Year: 1874

as the Lord Admiral .'never saw the
like" The little farm-if farm it
could be called-of Craig-end, had
hitherto escaped the spoilers. 1t lay
thoroughly sheltered from notice in a
nook of the hills, where the steep
braes, receding from small and rap
id stream, left room for meadow or
level space of some sixty acres in ex-
tent. At the upper end of this tract
of fertile land, stood the peal or tower
Of Craig-end, Il rude building of rough
stone, three stories in height, surround
ed by wall and out buildings. the
latter constructed chiefly of mud and
turf, and serving as shelter for the
cattle at night. Not far from the
tower, the stream tumbled over preci-
piece in considerable cascade, and
after winding from side to side of the
valley. it issued at the lower end thro'
Il pass SO narrow. intricate and precip-
itous, that five reSolute men might
easily hold it against hundred. The
holder of this little fortalice was Hal
bert Scott, or Halbert of Craig-end, a
retainer Of the laird of Ferniehurst,
who in his turn owed feudal service to
the lord of Buccleugh. Halbert was an
old man, unable to bear arms, but his
two sons, Ambrose and David, were
with their lord, helping to garrison
the stronghold of Ferniehurst, which
lay but few miles distant across the
hills.


Duncan Scott was Eisie's cousin,
and her betrothed lover. This was by no
means their first quarrel, for Duncan
was Jealous and Elsie was proud. but
never had matters gone SO far between
them as now. Never had Elsie shown
herselfso implicable. Heranger was not
wholly unreasonable, for Duncan had
done her grievous wrong. He had
/ seen his betrothed in earnest CONVEX
sation with the laird of Ferniehurst
for an hour together in the cleaning.
lie had not been able to overhear their
words as they paced the burnside, but
he had seen Fernichurst put into her
hands something made of gold which
slittered brightly in the moonlight
Of that he was ccrtain-and then speed
away. while Elsie put the love-token
in her bosom and took the path TO
their old trysting-place by the well as
if nothing had happened.


ave, so," thought Duncan; ''she
thinks to meet me there. and to be-
guile me with her fine words while
she has Ferniehurst' love token rest
ing on her very heart. But she shall
hear my mind on it ere we part"


And SO it came to pass that when
Elsie, in the innocence of her heart.
came gayly forward to meet her lover,
she was assailed by a torrent of accu-
sation and reproaches. Elsie answer
ed coldly and sternly, with a face that
cleaned white as marble in the moon
light:


duncan Scott, We have dared to
lightly meme, HaIbert of Craig-end's
daughter-on whose fair fame no man
nor woman ever breathed before. And
wherefore: Because you saw me in
talk with my foster brother, as near of
kin to me as mine own born brother.
If were to tell my father or my broth
ers, or Ferniehurst himself what you
said, no hole in Graf gburn moss would
be deep enough to hide you from their
wrath. But | wish you no i'll. You
may 90 your own gate and keep your
own counsel, but never dare, by day
or by night, to speak to me again. -
With that she drew from her finger
her betrothal ring, and throwing it on
the ground at his feet, she passed from
him like a shadow and was gone.


This quarrel had taken place week
since, and not once had Duncan found
q chance to speak to Elsie alone. This
evening, however, believing him to be
still at work in the harvest field, she
had ventured once more to the well
for water, and here Duncan had sur
pri5ed her and pleaded his cause, un-
successfully as we have heard.


The well was hidden in little re-
cess of the hills, behind a great pro-
Ijecting crag. AS Elsie turned round
this crag, she uttered a vehement ex-
clamation Of surprise and terror, and
casting away her pitcher with little
regard for its safety. she started to run
down the steep path which led to the
burnside. Duncan arrived q little
later, and stood for moment rooted
to the spot. a sorrowful procession
had entered the valley at its lower end,