Year: 1859

In the year lS-,it happened that two
young sportsmen in the highlands OF
Scotland, wearied by long days shoot.
ing, were approaching hillside spring,
famous in that wild district for the cold
ness and pureness of its waters. They
had Just reached the brow of the eleva-
ton overlooking the rural fountain, when
they saw young girl, in the first blush
of womanly beauty, close by the spring.


She was sitting on low rock tha,
rose by the side Of the. fountain, her dim
pied elbow resting on the cliff, and her
head leaning on her hand. Her figure
was slight and slyph-like, yet exquisitely
proportioned Her hair was golden in
color, and flowed in natural ringlets on
her shoulders.


"Sec, was not right?" said one in a
whisper to his companion. "She has
been gathering lilies; there are still some
in her hand. But let us descend


The speaker had been leaning careless
ly on his gun as he spoke, and now, pre-
paratory to proceeding, threw it to his
shoulder. Unfortunately the trigger
caught in bramble, and the piece went
off, lodging the contents in his side
He staggered and fell.


"Good heavens" cride his companion,
going to his assistance, and lifting the
wounded man up, Are you killed?'


The young girl we have described had
been buried in profound reverie, but at
the report of the gun she started, looking
wildly around to see whence it proceeded
In moment she caught sight of the
wounded man lying on the heather above
her, while his friend, kneeling on one
knee, supported the head of the sufferer.
AS soon as the sportsman saw the girl
was watching him, he shouted and waved
his arm for help.


The timid Scottish maiden, who but q
moment before was on the point of flying
now turned and began to ascend the hill
side.


"My poor friend" said the sportsman
dofling his hat as she approached, "has
met with an unfortunate accident, and /
do not know what to do, or where to bear
him."


A deep blush dyed the girls cheek as
she encountered the gaze of stranger,
but it passed off Immediately, and, with
a presence of mind worthy of one elder,
stopped down to see if the wounded man
was dead.


''IIe breathes STILL" she said, as she
broke off delicate leaf from one of her
lilies and held it to his nostril; and look
ing at his companion, she continued, "do
you think you could carry him to the
springs"


The sportsman answered by carefully
lifting his friend up in his arms and bear
ing him down the hill side, the young
girl following.


"Place him hear" she said, pointing to
the elevated bank, "and lean his head
against the rock. "Eeverything," she
continued, snow depends on your getting
surgeon soon. If you will follow that
path to your right around the turn of the
hill, you will find our cabin There is
pony there which you can take, and ride
to the little town of Abnernethy, some
five miles off, where, fortunately, sur
geon may be had. At the cabin you will
find shepard or two-tcilthcm to bring
some bcd-clothes and a scttee, on which
to carry your friend to the house. 1t is
an humble place, but better than the hill
side. BY the time you get back with the
surgeon we shall have your friend in
comfortable bed, and hope doing bet
ter.


She spoke with so quick perception
of what was best to be done, and did it
so composedly, that the sportsman, sub
hitting himself entirely to her guidance,
hastened to execute her commission.


When he had vanished around the hill
the young girl took some water in her
hands and began to bath the face of the
wounded man. But still he lay insensi-
bic, and she persisted in her task for
some time, without any signs of life be-
ing perceptible.


"Alas," she said, che is deadl And
yet but half an hour ago he was in the
full strength Of health and manhood. 1t
cannot bel have heard y she continued
eagerly, as ifa sudden thought had struck
her, and she began to tear open his vest
TO get at the wound, 'that my grandsire
died at Culloden from the blood coagula-
ting in the wound, when, if a surgeon
had been by, he might have been saved.
What if this should be the case hear?"


She had by this time barred sufficient
of his person to get at the ori6cc of the
wound. The dark gore had almost stiff
ened about it. She stopped down and
tenderly commenced wiping away the
congealed blood. She had not been long
engaged in her task of mercy when the
wounded man stirred, and opening his
eyes, fixed them earnestly upon her.


"Whcrc am II" he enquiried, for his
memory was yet vague. "Ahl rember
gun went off, But where is Harry"


eff you mean your friend" said the
young lady, "he is gone for a surgeon.
/ have consented to watch by you till
some shepherds come to carry you to our
cabin. And here they come" she ex-
claimed, clasping her hands, equally glad
to conclude this embarrassing tete-a-tete,
and to see the wounded man placed In a
situation Of more comfort.


"Heavcn bless you'll said the suffer
or, with emphasis. "You have saved my
life.


In few moments the wounded man
was placed on q settee brought by the