The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-27

to the sacrifice. It was because of the moderates, like Henry. who had, as they expressed 1t In their cant, made friendship with the sons of Belial, that no miracle had been worked for them at Boutwell, Brigg.
 They took and bound him and they preached at him-especially crazed preacher called Muckelwrath. who was loud in demanding his blood. Seeing how matters stood, Cudde, who had accompanied his master in the flight from the field. stole out, mounted n horse and rode in search of succor. It was Sunday night and they would not slay him in cold blood on the Sabbath. But the hands of the clock were ap- preaching the hour of midnight and at 12, they told him. he must die. As the fingers of the dial crept slowly to- ward the hour of doom the fanatics worked themselves into a frenzy. ''I take up my song against him." shouted the crazed Mucklewrath, "as the sun went back upon the dial ten degrees for intimating the recovery of holy Heze- kiah, so shall 1t now go forward that
 
 among the people and the covenant es- tablished In Its purity" He sprang upon a chair with an attitude of frenzy in order to anticipate the fatal moment by putting the hands of the clock for ward. and several members of the party began to prepare for the work of slaughter by drawing their weapons.
 But at that instant came the sound of galloping steeds, which arrested their attention. "The enemy are upon usl' cried the Covenanters in terror after 8 moments pause. and started to fly. But few only of them escaped. Like whirlwind on the cornfields Claverhause and his cavaliers came rushing in, kill ing and sparing not. with cries of Have at the bloody villains!' When the tu mutt was over Claverhouse bade his soldiers carry away the dead bodies and remove the wounded, refresh their horses and be prepared to march with the first light of dawn. T hope you are safe, MT. Norton" said Claverhouse. Your servant. happily. fell in with my patrol and informed me of your danger. You seem to have placed yourself in danger
 
 prisoner of war at the disposal of King and Council. But I shall require only your parole that you will not attempt to escape" Claverhouse treated Henry with the greatest courtesy and some refresh ments were placed before him.
 Morton was just about to raise a glass to his lips when there came the sound of carbines outside the window. The pris- oners were being shot. Morton shuddered and put down his glass untasted. You are young in these matters. Mir. Morton" smiled Claverhouse; If you will believe me, in the beginning of my military ca reer I had as great an aversion to the spilling of blood as ever did any man-it seemed to be wrung from my own heart. And now these Whig fellows will tell you that I drink a warm cup of it every morning before breakfast. But, in truth, MT. Morton, why should we care so much about death? It is not the ex- piring pang that is worth thinking about In an event which must happen some day; 1t is the memory that a soldier leaves behind him like the long train of light which follows the sunken sun that Is all which is worth caring for; which distinguishes the death of the brave from the death of the ignoble. When I think of death as a thing worth thinking of 1t Is with the hope of press ing. some day, some well-fought and hard-won field of battle and dying with the shout of victory in my ear. That would be worth dying for-and, more, it would be worth having lived for"
 As Claverhouse uttered these sentiments a ghastly form upreared itself from be- heath the table. It was the maniac, Muckfewrath, covered with blood and dying. who, concealed by cloak. had lain where he had fallen, unnoticed of the sol diers. He bent on Claverhouse his eyes, in which the gray light of insanity still sparkled. and exclaimed. "wilt thou glory in thy courage and thy might, and shall not the Lord judge thee? Behold! The princes for whom thou hast sold thy soul to the destroyer shall be removed from their places and their names shall be a desolation. hissing and curse And thou. who hast partaken of the wine cup of fury. the wish of thy heart shall be granted to thy loss and the hope of thy pride shall destroy thee. summon thee, John Grahame, to appear before the tri- bunal of God to answer for this innocent blood and the seas besides which thou hast she'd"
 He fell back and was a dead man at their feet "Take that dead fellow away" said Claverhouse to the dragoon who stood by crossing himself in, terror. How came he here? But we have had a busy day, Mr. Morton. and you, as-welI as I, have need of few hours repose." As prisoner of war Henry Morton was taken before the council, his sentence was, through the influence of Claverhouse, changed from that of death (which had at first been proposed) to banishment He would have paid a visit to his uncle before going abroad-paid 1t with the hope of seeing for the last time Edith Bellenden, Milnwood and Tillietudiem be- ing not far apart-but Claverhouse gave him no time for any such expeditions. He hurried him aboard ship the very day of the pronouncement of his sentence and placed in his hands at the same time bills of exchange secretly sent by his uncle and letters from himself recom- mending Henry to the consideration of the Prince of Orange.
 The years passed and Henry Morton was accounted as dead. The ship In which he had taken passage went down