Year: 1879

The Facts in the Case Bet Forth in Humble

 Prose.

 A chieftain to the highlands bound cries, :" Boatman, do not tarry, and I'll give to thee dollar and half to row us across the lake"

 "Now, who be ye would cross Loch- Gyle this dark and stormy night ?" asked the ferryman, with much curi- osity.

 What is that to you, you bald-head- ed snipe of the valley ?" replied the chieftain, growing pale about the gills. eff I Ipay you good round sum for your services, 1t appears to me your in- terest in the matter should end there. Do you require the pedigree of every man, woman and child you take across in your internal scow? If it wasn't that I'm in hurry I'd smack your jaws for your impudence, but as it is" display ing handful of coin, Gas it is, I'm the chief of UIva's isle and this-Lord UI- lan's daughter. His lorsemen hard be- hind us ride, and should they overtake us here in the glen it would go hard with us."

 Out spoke the hardy highland wight, while he unlocked his skiff and told them to get in. "I'll go, my chief. I'm ready; but considering the terrible storm, hope you will make 1t two dol lars, although as matter of fact, do not venture forth for mere money con. sideration, but for your winsome lady. I have been there to some extent myself, and can appreciate the situation; so, by my word, the bonny bird in danger shall not tarry. Sit little more in the middle to trim the boat, please. and here we go 1"

 By this tho storm grew loud apace, the water wrath was shrieking, and things looked most almighty dark. But still as wilder grew the storm, and as the night grew drearier, adown the glen rode at least dozen men with old Ul- Ian at the head on cream colored mule. "Oh, haste thee, haste !" the lady cries ;" though tempests round us gather, I'll meet the raging of the storm, but not my angry pa" So on they rowed amid the roar of waters fast pre- vailing, and when Lord Ullan reached the shore his wrath was dreadful to be- hold. And no wonder. For, sore dis mayed, through storm and shade, he | discovered his daughter out in the boat with smile on her lip and salt spray in her eye, and both arms around her lover. For 8 while 1t seemed that he would take it out of his hired men and the cream colored mule, as he declared he would have the former beheaded as soon as he got home, and the latter he was hammering over the ears with a club. Presently he took another tack "Come back come back P he cried in grief, across the stormy water, "and I'll forgive your highland boy, my daughter oh, my daughter and also settle the bill with the ferryman."

 But the young lady could not be caught so easily. Neither could the young man. who told the ferryman to press on, and then turning around in the beat, stilt keeping one arm about his sweetheart to prevent her falling out, called to the old gentleman

 !" Much obliged for your kind invi- tation, my dear sir, but we will not come back at present. You can expect us, however, in the course of a week or ten days. Till then, adieu l" Lord Ullan called again. Twas vain; the loud waves lashed the shore; return, they wouldn't think of it. In fifteen minutes they were on the other side, the ferryman was wondering what he would do with twenty-dollar gold | piece, and the young people were in quiring the way to the nearest justice of the peace. -Ou City Derrick.