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

g young Earnscliff met him on the moor.
\ Elshender the Reeuse, as he called him
(, self. Elshie as he came to be called by the
people around about, became a we'll
known person in the neghborhood. He
built for himself hut of the stones
E which lay about the mound and inclosed
, a little garden with a wall. It was be-
lleved that. he possessed supernatural
powers and people who had relatives i'll,
or We're in trouble of any sort about
! themselves or their cattle came to con-
l suit him and brought offerings to pay
for the advice he gave Money he would
not accept. but only offerings of vegeta-
|, bles and other food. but sometimes he
would give to those in distress gold or
speak some word. they knew not what
: or to whom which in the end caused
them to have money sent them myster-
ously. He was expert in the use of sim
pies and cured many of the sick to whom
he sent his compounds. But to all he
spoke with the voice of misanthropy. in
Weighing against mankind and declar-
ing that he only helped the human race
that they might endure greater misfor-
tune. No one was ever allowed to en-
ter his hut, 10 no one would he speak
words other than those of sarcasm and
abuse. Yet he was somewhat more recon-
ciled to the presence of Hobbie and
Earnseiff than to that of others and was
a little less severe with them.
Everybody feared him and doubted not
his witchcraft. but his manner was much
more rational than it had been on the
night when Hobbie and the yound laird
had first met him. To men like Earns
cliff, he was a soured recluse-to men like
Hobbie a warlock. Among the people
whom Elshie cured of serious sickness
was William Graeme of Westburnfiat |
known in all that region as the most dar-
ing and bloody cutthroat, robber and, |
'reiver' on that part of the border The |
Red Reiver of Westburnflat he was called |
I from the name of his ancient fortalice-
an old tower in the marshes from which
his ancestors had sailed out to plumber
and burn for many generations before
him. A true type. surviving into the reign
of Queen Anne, was Willie of Westburn-
fiat of the lower orders of the old bor-
ders who lived by and existed for plyn-
der and rapine.
Once Earnscliff, returning from fishing,
stopped to talk with the recluse. as Elshie
would sometimes permit him TO do, and
after listening for time to the vitupera-
ton which the dwarf poured out upon the
human race, said: your deeds are better
than your words, Elshe; you labor to pre-
serve the race your misanthropy slam
40
IF l cannot send disease into the family
and murrain upon the herds, | can attain
the same end aszwell by prolonging the
lives of those who can serve the purposes
OF destruction as effectually. II Alice of
Brewer had died last winter, would young
Ruthwin have been slain for love of her
last spring? Who thought of penning their
cattle beneath the tower when the Red
Reiver of Westburnhat was deemed to be
on his deathbed? My draughts, my skill. I
recovered him, and now who dare leave
the nerd upon the lea unmatched or go to
bed without Enchanting the sleuthhoundg, I
own that you did little good to the
community in that last cure replied
harnscliff, "but you also cured Hobbie s
Elliot of serious, fever" "Ah. he is
peaceful now replied the recluse. "but I
mark the sportive cub of the wildcat {
winch has been domesticated. How play-
ful how gentle he Isl But trust him with l
your game your lambs, and his his feroc- !
ity breaks out. 1t is his emblem. 1t is his
picture. He is at present tame. But let
the trumpet of war blow, the young
bloodhound will lap blood and | shall
laugh and say. For this l preserve
thee" ]
Elsnies prediction that the trumpet of
war would soon be blown caused Earns
CHI to think seriously as her walked awav.
Inere were signs upon the border, in fact
all over Scotland, that the disturbed state
OF the country was about to be succeeded ,
by an actual civil war for the. restoration
OF the exlled Stuarts, and perhaps, also.
for the severance of the union which
pound Scotland to England In the dark 8
intrigues which were then going on Mr.
We're Of Ellieslaw was thought to be deep
ly engaged and the Red Reiver had OPENLY ,
boosted that he had powerful hackers
ana made his forays in the name of 1.-The ,
king over the waters" Sir Frederick ,
Langley, then guest al Elleslaw. was |
also known 10 be on .he Jacobite side ;
ana 10 be sutton for Tho hand of Label ,
We're. with the consent Il not even at the ;
instigation of her fatheA Isahel and
Earnscliff had long know, and loved each
other, but the poor laird had been told {
in effect by Mr.. We're that he was unwel-
come at the latter's castle. The berass
Isabel We're, was not for such as he.
Another thing made a barrier between ,
the young laird and Isabel Years be- {
fore in fray brought about by polit-
ical discussion, Earnsclifs father had
been killed and We're had been one OF ;
those present 1T was not thought that
he had himself dealt the fatal blow hnr
II Was known that he had at least. been
engaged on the opposite side to Farms
cliff :
one day as Elshie was occupvlne. as
was Ills wont In pleasant weather. a
broad nat stone before his hut, a party ,
OF laules and gentlemen. numerouslv at
tended and well mounted. swent ac,oss
the meath at some distance from his
dwelling. Dogs, hawks and led borses
SVEN the retinue and the air resounded
at intervals with the cheer of the hunters
and the sound of the horns blown bv
'neir attendants. Three young ladies' de-
taehed themselves from the partv and
making circuit, rode up to the mound and