Newspapers / Farm and Fireside (High … / Sept. 1, 1872, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 THE FAEM AND FIKESIDE. ONLY. Only a poisonous drop from the cup But it gave a thirst for more, And awoke a craving that wrecked a life . - - ; . On a barren, desert shore, i . - 'Twas cnly a g-l-nce, but a s-omful glance, And it fanned a dreadful Cane, It wa3 only a kind, beseeching look. ' But it won a heart from, shame. It was only a dyin !; mother's kiss . : On a fair, pale, girlish face, , ' But always the thought of that sacred touch Drew her from evil apace. 'Twas only a draft from the limpid stream, But it saved the hunter's life. - - - 'Twas oii1 the husband's familiar step, -Yet it csered the gloomy wife. It was only a smile, a pleading smile, - . - - But it reached a hardened heart, And roused a desire and an earnest will To perform a nobler part. It was only a tear, one pearly tear. That stood on the maiden's cheek - Yet it spoke a sweeter good-bye than words Have ever essayed to speak. - . , It was only a word, one single word, - But sweet as the summer's breath, . And it touched the spring of a thoughtless mind. . And rescued a soul from death. - - BY FRANK VAUGH A N. It was late in the Summer, or rather early in the Autumn of 1835 (said my dear, old iriena Mrs. Atnerton, in answer to my earn est entreaty to relate to me nersell tne great incident of her life) that the events I am about to relate to you occurred. I was governess at that time in the family of Sir Andrew Her vey, and, after a prolonged Indon season, we started for Sir Andrew's place in Scot land, where grouse and partridge-shooting would soon bring together as gay a party as we had just turned our backs upon in town. Sir Andrew himself, with his two elder maid-servants, grooms, horses, and luggage, had gone direct to raigthorpe Hall; but Lady Jlervey, who was a woman of much culture and refinement, and a ;. passionate lover, of natural scenery, had begged for a week's holiday to take a-short tour through the Highlands, and get a peep at the lakes and mountains which Scott's genius had just then made so famous. Aftersaying good-bye to the large detachment of our party at Glas gow, we started (Lady Hervey, her two little daughters, her ladyship's own maid, and my self) for & week's quiet enjoyment of i Nature in its wildest and most picturesque forms. 1 remember well our morning on Loch Lo mond, and how beautiful to my town-weary eyes were the ? lights and shadows on' those grand . heather-clad hills, and how keenly I enjoyed the dinner of oatcake and buttermilk at the rough mountain inn, where guides and ponies were provided for us to cross the pass to Loch Katrine. And I remember the glow of delight with which, seated on the shaggi est of Shetland ponies, and with the " Lady or the Lake" open before me, I greeted the first glimpce of the Trosachs for my life was a prosaic one in those days, my dear, and but little time or space was found for romanceor poetry in the dull routine of my daily duties, U T AT 11 i 1 - ji .. ." j i ou x mrew au tne vigor ana energy oi my character into the enjoyment of these new scenes, and, but lor the unhappy events of that night, should look back now upon that litt1 tour as one of the brightest spots in my The two hours in the row-boat that carried us across Lock Katrine was a dream of ecsta sy. . Never shall I forget my feelings as, seated in the stern of the boat, I watched the unfolding of scene after scene in that won derful panorama; and listened to the wild songs of our Highland boatmen, repeated as they were' by a . thousand echoes from the giant hills, that seemed from time to time to shut us completely - in. The weather had changed as the day passed its height ; dark clouds had gathered, -which cast the steep mountain sides into heavy shadow,, and the surface of the lake looked black and angry as our light i bark rocked to and fro upon it. Very soon we were treated to the usual fate of tourists among the Scotch hills ; and by the time that we were safely out of the Tro sachs, the rain was falling in torrents, and the wind blowing in fitful, melancholy gusts through themountain gorges. ,We were all thankful enough to reach theshelter of the inn where we were ..to, pass the night, for my young charges, in spite of their thick plaids, were thoroughly drenched, and dear Lady Hervey, with the nervous timidity peculiar to women who have all their lives been ac- anxious and frightened at the responsibility she had been so ready to take upon herself, and fearful of Sir Andrew's displeasure should the children take cold, of should any calamity overtake them in ' that wild , and lonesome . Jl.CbSs AO 1UJ OUU) -M- TV C0- Jr VUUgf 1UU VI . strength and vitahty, and, the spirit of adven ture once aroused within me, I felt that I was. equal to any emergency, and ready to en1 counter any reasonable amount of peril. The inn where we had taken shelter was an old stone building, one half of which only seemed to be fit for occupation. It was most roman tically situated at the base of ' a high hill, with a mountain torrent rushing wildlv through the glen in its rear, and losing itself in the gorge of anotner mountain, wnich rose up almost perpendicularly at the left hand. There was hut little accommodation for visitors at any time, and this being the only two sleeping-rooms were to be had, the one a sufficiently, spacious apartment with two beds, and the other a small single: room opening out of. it. - Lady. Hervey immediately announced, her determination not to be sep- arated from her little daughters that night, and pointing to the larger apartment, she said, "We will occupy this, and the small room adjoining: will do nicely for you, my dear." In which arrangement I gratefully acquiesced. " -But whe.n. the ; question of ac commodation for Mrs. Chester, her ladyship's maid,came up, our tidy ScotGh landlady in formed us .that not another bed in that part of the house could she provide but," said she, "if her leddyship's leddy does not mind Ttoinrr a Kif Irtnolv T can mulrd Titi itq-pq; nvrr SV&AAC t UiV 1VUV1J J VbVU 1U1U WAii fortable in the old wing, next to the wood- house, where I'm quite sure she'll sleep as well as in any other part of the house." An appealing, glance from Chester, as the landlady took up the candle to conduct her to the remote quarter referred to, induced me to. ask Lady Hervey 's permission to go with her to inspect the apartment. It was granted at once, and we followed pur hostess tnrougn several long passages, up two or three stefos here, and down three or four there, until the door of a large, bleak, deso late chamber was thrown open, which I per ceived at once was located at the extreme end of the unoccupied wing of the house. And this was the best accommodation that xsould be furnished for Mrs. Chester the most fas tidious and ill-tempered of London ladies' maids. "It's clean and quiet," said the land lady; "the wood-house is near hy, and no one sleeps in the lofts above."" And there's no fastening to the door," said the terrified Chester , " and the wind 'owls that loud, fit to make every 'air on one's 'ead standon hend. I couldn't never spend the niht in such a place, miss." I saw at once that a fit of the sulks, and at least three days of the worst kind of despot ism, would be in reserve for Lady Hervey and myself should we insist upon Chester's doing violence to her feeling3 and occupying this room ; so, swallowing down my; indignation at the serving-woman's selfish stupidity, I replied cheerfully, Never mind, Chester, I am not a bit afraid ; indeed, I rather like the look of this weird old place. I wilk sleep here, and you can have the room adjoining her ladyship's, where you will be within call, should she or the; young ladies need you." Chester recognized my. consideration and self-denial by a not very gracious nod, and turned her back, without a moment's delay, upon the dismal apartment which was to be my nightly portion. "Lady Hervey (by whom I had always been treated more like a daugh ter or a sister than like a dependent in her house) demurred a little at the new arrange ment, and expressed a , good deal of ; unwill ingness to have me banished , to the; remote, uninhabited region which Chester described to her. .However, as there was "no other room to be had, and she fully agreed with me that it would be fatal to ths enjoyment of our trip to have Chester's equanimity disturbed at so early a date, and as I assured her that I was entirely without nervousness or fear, and rather expected to enjoy the night in iny strange sleeping-place, she yielded at last to my entreaties, and made no further opposi tion. -;: .Li.f iC:-,- '. Supper followed ; served for our party in a private room, where we were waited upon by the daughter of our hostess, a fresh and very pretty Scotch girl, about eighteen years of age. ; I can see her now, in lier short skirt, bright plaid stockings, neat white apron, and the traditional blue ribbon bound round her "bonnie brown hair." She looked the very impersonation of innocence, and my eyes often wandered from the hot scones and deli cate trout that she placed before us, to watch her light and active motions, and to meet the open glance of her clear blue eye. But for my weariness of mind and body, and the ne cessity for attending Lady Hervey and my young charges to their room. there to amuse; and direct them until it should suit Mrs. Chester's convenience to make their final preparations for the night, I should have en deavored to make acquaintance "with our pretty waiting-maid, and'to gather something V 1 ? fwo'c? Til c? - - rr -5 r V i o 1 am-iaItt- t1haa Acs VJk UVl JLAAW UXO liUl All. U1JA0 AVIAIJT piatU it was, I found myself talking incessantly to Lady Hervey about her, and exciting her la dyship's curiosity and interest in the girl, and her - possible and probable fate, to as high a pitch as I had worked my own up. to. An hour or two passed in lively conversation, and tnen unester and our landlady appeared sim ultaneously at the door. , Lady Hervey bade me an affectionate firood-niffht. withmanv in junctions as to security in tne fastening of my aoor (to wnicn l wen Knew iastening was im possible), and then as a last precaution desired me to leave my watch and my few trinkets in her care. ' . , .. . '. .v-. ' - With spirits a little depressed, and an in ward feeling of disgust with my own folly, in having thus for the hundredth time done a good-natured action, at the expense of my own comfort and peace of mind; I . again fol lowed our, hostess who held ahort, flicker- mg canaie in ner nana, tnrougn tne loneiy passages, and up and down the rotten, rickety steps away towards the eastern end of the house, outside of which J kne w that the giant mountain wasfrownig down; and where the rushing of the" stream and the fury of the storm made . it. almost impossible for us to hear our own voices : , : : v " It's nae a bonny place, for a leddy like yoursel' to sleep in,", said the landlady, glanc- i j ' Jl .1 . ti x j. a.1 1 mg Limiuiv aruuuu ; uui, me young can aye i sleep ony place, and . the nights is nae long the noo. I'll send i Margie to Wake'ye.with the dawn o' day. The Dairn's no well the night, and ganged early to bed, or she might ha'e coom to keep ye company a bit." Very sincerely did I regret Margie's illness, and very thick and fast did my heart; beatL-as I glanced round the gloomy chamber, and asked wnetner any one ever siept tnere now. " Na, na ; it's mony a year since onybody slept in this ;room ; but Margie often brings her work here the day, for it pleases the bairn to watch the shadows on Ben Lomond, and to hear the wee burn rushing through the val ley." . , . .. J All my interest in the mountains, and the scenery seemed to ; have died - out with the prospect of spending the lonely night so far from human companionship, and within such, dismal proximity to their grandeur and deso lation ; and I inwardl&resolved that if I lived to return to the secure monotony of my ordi nary home life I would never set forth in search of the poetical and picturesque again. However, there seemed . now no reasonable excuse for longer detaining our landlady, and, summoning all my pride and pluck ;to my aid, I responded cheerfully to her, respectful "good-night," and stood motionless, with the candle in my hand, listening to herreeeding footsteps, until they died out completely in the distance. - . ; v s -: Then, carefully closing t the door, I pro ceeded to examine my new quarters.. The room was large and uncarpeted, with; two curtainless windows looking towards !, the mountain, and a second door directly oppo site to the one by which we had entered and which I found, upon' examination, was fast ened in the same way by only? a simple latch. This latch, I raised, and pushed: the door partly open, but was met by such a rush of cold wind, and such a dami, unearthly smell, that, fearing my candle might be ex tinguished, I closed it again instantly, and concluding that it only led to the old wood house or carpenter's shop, of which the good woman had spoken, I decided to pursue my investigations no further in that quarter, but to shut my eyes to all unusual sights, and my ears to all' unfamiliar sounds, ana to lose my self in sleep as soon as possible. Of furniture the room contained but little-rtwo beds, one a large four-poster, round which dark, gloomy-looking curtains were closely drawn, and the other a small, low bedstead, on which a straw bed and an old moth-eaten: blanket were . thrown, with two chairs and a deal table comprised the whole. Well do I re member the thump that my heart gave as I drew aside the curtains and glanced in upon the interior of my four-poster. What I ex pected to see I am sure I could not tell. What I found was a perfectly well-made and well-appointed: resting-place, in which a prince might have slumbered contentedly. It looked comfortable and inviting, enough, and taking heart of grace from this conclu sive evidence that I was not cut off from all communication with humanity and civiliza tion, I proceeded to make my simple toilet for the night. In spite of the lapse of years, I can perfectlyrecall the nervous trepiaition with which I removed mv unner garments. and placed them carefully on the shelves of a cupboard, which opened just at the foot of uxy uea, ana now l started and snoolc wnen a gust of ; wind, shriekir j more wildly than usual round the corner, of the house, caused me to drop tlie brush l. cm my hand, &nd it fell vriih a hollow, reverl grating sound upon the stone floor. Tli: srspiration stood in great drops upon my lice as I stooped to pick it up, aad it was only by a tremendous effort of will that I ker.t ravself from rushing frantically through the passages to Lady Hervey's room. I was disgusted with myself ior my want of strength and self-command, and yet, for my life, I could not calm the nervous agitation which was causing my heart to beat and my brain to throb, as if ten thousand sledge-hammers had been at work within. Finding: at last that mv cold and trembling fingers werei totally incapable of doing their duty in the matter of unfastening ana removing my garments, I yielded to tne presentiment which was gaining ground every moment. within me that my. slumbers that night were not to be peaceful, and, slipping on my dressing-gown, wrapped my railway rug around me, and threw myself on the out side of the bed; having first taken the precauT tion of putting mv sac de nuit and all my toilet articles carefully out of sight in the cupDoara. l lay lor it seemed to me an inter minable time in the darkness and silence. With head hidden undi he bed-clothes, tak ing myself very seriou to task for my un reasonable fears, and striving to persuade my self that I was as tend: ty guarded and cared for in that lonely chamber as I ever had been in my own beloved home, or in Sir Andrew's well-appointed mansion. And having from my cnuanooa Deen. trained to self-control and self-reliance, and possessing, for . my age, a very fair proportion of physical and moral courage, I did f succeed in calming the wild throbbings of my heart, and bringing myself to a condition of forced composure. I was weary, too, and as my ear became accustomed to the monotonous music of the rushing stream, and the howling f the wind subsided into a dull, moaning sigh, my excitement fradually quieted down, and for a short time must have slept. - : I was Awakened by a light flashing through the closed curtains of my bed, and the con sciousness that some one besides myself was in the room. In an instant I was thoroughly aroused,1 and every nerVe vibrating to the sense of some frightful I inger that was hang ing over. me. It had c je, then, this " some thing" which I had so 1 3ared and dreaded-rand which I had been si certain would come during this fearful night. 'What was it? and how should I escape it ? "I tried to be calm tried to summon reason and religion' to my i x . .3 x a i c t t aiu, irieu 10 iul upon some pian oi action, ana determined to make a good fight, whatever happened. To get up, throw aside the cur tains, and face the danger, whatever it might be, was my first impulse but I restrained it. The recollection of myjemote and unpro tected position, the impossibility of making myself heard by any one in the house, the fearful risk I ran a weak and helpless girl alone with a ruffian, or-perhaps a gang of ruffians surged madly through my brain; and set my poor heart throbbing, until every fibre of my body seemed to respond to its pulsations. As soon as I was able to reaspn calmly again I decided that my only plan was to remain perfectly still and take my chance, a forlorn one, it is true, but still a chance, of the room's being vacated as un expectedly as ith?i ,on entered., I knew 31V AVC ibelongmg to me-o no trace of my- presence could be preceived and, strauung my ears for every sound that could give m-j an idea of the character and purpose of my visitor, I lay motionless in my curtained fort ress. A neavy treaa ana a lew muttered words were all that met my ear for several moments, and then, as he ceased his restless pacing up and down the room, a small open ing in, the curtains showed me a square shouldered, powerfully built, young man, in the dress more of an Lnglish smuggler than a Highland robber-but with pistols sticking out of his large.coat-pockets, and an immense club of what seemed to be the stoutest Eng lish oak in his hand. ; He stood with his back to me, and I could not therefore see his face, but he showed the outlaw and ' the ruffian in every turn of his head and movement of his huge body. I never coulddescribe .to you, my dear, the agony of terror that paralyzed me, as I lay gazing at this man, and thought of wnat my fate would .(probably be in nis hands. Then, with the instinct of self-pres-r ervation so strong in every human breast, I passed- in review every. possible chance or means of escape that my imagination could suggest ; and as, one by one, their utter im practicability forced me to dismiss them from my mind, a feeling of such despair as I trust, my love, you may never be able to under stand; settled down upon iny. soul, and for a few moments my senses left me.'- , . . : When I recovered, the villain had ceased his rapid strides about the room, and raising myself noiselessly on my, elbow, so as to have a better view of what was passing, I perceived that he was standing before the table with; a huge gold watch in his hand, "and muttering some unintelligible expressions of impatience, apparently at the lateless of the hour. Then stretching his huge frame, with' a loud yawn and another fearful imprecation , he threw mmseii upon tne nock-bed m tne corner, ana in another moment his heavy breathing told me that he was asleep. - How I thanked God that he had not selected my bed for his place of repose I - The hope if escape now grew stronger and? stronger within me, and I de cided that the effort must be made, and that probably spend the night . there it was no doubt the place of rendezvous for - his whole gang he was evidently expecting some one, and I knew not at what moment the room might fill with a score ojT ruffians of the same stamp as the one before me. My brain reeled when I thought of what might befall me then. Better failure better even death than such a risk as that ; so,!without waiting for any-further deliberation, I pushed myself noiselessly to the very edge of the bed, and then slipped down upon the floor, where I stood-wedged between the wall and the great four-poster, which rose up like a rampart of defence before my shrinking, crouching fig ure. . My plan was to creep under, the bed and then, still on hands and knees, to crawl stealthily over the floor, and, the door once reached, to trust to my swiftness of foot, or the wings with which hope , and fear were sure to furnish me, to carry me beyond the reach of my pursurer, should he wake and' at tempt to follow me. I knew the risks I Tan a rustle of the bed-elothes, the slightest creaking of the bed, and I was lost, but terror seemed to-endowme with the power of mov ing with almost supernatural iioiselesshess; and I had made my way safely to the opening from whence I was to commence my perilous journey, towards the door, when, to my hor ror and astonishment, the door softly opened, and, instead of the ruffian whom I . expected to see enter, the landlady's pretty daughter stood before me. ; She wore a large dark plaid over her head and shoulders,; and her face was almost ghastly in its excessive pallor. I drew back instantly : into my place of concealment against the wall fearing that her woman's eyes would detect what the man's less rapid vision had failed to see. She sat down in a weary Way by the deal-table, and leaned her .head upon her hand for a few moments, then rousing herself with what seemed to be an effort, she crossed the room and laid her hand upon the sleeper's shoulder. He woke with a start and an oath, and levelled his pistol at the girl's head before he seemed rightly to understand who she was. Then, in reply to her half smothered " Jamie, Jamie, don't you know me?" he threw down the weapon and asked, in a surly tone, " Why the she didn't speak out, or she'd get some cold lead into her before she knew it." 1 -" I didn't like to wake you, J amie, you were so sound asleep ; but I. haven't a minute to stay. Mother's wakeful to-night and sure to miss me, so tell me .quick what it is you wished to say, and promise me that you'll go away to-night and not come back again until vou can come like, an honest lad and ask me at my mother's hands" A sneering laugh broke from the villain as Margie uttered these simplewords. , : " I'll go, Margie, ? fast enough," he said, "but not till voiCve done a tidy bit of work for. me, my girl. It's all cut and dried for you, my pretty, and if you'll only be good and " mind what I say, 1 11 carry you oft to Glasgow this very night, and we'll be on board ship and away to the bonny South be- iore any one nere Knows mat we re gone." But Margie shook her head and her blue eyes filled with tears. : i j "I couldn't go that way; Jamie," she' said, " and leave mother; so it's no use talking non sense. Tell me what you want of me and let me go back again." t ; ' The ruffian brought his scowling face down upon a level with hers and whispered a few words into her ear. The girl started as if a serpent had stung her,and exclaimed in an excitea tone : : ; God's Jamie, give up your er help you to such a crime as that." , V The expression of the man's face was fright ful to behold, as Margie uttered this wild re monstrance, and shaking her fiercely by the arm, he hissed out : " Then you'll suffer for it, my beauty. I'll break every bone in that pretty face of yours if you set yourself up against me. You're too dainty for the wife of a bold lad like me, but 111 break you in, I promise you." I trembled now for the 'poor girl more than for myself, and was half inclined to come forward and support her in her protest against her lover's villainy, but uncertainty as to how my advance might be received by both of them, and a sickening suspicion of the nature of the crime that he was urging her to, kept me fastened to the spot where I stood, or rather crouched, behind the bed. The . robber remained quiet for a' moment after r; caking the last words, swinging his huge club in his hand, and then feeling, per haps, that the success of his scheme depended in a great measure upon the girl's assistance, and knowing that gentleness and persuasion will often prevail with a woman where harsh ness and violence fail, he laid his club upon the table, and, passing his arm round Margie's waist, he drew her closely up to him and whispered - ' girL and I swear I'll never ask you to do the like again. , J It's a pity to lose the chance, little one, and these rich English swells will never miss what I take. ; It's a chance, girl a chance that may ne ver come again, and a cHance that I can't and won't lose. So, come now, don't stop to think, the night's going and to-morrow they'll be farther oft, and worse .work may come of it For I'm bound to nave that bag of gold Margie, by fair means or foul ; and I'll huyj you. everything you ever wished for with the money, Margie. So; up, girl, showme the room, and give what help you canj for it's for. your good as much as forjmy own I'm doing it. ; ; ; It was true then; my worst suspicions were confirmed by these words. His purpose was to rob my kind protectress perhaps to murder her if she woke and called, for help, as she most undoubtedly would do. What might nOt happen, to her, and to my little pupils, in the hands of that dreadful man? Arid what could I do to help her,, alone and unprotected, in that remote place. All this, and a hundred different plans of action, rush ed through my brain With the rapidity of light ning, but I put them; all aside with a strong effort, feeling that the most important thing for all of us was that Margie should remain firm in her refusal to assist him I looked at her with eyes almost starting from my head, and Was comforted to see no signs of relent ing in her pale, sad face- ; i si " I will never, never do it, Jamie," she said at last, " never help you to such a wicked crime. 'm Suppose they wake, perhaps murder will come of it murder for that gentle Eng lish lady and those pretty bairns. Oh I Ja mie, Jamie, be persuaded ; give it up, give it up, and I will go anywhere, do anything for you. It's the devil working in you, Jamie; put him back ; dont listen to him ; don't do this awful deed." v ; The tears poured down her face as she sob bed out these words, and probably obscured her sight, so that she did not see the horri ble change that was coming over her lover's face a change so dark, so terrible, so elo quent of the worst passions and most deadly impulses, that it seemed to freeze the very marrow in my bones. He took no notice of her piteous entreaties, save to say in a tone of deep, concentrated rage, ; - ; ; ; ;" I give you three chances, girL to say yes or no and, by -, I'll blow your brains out if you refuse once. Will you do it? Speak, girl," he . added, shaking her more roughly than before, as she knelt before him. "No, James, never," was the faint reply. "Twice will you do it?" he roared in a voice of thunder, infuriated, apparently, by her,determined resistance to his will. Mar gie hesitated a moment, and seemed to shrink back and cower under his uplifted arm, but the answer when it came was still firm, though faint and low, and when rthe -third time came, and his voice shook and trembled with the fearful passion that possessed him; she raised herself by a mighty effort, and looking straightiinto: Ms fierce-and i angry eyes, said in lo&ler and firmer tones than she had yet been able to use, . . " Never, Jamie, so help me God hi heaven, never !" "Then .'take . that, and that, . and that roared the monster, raising his .heavy club, and bringing it down with his utmost force upon the girl's upturned Head. I To rush from my hiding-place and throw myself between the robber and his victim, and receive one : of the blows intended for her upon my outstretched arm, was the work of a second, and after that I remember noth ing more. " ' ; . When I recovered my senses it was day- " Ohl no, , no, no, for. God's sake, don't think Of doing such a wicked, wicked thing. You'll ruin us "both, J amie," if- you don't erive ud vour wicked courses. I'll nev- spite cf the confusion of my faculties, mv eye caught the' brilliant crest of Ben Lomond, which the rising sun was just crownng with its golden rays. I tried to sit up and look at cut me, but a . sickening pain in my right arm and a dull aching in my head overpowered me, and I sank back upon the floor aain. As I lay there for a few moments with my eyes closed, my mind regained its force and clearness, and every occurrence of the past night came slowly back and stamped themselves for life upon my brain. - : ; ' : Where was Margie? and "where was the wretch who had, I feared, done her so bru tally to death ? Again I opened my eyes and looked timidly around. ' There was not a trace to be seen of ths faarful struggle that had taken place in the darkness and silence of the night, and, but for my shattered arm, T should almost have thought that the whole thing had been the creation of my own over wrought imagination. With great pain and difficulty I raised myself and staggered to wards the door, with the intention of making my way as fast as my shaking limbs would carry me to Lady Hervey's room. You can imagine better than I pan describe,: dear, my' utter despair, when, on reaching the door, I found it .securely fastened on the outside. After all the horror and agony of the night, I was doomed to a still longer imprisonment in that dreadful room. The disappointment was so intense, and the pain of my broken arm so sickening, that a deadly faintness again overcame me, and I staggered back and fell prostrate across the bed where the brutal ruffian of the night had slept. Again there must have been an interval of uncon sciousness, as, when I opened my eyes', I could perceive that the day had advanced, and distant sounds of life indicated that the household was astir. I rose and moved to wards the window with the intention of sit-" 4-"U T T,l t nxig nici c, . until ; jl feiiuuiu. see ftuiciucuiucr of the family pass, whom I could summon to my aid. As I dragged my shaking limbs across the floo, my eye rested for a moment : upon the door which opened into the wood- . house, and I perceived that it was unlatched, '. and open on a crack.- An impulse which I . could never explain induced me, without an instant's reflection; to move towards it, and with my left arm push it partly open.. The piace was aarK, Deingiigntea oniyirom tne outer; room, but I saw distinctly Margie's plaid spread over something, which I knew well 'enough was Margie's body. . .v- . For an instant I stood with a feeling of death creeping over me, then, flying to the' window, ! threw it up, and shrieked long and loud for help. When I paused, from sheer exhaustion, I expected to'hear human voices responding to my call, but not a sound broke the deathlike stillness,' and, as I glanced up at the rugged face of the mountain, it seemed to frown down upon me for my boldness in thus rending the sacred veil of silence that hung over the early morning, by my hideous- cries. . . i - i --. ; : Then it occurred to me that perhaps, after all, Margie might not be dead. ; There might be a spark of life remaining, which, with in- : stant help, might be fanned into a flame. How could I get this help? How could I ' get away how make myself heard, from this devil's hole of solitude and desolation ? I looked out, and for an instant indulged the idea of jumping from the window, but a ' glance at the distance, at least twenty feet from the ground, and the roaring torrent be low, convinced me that such a lerp would a, ihstajat-dea&Th tlJ door,' and with my one serviceable arm pulled at it with the energy of despair. But it was as fixed and immovable as Mrs. Chester her self could have desired, had the fastening been on the inside, and . a legion of devils withouti Back to the window again, where I sent forth cry after cry,' which seemed to my quivering nerves to pierce the very hea- . vens with their, shrillness. I have often won dered since how it came to nass that ho One heard ine. ' '':': :"';' ---;-' ' But as the minutes sliDned b v. and no help seemed near, a doubt came over me wnether I ought not to go into that dark chamber, and satisfy myself whether life still lingered in the poor girl's body. .In my heart I believed that all was over, forwhen I recalled the fearful blows that had rained ' . down'uppn the fair young head, 1 felt sure that life had departed with the 'very first of them, and as I glanced furtively towards the-half-open uoor, the glimpse that I got of the tigid outline, which the clinging plaid only too well defined, convinced me that a closer examination would be as useless as it would be harrowing and distressing Besides, un der the pressure of what I had gone through . and the pain of my broken arm, I felt that my bodily strength was giving out so ' fast that further effort would soon be impossible. So I bent all my energies to' the one effort of bringing human succor to mv- relief, and sent out another long, wild, despairing cry. for "t help," and this time, even as I uttered it, my eye caught sight of a farm-laborer with axe and spade across his shoulder, cross--i ing a distant -.meadow. He 'Stopped and seemed, to .listen, and when 1 sent forth a still longer, louder shriek, his eye, directed -by the ear,: became fixed upOn me. He told -me afterwards that for & moment !he could not believe that anything human had uttered those cries, or that the white fia-ure that with ghastly face and outstretched arm, seemed making snch unearthly eflbrts to. arrest his : attention, could belong to a creature of this lower world. The; agony with: which I. watched him, the fear that he might gdTais way without sailing any one to my assist-' ance, can' ohly be' - compared to -the feelings of the shipwrecked sailor, when he sfenals a . distant sail and doubts whether, or not it will . poured down my cheeks when I saw the man turn ihd run hurriedly towards the other end . of the house. t lYery soon footstens came hur rying along the passage, ond I had just sense : and strength left to run across the room and close the wood-house ; door, when : the rnrn was -cut on the outside, knd I fell faintino into the good landlady's arms. . ; . ';, ; , i can ten you very little more, my dear, for ' I did not recover sense: or consciousness for for many days. Fever and delirium super- venea j upon tne . fractured : hmb, and it was only from my wild ravinsrs. and the disjoint ed sentences that fell from my lips during r my delirium,' that those about me were ahle ' to gather even the vaguest idea of the events of that awful night. ? - ; ;. -;. . ; When the fever left me I found Sir Andrew with a retinue of servants established at the inn, as the authorities had refused to allow me to he removed nntil I could give some in- . telligent account, of: what had taken place, auu. xiervey, or co: irse, wouia not leave me. - " ." Poor Marsie's bodv had been fnnnri as I feared, the medical verdict was that life had been manv hours extinnt. Jt V s been a comfort to me to believe that she did not feel those frightful blows. The .first one probably stunned,- if it did not kill her. -When . I was able to give my testimony, which I did with cleornccs and precision, at light, and in
Farm and Fireside (High Point, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 1, 1872, edition 1
2
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