ellieslaw, or one ill
| doer, like old damned villain Westburn-
fiat, is a greater plague and abomination
on the countryside than a whole curnie of
the warst witches that ever capered on a
broomstick or played cantrips on Fast
ems Fen"
So the first dawn of light saw Hobbie
at Mucklesane Moor AS he approached
the hut his superstitious fears were re-
vived by seeing the dwarf emerge from
the rude dwelling in the company of a
figure like that of human being.
1t had been reported by many that such
a figure had been seen from time to time
in conversation with the recluse-a figure
which upon the approach of another per-
son seemed to vanish into the earth.
1t was. the peasants said, Elshender's
familiar spirit. Now as Hobbie ap-
preached and the two apparently saw his
coming. the familiar appeared to van
ish according to the manner with which
he was credited. Hobbie was scared
hut the Hughfoot must be rebuilt and
restoeked for Grace Armstrong. and SO,
| boyle or no boyle, Hobbe screwed up
| his courage and resolved to get the gold.
He found the bag of money, and, APP
preaching the hut into which the dwarf
had now retreated, called out that he
would accept it as loan. and that the
notary, Saunders Wyliecoat, would draw
for. him, mortgage, as security. upon
the lands which were owned by himself
and grandmother "Cut short your jargon
and BECOME" at last cried out the re-
cluse. keep the money, principal and
| interest, until | demand it of thee. Thy
loquacious, bull-headed honesty makes
thee a more intolerabe plague than the
| light-fngered coulter. who would take
mans all without troubling him either
with thanks, explanation or apology
"Eh, weel, now replied Hobbie, but
I'm bring We a piece of bride cake, any
way-and maybe Grace to see We. Ye
| would like to see Grace, man, as dour
as We are"
AL the Castle Oh EilltSidW thSiS was a
gathering of conspirators that day, men
of all ranks from the country round
about, who had been drawn into the ia
cobite cause and were about to declare
for King James Villas the Scots called
the old Pretender of the Stuarts. 1t was
believed that the King had already land
ed from q French fleet with a French
| army upon the coast of Lothian and that
the time was ripe. But at the great
table spread for the feast in, the ancient
banquetting hall of the castle there was
much uncertainty and gloom. The It'd
ings were indefinite and all hesitated to
take the final plunge. All knew that
mistake might mean the gibbet or the
block. Young Mareschal and Sir Fred
| erick Langley sat with Mr.. We're at the
upper end of the table, while among
! those of meaner birth below the salt
| might have been seen the Red Reiver,
| apparently not unwelcome guest, al
| though he had abducted the daughter
| of his host the day before. The fact
was, as Radcliffe suspected, that We're
| had arranged the abduction. thinking by
| IMPRISONMENT in barbarous tower to
bring his daughter to an acceptance of
| his plans for her marriage with ,sir
Frederick Langley. The gloom of the
company was increased by the many
vacant chairs at the upper end OF the
,fo1, m