Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Signal, 1883-01-12, Page 22 FIRE AND SWOR 1) : added to thew dubious t1 A Stora' cf the Ma of Olabooe. 1,1 CHAPTER I. Thane waw ooasmotiott is feller fele, Earl Breadalbane, the feudal laird of the district, had important state business l4 hand. Ile held a oomtnisiva from the State for the (,aci:ication of the dieatlect- ed clans, and had invittd the Jacobi:o chiefs and officers t.o friendly 'intercourse at his Glenurely estate. This was ,reception day, and his own numerous retainers were attired in spe- cial holiday garb, and had gathered in ,treat force Oa the siretch of green t ground fronting his prinoely residence h at the head of the Brae of Orchy. The year was 16.91, and on the failure e of the Jacobite party to maintain itself against the Whig party, Breedalbane—. who was a professed and :ousted support- w er of King William's Government, now that that Govexnneut was on the win- ning side—had oecsivad a most impor.. tent commisaiou to eoticiliate the High- land Chiefs by the distribution of £15,- th 000—an immense rem in these days— w along with the promise of an indemnity es from the oonsegeersees of put offences ▪ - against loyalty to the new order of t things ; the conditions of all which were etl1� aoosplance, oe the par, of the disaf- fected Chiefs, of the Oath of Allegiance. deep of treschely a at�111 the Hord O EIiledber . Aim the Revolt) heal, like others of Lis fellow nobles, Jutned auslbstteyed every political party t m tares He had event 'nail M W,1 Liam and lyary, aid had spire .ls secreta and ayataatatically plotted against thee& His uncertain autl.Aie- Nett table caGrse—which had all along heel full of shifts and doubffeme memo e somewhat leas tortuous after the Whig ascendancy consequent on the battle of the Ione. His position and Welts marking him out to the new Gomm - meat as a man who could do :each to j'ac'fy tie Highlands, he accepted, and at once proceeded to eaeonte, the impor- t/at commission entr'aatad to him, and entre the convention of the chiefs and flicers of the Jacobite party at Ciento- by. "Annrher arrival, my Lord Breadat- bane," announced an attendant Dunnie- asaeil, saluting the proud Earl Who f" he i nq uired- "Camerxr of Leokiel," promptly an- wered the atterieet. A smile of eatiefaction momentarily lit e dark features of the haughty Earl. !lick was succeeded by a bun of con- rsation amongst the Highland chiefs seated routed the table. 'No word yet of M'Ian of Glencoe?" he inquired, as the attendant turned to lesv, the hall. "None, my lord.' The earl resumed his seat, from which be had momentarily risen on receiving the announcement of Loehiel. The non- appearance of M'Ian, the Chief of (llu- ooe• had mentally disquieted him. A dark shade of wiugled anger and disap- pointment clouded kis handsome count- enanee, which was noticed by those who sat in his presence. The Earl's auspicious of M'Ian's per- usal jealousy end hatred, apart from his mer+ political daatutie.n as a Jacob- ite, was natural, and perhaps in a sense justifiable, Fur generations past the "Mee of the Glen," as the Maodunalds of elle Looe were familiarly called, had been regarded as enemies ot iheBreadal- bane blanch of the powerful Campbells. The Earl entertained rind pe..,istently nursed • strong, if not a just, aver* the old chief and his "thieving people," as he eau accustomed to name the n, sed knowing .w,,e'! the stem old &Ames perfervid ettaC.atnest to this Jaco- bite cause, jailed to the'' personal dial li !e and ■uapicion ot each oi;hsr, be p.'omptly concluded that M'I*.i's octet ed ieese.toe from tare convention -was - insult offered to his dignity as con vense of the meeting in the Ki••R's r. o. "The wily old fox will not readily l .eve L den," Le whispered ;n s nut; tone aside to Cap aro Robert Olen'yun, an unscrupaloue pet'eroe of the Ferri, aaa s lard on his domains. Gleulyca smiled grimly, and sueges- fivety shot his head, 'oV, venturing an open remark lest the ceiefs assembled rocnd the table should overuesr it. e moos cor.,ectioa," age t whiape.- eE 'Yas, "' s so -t," responded Glenlyon, at.'l-'ng tee massive hilt of his sword. Further mirky was perant'y inter rupted by the entrance of Loch»!, the •"oestor, i.o a later veneration, of the gallas. au d chivalrous eeeerenepf "'.ince Charles of the '4b. t'A coin -And welooase"," shouted Eresdalbeie, rising rid extending his hand. Lochial retuned the frothy greeting less effusively .nun the proud Earl would have wished. He eau, however, too as- tute a diplomatist to show his resent- ment, and friendly greetings went round the circle, with a fair show of sincerity and good faire, succeeded on which con- versation bestow, general, the main topic of bl upness being studiously avoided by the Earl, in the hops that II'Ian of the Valley migh: still put in an appearance, whose adhesion to the new Covernmeut was the 'nor) to be desired because of the re. pest in which he was held by Lu en,ther chiefs, and the influence his counsel had with than. "His land 1:35 nearest ma, std he lathe slo,t-es, of appearance," agai i muttered the Earl to his trusted hcnch'ran Glee. yen. "Which means— "Opax s'tion to our plans. " interjectel . he angry )art. By-a,t.l-by, however, the atteadao, Dunnuwa'wail rushed in and almost ex- eited'y announced the arrival of M tau. oecripisd ' y his tee sons Jobe and A l - lis er, the ole Caines piper, and a weal! body -Quant ' f re( amen. A gleam of satisfaction lit up the Curl's dark face, and he smiled Svelte/m- ay to his trusty penmen Glenlyon. f resen:.ly the old Chief entered the hall, supported ri-;i1 and left by his two eta'.watt wine, who each saluted the Sari. FHh $URON St�1�I�,�,, FRIDAY, JAN. 12, !88;; was a striking figure t0 look at before his old enemy, the and over -meek* Marl. apprlitad in kilts, sad ware the alter - NOR( pinup and pale -den statue of his elso, tn)Maliw.O with a piotursogn, pcotsaitaa M1 tlf'iM.a sleeks, wN6 *hie . bt4.trst filth ed a lighter color, pIa , ort;-iitakioaad spartan, rgitLatlistti>i aqd diens.„ ad with shots BMde od ; ;gin on his feet. The breed woof, bet which ha held in his hand was fitly adorned with a badge of heather blos- som and a single white eagle's feather. It was further noticeable that the heath- er badge was artistically tied together by a white ribbon erranged in a double loop -k not. The quick eye et the Earl netice.l thew alight yet signiiieent indications of hostility to the business at issue. He promptly judged them as being equiva- lent t.. an aasuurptimr, of the 'White Oockade," and the arrugauce of . he ad annoyed him. He accepted it u a de- fiant challenge avainat the success of the important comuiisaion with which he stood entrusted. " Macdonald is late of arrive)," re- marked the Eart, affecting by the tone et his voice to be more concerned in his guest's welfare than dubious of his sin- cerity in attending the busteens of the eonference. The 'old (thief tendered the Earl an evasive reply, and entered forthwith into a spirited conversation with his brother Chiefs around him. The apacioua baronial -looking .hall wherein they were gathered presented a picturesque and roost striking appear - aims. On every side the walls were hung with nuraer,us trophies of the chase, huge hor-nsofbwts,euite otchain-armor, old swords of traditionary note, wfth rows of emb1ematio shields and banners, and with rude arms and accoutrements native to the period, and to presiding ages of rapine and blood. Bash article of honor, and each relic family history and worth had a dory of its own to tell, detail* of which had been traditionally banded down from sire to eon- In many cases battle dents, and dark stains of eloodnndered longbladed broadswords and short -hafted, heavy -headed axes of great tra,atiuual vatne in the eye, of succeeding chief of the family. In ad- dition, the huge antlers of the latest slain nag fitly adoised the centre of the table, and pur.ioua of its fifth were aerie ed up a repast for the Earl's guests in another part of the building.) These martial and strikinr, accessories, oonsmrngling thus with the picturesque andmany-huedgarbs of the different Highland Chieftains, conspired to rep- ly: the scene a notable ons, and not no. worthy of the important historical epi- sode which occasioned it. Outside the scene was equally inter- esting; to look at, and hardly Ism pictn- raeque and staking in effect. On the green plateau before the Earl's mansion the riral clansman heartily fraternised, and' pouring out copious libations of foam- ing &Ie drank to each other generally, and pledged each their own chiefs ieper- ticular, dancing between times, horn- pipes on the graaa to the scream of the pipes and the approving abouts of spec- tators. It was enough that their belov- ed Chiefs were in oonferenee with the Earl inside the ball. Trey were con- tent to go, or -emein, as directed. Meanwhile Breadalbane had cautious- ly opened business by unfolding the Government plan of reconciliation and clemency towards the rebellious Jame hitsChiefs. Put offences, he explain- ed, were to be overlooked, additional portions of land were in some mass to be oeded, and as a catching bait money inducements were held out them, and all on the single condition of their accept- ance of the Oath of Allegiance. L)readalbare urged on their attention the generosity of the Government terms, an anxiously watched the effect of the proposal on the assembled guests. For some moments there was no verbal re- sponse, and the profound alienee with which the Earl's scheme of reconcilia- tion bad been received argued but poor- ly for its ultimate success. Breadalbane urged a reply, and; all looked to M'Ian for counsel. His cour- age, his sagacity, awl his years all com- bined to give hi.n that priority of speech and place among then which his brother Chief. with one moored ooecede.l. Rising to his feet, lie spoke with firm deliberation, and haring the courage of his ceevicti.,na, he fearlessly deprecated omen° of the Serene of the proposal, atie*tse tba, loyalty to • fallen cause was preferable to chicanery in the matter of a successful one. Breadalhane scowled enapprovel of M Ian's roomette, and looked routed the circle anticipatory of a friendly and sympathetic discussion of the proposal, e The Earl had therefore entered into n3gotiations, on behalf of the Govern-_ went, with the priaeipal Chiefs and offi cern of the Jacobite party ; and in the hope of furthering a summate/al issue had, invited them as guests to a friendly cun- ferance in Gleuorchy. There was thus commotion in the quiet Glen that day. Kash Chieftain, accom- panied by a small body -guard of armed retainers, entered the 'seclusion of the beautiful Glen with rapes playing and ribbons and tartans aging ; and from early morn till well on tis afternoon the arrivali continued to pour in, from dis- tricts distant and near, to strains of war. line and inspiring music. It was a bright, warm summer day, the exact date being June 30, 1691. The Vale of Oroby--beautiful in itself, al- though surrounded un all aides by moors and mountains—ease looking its very beet in the rich, warm sunlight, while the mingled assortment of plaid and tartan which eraywhere glanced along its level length added a pietu- resque and striking beauty to the scene. From Rannoch the clanitsen came ; from Glengarry ; from Glenlyon ; from amen, Apple ; from Lochiel ; from the .wilds of ,Lochaber ; and from numerous .other quarters, remote and near, where loyalty to the Stuart dynasty of King Jaime was still luvi igly adhered tc — .even in the dark hour of misfortune—as an article of duty and true faith. Some of the Clans had been three days on the need, but that was no hart -hip in fine weather to men accustomed to the rudelife of that period, and to tate wild and 'Woody forays of inis:amine war. They trod the rugged muuutaia ed to posses with practised feet, and erhw the shades of night came down they slept soundly on ,the open heath, or within the shadow of the silent glens. Stalwart men and strong they were— rough-bearded, broad -chested, long of arm, and lithe of hint) ; and when they awoke from a nights sleep on the rough hiliaide they merely shook the dew from theirplaida, and strode sturdily on. Arriving on the ground, the retainers were provided for outside the Earl's mansion ; and by noon -day several* hun- dreds were gathered, camp -like, on the green plates* facing the house, where they were invited to regale themselves with great draughts of home -brewed ale, and such solid refreshments as were common to that rude period. Inside the Earl'* princely domain a special table had been setTfor the enter. tainniont of the Chiefs, Breadalbane presiding over the business of the hour in person. Over a dozen Chieftafru—the powerful heads of clans or septa of Oban—were assembled round the Barn's board, sitting down to the table belted and "worded am bereeened their rank. The Earl himself wore the picturesque dram of kis Clan, with a strip of dark. green plaid thrown over the right shoul- der above his sword -belt, a pair or silver. buckled shoes on his feet, his stockings being tied below the knee* with red rib - bone. A pair of handsome pistol* were stork in his broad waist.belt, and a sil- ver meet of a boar's head ado mid the top of his shaggy sporan, bearing the motto —Follow Me ' engraved in silver letters over it. A word esgarfing the Earl's'heseoter and standing may net be inadmieeable here : - John, Marl of Bresdalhslte, was the heed of a younger branch of the great house of Campbell, and ranked high among the pretty princes of the moon- beam. He Gould bring 1700 claymore, info the geld, and was consciously proud of the solid fad A man of double character, he had regularly practised in his eretaated horse among the hills lbs barbarian pride and overbearing fer- ectal rata Highland Chief , and snore. ..H Mian was • tall, tins /oohing, nsns,•u. lar man, with broad, square shoulders. upon which rested his long white Rowena loc',s. Hs was deended from lea F..t'.ch---from whom he derived the pat- ronymic of M'Ian—a brother of Joh; Lana of the Is'ee, who Anoris)1M in 1311, and is said to have seinowl (71wr,e„e .n right ,1 hi. eq.-, In this, however, he vise doomed to thump. : n tment Mctan's disparaging and defiant acna. tate seemed to give a menta keynote to rhe Jaonbite circle From its fish ince - tion the G»vrreinent whamsp I had Mann j regarded by the bulk .4 the disaffected Oheiels with euspieion and distrust. and the esteems persona) e,nferenee with its spited author --the ambitions Marl did not seem st all ',nett t. further it n any arsenal eat Ignoring Il'lan's argutnent*, and even I his ex .tent ,'t the table, t will' Earl iia Ilcoe , -to , a.,,, pt. f � the esu'.of ut mosey i wtut again held vain sad largely d i . tt ups by timeattte earl, who t.new the ftiiyM,laoyd O Who wee IONS a suer VedhadiagthiNice inland,, fume disectlyiassisissa for his ow nperso al court fereffasit ptefertnen' than for the social welfare of his bruther Chid - tons. „Nothing will be wau'it:d on the batt it of the Ring, Uoueianslpnt," to continu- ed, 'to we`re 'he social ptallion of the Highland Jacobite l" re l etrer thin lores*erly. quay dial a11,etgry a new social stendiey of adberente of the King, and int;ny of you will have court tole la rtes ex:ended to yuu, with actual money meth h. But as for cud ::lend Minn," lie added, after a letai:.d statement . f pecuniary rewords, "he must, of ower• forego his share of rho looney in tespoct of certain Just ctai:,is which I have against his lawless and thievish tenants for plundering my lauds of goods and cattle (M'Iau glared at :he speaker), and for which I insist on compensation and retention out of Glencoe's share of the reward money entrusted to my oars. An audible nurner of element super- vened on the Eel's concluding remark. and the assernbied Chide each turned Usk eyes towards M'.Ias to ase how be would take the open affront. "Sir," answered the aged Chieftain, "1 date your false claims, and I ditto you to again tall the Men of the Glen belsse or °bluish. " "And I press the charge, and atn.ugly insist on the retention or your portion of the revery," retorted thi unabashed Berl, www whom and U'l'nas a long - steadies at feud was otos 00 - pecte4ly renewed. "'L'bw I deny it, and appeal to the honor of the sword," exclaimed the her- oic Milan, std, suddsaly unsheathing his cisymor'e, he admitted a atop on the confoended Bari "Draw !" In a moment the crafty and schemrttg Glenlyon was on his feet, cud, sword in hand, had treat himself between the raalevolanta "Stand aside, caitiff t" mid the boom sad chivalrous L.,Lia& *Flinging sod- denly to kis feet and thrusting Glenlyon *aide in tura. John eldest son of the aged chief, also sprang to kis aid, sward in hand, and momentarily there was a misers of sword - hilts and dirk -head■ all round. e'Cihitit t' repeated Oi nlysa, defiant- ly branceshing his sword in the face of the brave Osmsron. "LOehiel shall not thus speak el me ! 'Whatever Losheit may be in point of rank, is armor, at least, Gkanlyon is his equal !" Thc rival eispetants glared savagely at each other, and seemed on the point of open and deadly conflict, when Breadalbene, remembering the kindly dignity of his oommiteinn, at once de- sired to sink all permonal feeling in lbs matter,and fervently petitioned the roma - moat Jacobites to do the same. Peace thus restored, the proposed was once more pressed for acceptance, the astute Earl enlarging on tits power and wealth of Ins reigning Government, their firm determination to suppreeedsaffec-tioa at whatever cost, and the hopelessness of farther resistance which amid only sad in disaster to the recognised heads 0t the Clans. "Were there any real chance of encore in the desperate game you are playing, he added, "I would willingly be one with you in action as I am in heart. Brit there is none. The Whigs are powerful and numerous, the Jsoobites feeble and few. Therefore, it is good policy tr submit ourselves to the king" The Chiefs, however, with one &ceerd, declined acceding meantime to any de- finite arrangement, requesting liberty to send Sir Geo. Barclay sad Maier Hien- aiea to France to obtain the sanction of king James, permitting them to inter into a treaty with the new Goverr.tment, sueh as Br'eadallrane now proposed. This request was relubtantly acceded to, and, during tits neesmmary interim, a cessation of hostilities till the first day of the proceeding October was subscrib- ed to on both side■. The immediate buanees of the conven tion thus concluded, Melan beatify got to his feet, and, adjntting his shoulder - plaid, hi summoned his two sons to fol- low him, sod having taken a formal adieu of the haughty Eel, and a warm all-round leave of his brother chiefs, he harried off northwards in the direction of (Mimeo** followed by his trusty body. ham, his " piper " playing • defiant pibroch as they left the grounds (several of the other chiefs followed suit, setting off homewards in different directions, but the majority --who bad Ione journeys to end,rtake--agreed to remain over night, and soup! the Marl's hespitality at Kilchurn Castle, • magnie- ewt feudal oldie situated some miles distant at the foot of (Monarchy. (to SB cowmt:to: / Mena tasrwty- A Fact worth knowing. The beat hossekoldremedy Asthma, for iiConghs o. j.' and all threat lead died sag toward Pahne on meg of say Diseggist ls Hahne tin b. pt: composed largely et powdered ltea c r Li- lstaeSESTandCHEAPESTtu:,'t..,- r, In the world—tie BEST beaus• It noes not Bum, but tonxi.4 a hWhir polished aur- onSr. the site, reduolnC 4tot�On :::i 1 Ishtentnr, Me graft' the CI EA'EST b' - antie rt coots NO MORE than ¶,fence brands, and OM baa edit a0 the *Or a Off ► or any other maize. Aurae. a ra .,A eel" $arrestee&, tlUi Gearteg, : Ortel ing Mi 1 ea, Coru-1't,ro•ers, earn.:. a, Eugjlee eta, s• !.►f Wagons. CUARANTEEO to aontaln so Mtretwm, ,3014 by an dottereltan our rp.as (' si.y ifs V l'�•w w'e re H,werL g aunts nee. MiCA MANUFACTUR W CO. site Plummet Bt. Mew York. Mereesene, ,. ani O ne.Brw tit. SAMUEL. ROCt Ra a CO. tomeio,Ont. tole Aima r't Int the tron,toln .. �s • CURE Bkk moues* sad all the trseMss la& dmasa ant wta�am�t� same tlm nese see piaa- Ws wxleite�W a elven le swig lE•' .aaa SICK mmeamoystostskktasltositt*LserleMsa esvuly =Waiblee7 ell* Mu ourliver weal NEAD Atha !M� ftfMtwight ~� re lenssoprieeless ts, 1.t towot Mtslabatbsre.w� �wdi� t afire slistek CH L lbw based .sop Wes teat ice is alas w Mago apram vast d our powe it trims darters Lett* that NU au airy sire and me, ewer te tete. One ee me pate maw • Ilia Tbay rtser sayable me do sal vtos ar m lot by theirIs .Ipodsass as Si o� pi.a.storya et ay angels ~umbers, et seat by mai CA*TICIt Mluncrers 00., MEW Y.. t City. G 1'..r rale by JAS. WILSON. ONE. The &liter i t in DR. WILSON'S 1'li L%IUNARY CHERRY Is aa extract of wild chem bark, villa the irritated vertu,. in that aid altr�ass�s actssateaktothe wantnat�iat 'skss by appetite, has a ..shire, s,Wtitie ktllasaes on the Meet and 1,:.,.41 vemala, pariamaine palpitati..n. TWO. The 8103N 1) ltrown* and displaces the tough, stringy t.hlegui which ceases so sash paw sod reties*, sad wkisb is Ito cease of the creamier", a.ariiag. THREE. The meat ingredient steals. It is the vital property of the peeabarly sootilag mid heel- ing tow of the white pigment! trot Oakum , dams, at the same time Fateful aai id - dal to the attenaah. FOUR. The rearm seethhighthrkom a $as4ec rearmm s iGapiaes til w healthy, coats the s'w mucous seermieswhile thesus a~ it soft lad sataral. Itat Grat sus the piece of bks deeremed amstiossawl maids in tkss Mas to potions their Praxrsiss&wesstduties AR Ww�2Bstierp}LMNAR CURREY Inc threat me -tea best amen knows ltmE sr Sold ii /S lad AO Csst Bottles -_the 40 CentAsm eai� double the at Coat Wm Median bf an Desrgtiat. sad Dealers b J. W. BRAYLEY, MONTREAL AS ANNOUNCEMENT a SHEPPARD. I would respect- fully intimate that 1 stn ' eniyg up an immense stock of �31)J i1J)i:1 for the -Holiday Trade in EVERY STYLE dele I HAVE BOUGHT LARGELY IN EngIandufljted States Principally from Manufacturers and Lame Dellen, and at Picea from 20 to 40 per cent. Lower than the Reguar Rate. i am thus enabled to sell at Very_Low Prices la Maas Outs_ will illhow the Zest Prom Every Keown liesalhMeyer In Albums, Shell Goods, Work Bowl Writing Fancy Cups and Sewers, Vasa, Toilet Setts. Dells,a u ' Pipes, Toys,, My Stork cannot be mtrrpasse,d Jorv=ri«y- Miscellaneous Powis. /tildes andd Christmas B��k, in quality and prices Csttas Asses4 A ;fell hoe I will guarantee astiafsttwn tv The $uron School Book Depot, hRNER II(1RTH RTRMST AND SQUAAR, GODBRIQit 1 w WH 111 tun . the L WI &lion Login net to to Sir donal. other 1&n is r by th suppol Or pre; of Ou he wot belong then i the On (lents 1 the pro cial Lev The gee re! taxi.) ; ditb, aid the the tn,l of ID fat The erty m cosi ceived And Nay, tees of bagel meati who ing let n ..the opal s 'Mi. • "awl t w as lee Nor' other "wb "pi ". `.true. "an In ing in the (elle copy ere: P shoal k cows, may ing no own wri mun wri of t ante by noti tho the dist ou wee ant u an wit an bef ti d pie be p in fo n