Year: 1859




the block: ."This is the sweetest nader
| have ever kissed" This saying of hi.
was often cited, and the world wondered
what hidden pang had so darkened life fol
the gallant noble, whose homage wa:
courted by the fairest ladies' that he should
die with words of such bitter meaning on
his lips; but when, some few years later
the maiden pressed!with her cold hand the
throat of him who proved to be her --latest
victim, the strange and tragic circumstance
of bis death obliterated all recollections OF
the Marquis and his dying words.


1t happened singularly enough, however
that these two, the Lord of Argyle, and
Kenelm Hamilton who had succeeded him
to the block, had been in life the deadliest
enemies; and by particular chain of cir
cumstances, which we shall now proceed
to detail, the death of one caused that OF
the other.


1t was about month after the execution
of the Marquis that Hamilton, whose race,
SO closely allied to the kings of Scotland,
was even prouder than Argyle's, found
himself, compelled by political business, to
pass night in the little town of Inverary,
close to which stood the magnificent castle
of the same name, which had been the her
itage of his dead rival.


Never perhaps, did any one approach
that beautiful spot with greater ill-will than
Kenelm Hamilton. He was the second
son of that noble family of Hamiltons, be-
tween whom and the Argyles there had
been deadly feud for many generations
past. Never, however, had it burnt more
| fiercely than in the time We write, when
the families had been represented by the
Marquis who had just been compelled to
lay his lofty head at the maiden's feet, and
Kenelm, with his wild and angry temper;
for his elder brother was an idiot, who
bore the family title, but lacked the wit to
defend their honor when assailed. Deep
had been the hate between Argyle and
| Hamilton, which the new-shed blood OF
the former had not availed to quench; for
in addition to the old clan feud, there was
private quarrel between them which had
| fearfully embittered their traditionary hat
red The Marquis had been betrothed al
most from boyhood to his cousin, the lady
Ellen Graham, and although their engage.
ment had been a matter of family arrange.
ment, he loved her well and truly; not Sc
the lady, however. She had not been con-
suited when she was bound, while yet a
child, to the Marquis, and with the true
feminine spirit Of contradiction, she resolv.
ed to choose for herself, and accepted the
addresses Of Kenelm Hamilton, who, by
4 ,,pl,,,1r,, oho,no b,l f,llon - Love
with his rivals bride. Their wedding was
even now fixed to take place in a few
months, and this circumstance no doubt
explained the last words Of Argyle, which
woro destined to be the means of one day
bringing his enemy to the arms Of the
same cruel maiden, whom he himself had
embraced with so much fervor. And now
the recollection Of that last bloody scene
was, doubtless, heavy on the heart of Ham
ilton as he rode down the path which led
to Inverary Castle and the little village that
lay a. its foot.


He rode on as rapidly as he could, but
the darkness soon became so impenetrable
that he repeatedly lost his way; and when
at last, the lights of Inverary cleaned
through the driving mist and rain, he fell
that it had become a matter of necessity
that he should rest there for the night, as
hi. iaded horse was stumbling at every ster
from sheer fatigue.


In these turbulent times, when every
mans hand was against his fellow, there
would have been considerable risk in Ham
ilton venturing into Inverary, and especi
alv this particular Hamilton, had he been
known; but Kenem trusted that the dark
ness of the night would prevent his being
seen by any but the landlord of the inn
where he meant to sleep, to whom he wa;
personally unknown, and who would not
be likely to suspect that solitary horse
man, unattended by single retainer, could
bear so proud name.


In this supposition he was proved tc
have judged rightly. Kenem rode unmo
Tested and unobserved through the little
town, and the streets of which were, in fact
almost deserted; as thetempestuous wealth
er had driven all the inhabitants into theil
houses, and he saw, to his great satisfaction
that even the door of the inn was shut
sufficient proof that no guests were expect
eC at the Argyle Aims that night
The landlord, a Campbell, of course, and
as sturdy Scot as one could wish to see
himself came to the door to welcome the
stranger, and after sending his tired horse
to the stable, he ushered him into the huge
kitchen briefly remarking that he must be
content with such cheer as the family pro
visions could afford, for that he little ex
pected any visitors on a night so "uncan
nv"


Hamilton assured him he was not dis
posed to be fastidious and having thrown
off his dripping mantle and disencumber
ed himself Of his heavy riding boots, he sa
down on tie oaken settee opposite the hug
fireplace; while Campbell went out 20 Sc
that the horse was attended to.


Left TO himself, kenelm began TO lool
around him, and he was much struck b
the scene which presented itself within Tn,
room. The huge fireplace, which was fill
ed up with wood, sent bright and rIdd
glow over the whole room, and hghte.
W with brilliant glare The figure Of