Year: 1859

his dead rival.


Never, perhaps, did any one approach that


beautiful spot with greater i'll will than Ken.


elm Hamilton; he was young man of pc


culiarly fiery ani impetuous disposition, Of


whom 1t was often said that his 1--we and his


hatred were alike to be dreaded, so ardent
and passionate was he in either; he was the


second son Of that noble family of Hamiltons,


between whom and tie Argyles there had


been deadly fued for many generations past


Never, however, had it burnt. more ffercely


than in the time of which we write, when
the families had been represented by the
marquis who had just been compelled to lay
his lofty head at the madcn's feet, and Ken
elm, with his wild and angry temper; for his
elder brother was an idiot, who bore the fam
ily title, but lacked the wit to defend their
honor when assailed. Deep had been the
hate between Argyle and Hamilton, which
even the new shed blood of the former had
not availed to quench; for, in addition to the
old clan feud, there was quarrel between
them which had fearfully embittered their
traditionary hatred. The Marquis ofArgyle
had been betrothed almost from childhood to
his cousin, the Lady Ellen Graham, and al
though their engagement had been matter
of family arrangement, he loved her well and
truly; not so the lady, however. She had
not been consulted when she was bound,
while yet a child, to the marquis, and with
the true feminine spirit of contradiction, she
resolved to choose for herself, and accepted
the addresses of Kenelm Hamilton, who, by
some unluclly chance, had fallen in 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 were destined to be the means of one
day bringing his enemy to the arms of this
same cruel maiden, whom he himself had
embraced with so much fereor. And now
the recollection of that last bloody scene was,
doubtless, heavy on the heart of Hamilton as
he rode down the mountain path which led
to Inverary Castle, and the little village
which lay at its foot. 1t was a cold and
gloomy night; the darkness was intense, and
the wild north wind went .shrieking and
bowling through the pass as if it bore upon
its wings the souls of those who had expired
in some great agony, while the dark Scotch
frs stood up like spectres among the black
grey rocks. Truly, it was a evening on
which the stoutest heart might gladly seek
shelter, and Hamilton was fain, though
sorely against his will, to rest for the night
in the domain of his enemies. This had
been no part of his intention when he set out
on his journey; he had then been accompa-
MED by two of his retainers, and he designed
to have passed at a little distance from In
verary early in the day, and 10 have lodged
for the night in castle at some distance,
and belonging to a kinsman of his own; but,
unhappily, that morning one of his guides
had been thrown from his horse and injured
so severely that his life was despaired Of
Some hours We're spent in conveying the
wounded man to resting place; and Ham,
ilton, whose mission admitted of no DELAY,
was obliged. TO leave him in -charge of his
comrade ana push On his road, although TIL,
short December day was already closing in
when he started again.


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 ofInverary cleaned through
the driving mist and rain, he felt that it had
become matter of necessity that he should
rest there for the night, as his iaded horse
was stumbling at every step from sheer ia
tigue.


In these turbulent times, where every
mans hand was against his fellow, there
would have been considerable risk in Ham
ilton venturing into Inverary, and especially
this particular Hamilton, had he been known:
but Kenelm trusted that the darkness of the
night would prevent his being seen by any
but the landlord of the inn where he meant
to sleep, t,whom he was personally unknown
and who would not be likely to suspect that
a solitary horseman, unattended by single
retainer, could bear so proud a name.


In this supposition he was proved to have
judged rightly. Kene.m rode unmolested
and unobscrved through the little town, the
streets ofwhich were, in fact, almost deserted;
as the tempestuous weather had driven all
the inhabitants into their houses, and he
saw, to his great satisfaction, that even the
door Of the inn was shut--a sufficient proof
that no guests were expected at the argyle
Arms" that night. The landlord, Camp
bell, 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 stone kitchen, briefly remark
ing that he must be content with such cheer
as the family provisions could afford, for that
he little expected any visitor on a night So
"unc,nny."


Hamilton assured him he was not disposed
to be fastidious, aad having thrown OFF his
dripping mantle, and disencumbered himself
ofhis heavy riding boots, he set down on the