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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1939-05-18, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 18,"1939 "It grieved him 'to the very heart," be said, "to see that' friends and neigh- bors, who 'should stand shoulder to shoulder, were likely to be engaged hand to hand in a cause which so little concerned them. What signifies it," he said, "to the Highland Chiefs, whether King or Parliament got uppermost? Were it not better to let them settle 'their own differences thout interference, While the Chiefs, in the meantime, took the opportunity of establishing their own authority in a manner not to be called an question hereafter by either 'King or Parlia- ment?" He reminded Allan M'Aulay that the measures taken in 'the last reign to settle the peace, as was alleged, of the Highlands, were in fact leveled at the patriarchal power of the Chieftains; and he mentioned the celebrated settlement of the Fife, as they were called, in the Lewis, as part of a deliberate plat, formed to introduce strangers among the Celtic tribes, to destroy by degrees their ancient customs and made of 'govern- ment, and to despoil them of the inheritance of their fathers. "And yet," be continued, addressing Allan, "it is for the purpose of giving despotic authority to the monarch by whom these design:' have been nursed, that so many Highland Chiefs are upon the point •of quarreling with, and drawing the sword against, their neighbors, allies, and ancient confed- erates," [In the reign of ]antes VI.. an at- tempt of rather an extraordinary kind was made to civilize the extreme nor- theast part of the Hebridean Archi- pelago. That monarch granted the property of the Island of Lewis, as if it had been an unknown and savage country, to a number of Lowland gentlemen, called tuldertakers, chiefly natives of the shire of Fife, that they might colonize and settle there. The enterprise was at first successful, but the natives of the island, MacLeadi and MacKenziee, rnce on the LC, c - land adventurers, and put most of then' to the sword.] -It is to my brother. said Allan, It is to the eldest son of ny father'; house. that the knight of Ardenvohr most address these remonstrances. I ant, indeed. the brother of Angus; but in being .So. I am only the first of his clansmen, and 'bound to show an example to the others by my cheerfel and ready obedience to his c•om- mantls." "The cause also," said Lord Men- teith, interposing, "is far more gen- eral than Sir Duncan Campbell seems to sui'pc;se it. It is neither limited to Saxon nor to Gael, 'to mountain nor to ,trach, to Highlands nor to Low- lands The question is, if we rill con- tinue to' be •governed by the unlimited authority assumed by a set of person? in no respect superior to ourselves, instead of returning to the natural government of the Prince against whom they have rebelled. And res- pecting the interest of the Highlands in particular." he added, "I crave Sir Duncan Campbell's pardon for my plainness; but it .seems very clear to me, that •the only effect produced by the present usurpation will be the .aiegrandizem,en1 of one overgrown clan at the expense of every inde- pendent Chief in the Highlands." "I will not reply to you, any lord said Sir Duncan Campbell, "because I know your prejudices, and from whom they are borrowed; yet you will pardon my saying, that being at the head of the rivalbranch of the House of Graham, I have ,both read of and known an Earl of Menteith, who would have disdained to have been tutored in politics, or to have been commanded in war by an Earl of Montrose." "You will find it in vain, Sir Dun- can," said Lord Monteith, haughtily, "to set my vanity in arms against my principles.. The King gave my ancestors their title and .rank; and these shall never prevent my acting, M the royal cause under any one who is'better qualified than myseif to be a coannander-in-chief: Least of all, shall any miserable jealousy prevent me from placing my 'hand and sword under the guidance of the 'bravest, the most 'loyal, the most 'heroic spirit among our Scottish no'bil'ity." "Pity," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "that you cannot add to his pen'gyric the further epithets of the most steady and the most consistent. But I have no purpose of debating the points with you my lord," waving his 'hand,' as if to avoid further discussion; "the die is cast with you; allow ane only to express my sorrow for the disastrous fate to which Angus M'Aulay's natural rashness, and your lords'hip's influence, are dragging my gallant friend Allan here, with his father's clan, and many a brave man besides." "The die is cast for us all, Sir Duncan," replied Allan, looking gloomy, and arguing on his own hypo- coudriac feelings; "the iron hand of destiny 'branded our fate upon our forehead long ere we could form a wish, or raise a finger in our own behalf. Were this otherwise, by what means does the seer ascertain the fu- ture from those shadowy !presages which haunt his waking and his sleep- ing eye? Nought tan be foreseen but that which is certain to happen. Sir Duncan Campbell was about to reply, and the darkest and most contested point of metaphysics night have 'been 'brought into discussion be- twixt two Highland disputants, when the door opened, and Annot Lyle, with her clairshach in her hand, ent- ered the apartment. The freedom of a Highland maiden was in her step and in her eye; for, bred up in the closest intimacy with the Laird of Laird of M'Aulay and his brother, with Lorci Menteith, and outer young men who frequented Darnlinvarach, she possessed none of that timidity which a female, educated chiefly among her own sex, would either have felt, or thought necessary to as - 011 .an occasion like the present. Her dress partook of the antique, for new fashions seldom :penetrated into the Highlands, nor would they easily have found their way to a castle, chiefly inhabited by sten, whose sole occupation was war and the rhase, Yet Annot's .garments were not only becoming but even rich. (ler open jacket, with a 'high collar, was eo mpeoed of blue cloth, richly en ero'dered. and had silver clasps to fasten, when it pleased the wearer. Its -ieere,, which were wide, carne no lower than the elbow, and terminated in a golden fringe; under this nipper oat, if it can be sn termed, she wore an under dress of bine satin, also richly embroidered, but which was several shades. lighter in color than the upper garment. The petticoat was formed of tartan silk, in the set, or pattern, of which the color of blue greatly •predominated, so as to re - ,move the tawdry effect too frequently and strong opposition of colors. An antique chain hung round her neck, and supported the wrest, or key. with which she tuned her instrument, A small rnff rose above her collar, and was secured 'by a brooch of some value, an old keepsake of Lord Men- teith. Her profusion of light hair al- most hid her laughing eyes, while, with a smile and a 'blush, slid men- tioned that she had M'Aulay's direc- tions to ask then' if they chose music, Sir Duncan Campbell gazed with considerable surprise and interest at the lovely, apparition, which thus in- terrupted his debate with Allanil'- Aulay, "Can' this," he said' to him in a whisper, "a creature so• beautiful and ea elegant, be a.domnestic musician of ynnr brother's estab'lishm:ent?" 'By no 'mean," answered Allan hastily, yet with some 'hesitation; "she is a---a—near relation of our family—and treated," he Folded, mare firmly, "as an adapted daughter of our father's hcttsc," A he snake elms, 'he arose .from hie seat, and with that air of courtesy which every Highlander can assume when it suits him to practise it, he resigned it to Annot, and offered to her, at 'lise same time, whatever re freshntemts the 'ta'ble afforded, with an assiduity which was probably de- signed to give Sir Denman' an impres- sion of her rank and consequence. If such was Allan's purpose, 'however, it was unnecessary. Sir .Duncan ,kept his eyes fixed upon : Ar'oot with an ex- pression of much deeper interest than could have arisen from', any impres- sion that she was a person of conse- quence. Annot even felt embarrassed ,under the old knight's ,steady gaze; and it wee not •w:itholu't considerable hesitation, that, buning her instrument and receiving an assenting look froth Lord Menteith and Allan, 'sale execut- ed the a,ollowing !ballad, which our friend Mr. Semen:this .Macpherston, whose goodaiess we had. before to acknowledge,has thus translated into the ,Englishtongue: THE ORPHAN MAID November's hail -cloud drifts away, November's sunbeam wah Looks coldly on the castle !gray, When forbh comes Lady Anne. The orphan by the oak was set, Her arms, her 'feet, were bare, '1'he hail -drops had not melted yet Amid her raven hair, "And Dante," s'he said, •''by all the ties That 'ehi'ltl and another know, Aid one who never knew 'those joys, Relieve an orp'han's woe." The lady said, "An orp'han's state Is hard and sad to 'bear; Yet worse 'the widow'd m'other's fate, Who mourns both lord and 'heir, `'Twelve 'times the rolling year has sped Since, when from ,vengeance wild, Of fierce Strathallan's Chief 'I fled, Forth's eddies wheltn'd my child," "Twelve times the year 'its course has •borne," • The wandering maid replied, "Since fishers on St. 'Bridget's morn Drew mets on Campsie side. "St. Bridget sent no scaly .spoil;— An infant, well-nigh dead) They saved, and rear'd in want and toil, • To beg from you her bread." That orphan maid the lady 'kiss'd " My husband's looks you 'bear; • St. Bridget and her morn be 'bless'dl You are his widow's heir." They've robed that maid so poor and pale In silk and sandals rare;: And pearls, for drops of •frozen hail. Are glistening in her hair, Mille the song proceeded, Lord Menteith observed, with some 'sur- prise, that it appeared to produce a much deeper effect 'upon 'the mind of Sir Duncan .Campbell than he could possibly have anticipated from his age and character. He well knew 'that the Highlanders of that period possessed a much greater sensibilityboth for tale and song than was found among their Lowland neighbors; but even this, he thought, hardly accounted for the embarrassment with which the old man withdrew his eyes from the songstress, as if unwilling to suffer theta to rest on an abject so interest- ing, Still less was it to 'be expected that features which expressed :pride, stern common sense, and the austere habit of authority, should have been so much agitated iby so trivial a cir- cumstance. As The Chiefs brow 'be- came clouded, he :drooped his Lange shaggy gray eyebrows until they al- truist concealed his eyes, on the lids f which something like a tear might he seen to glisten. He remained silent and fixed in the same posture 'for a minute or two after the last note had ceased to vibrate. He then raised his head, and having looked at Annot Lyle, as if purposing to speak to her, be as suddenly charged that purpose, and was about to address Allan, when the .door opened, and the Lord of the Castle made his appearance, CHAPTER IX. Dark en their journey lottr'd the gloomy day, Wild were the hills, and doubtful. grew the way; More dark. more gloomy, and more doubtful Rhow•'cl The mansion which received them from the road. The Trat-ellers. Angus M'Aulay was charged with a message which he Seemed to find some difficulty in communicating; for it was not trill after he had framed his speech several different ways, and blundered them all, that he succeeded in letting Sir 'Duncan 'Campbell know that the cavalier who was to acconn- pany slim' waswaiting in readiness, and that all was prepared for his return to Inverary. Sir Duncan Campbell rose up very indignantly; the affront which this message implied immediately driving out of his recol- lection the sensibility which had been awakened by the music, 1 .little expected this," he said, looking indignantly at Angus Il'.kul- sty. "I little 'thought that there was a Chief in the West Highlands who, at the pleasure of a Saxon, would have bid the Knight of Ardenvohr leave his castle .when the sun was'decliniirg from thte meridian, rind ene the sec- ond cup had been filled. But +farewell, sir, the !food of a c'lmtrl does not satis- fy the appetite; when I next revisit Darttlinvarach, it shall be 'with a naked' sword in .one hand, and a 'fire- brand in the other," "`And if you do cone," said Angus,. "I pledge myself to meet you fairly, though Tont' brought rfive 'hundred Campbells 'at your back, and to afford you, and therm :s•itch entertainment that yott 'shall not again complain of the. hospitality :of Darnlinvaraoh," "Threatened men," said Sir Dun- can, "live long. Your turn for gaecoin- adin'g. Laird of .M'Aulay, is too well known that men of honor should re gard your vaunts. To you my lord, and' to 'Allan, who have suppllied the. place of nt'y churlish 'host, d leave my thanks. 'And to your pretty anistress," he said, addressing Annot Lyle, "this little token, fou having opened a 'fountain 'which (math 'been dry for many a year." So saying, he left the apartment, and commanded his at- tendants to be 'summoned. Angus M'- Aulay, eganally embarrassed and in- censed at the oharge,:of inhospitality, which was the greatest possible af- front to a Highlander, did not follow Sir Duncan to the courtyard, !where, mounting his :palfrey, which was in readiness, followed 'by six mounted attendants, 'and accompanied by . !the noble Captain Dalgetty, Who had also awaited him, holding Gustavus ready ,for action, though he did not draw his girths and 'mount till Sir 'Duncan ap- peared, the whole calvacade deft 'the oasfile. The journey was long and toilsome, 'batt without any of the extreme priva- tions which 'the Laird of lel'Au:lay bad prophesied. In truth, Sir Duncan was very cautious to avoid those nearer and more secret paths, by means of which the county of Argyle was accessible from the eastward; for his relation and chief, the Mar- quis, was used 'to 'boast, that he would not for a !hundred 'thous'and crown any mortal shouldknow the passes by which an armed force could pene- trate into his country. Sir Duncan Camplbell, therefore, rather shunned the Highlands, and falling into the Low Country, made dor the nearest seaport in the vicinity; where he ,had several half -decked galleys or 'hidings, as they were call- ed, at his command. In one of these they embarked, with Gustavus in company, who was so seasoned to ad- venture, that land and' sea seemed as indifferent to him as to his master. The wind •being• favorable, -+they pursued their way rapidly, with sails and oars; and early the next morning it was announced to Captain Dal- getty, then in a small cabin beneath the half -deck, that the galley was under 'the walls of Sir Duncan Camp- bell's castle. Ardenvohr ' accordingly rose high above 'him, when he came upon the deck of the •galley. It was a gloomy square tower, of considerable size and great !height, situated upon a headland projecting into the salt- water lake, or arm of the sea, which they had entered on the preceding evening. A wall with 'flanking towers at each angle, surrounded the castle to landward; but toward the lake, it was built so near the 'brink of the precipice as only to leave room far a battery ,af seven guns, designed to protect the fortress from any insu,it from that side. although situated 'too high to be of any effectual use accord- ing to the modern system of warfare. The eastern sun, rising behind the old tower, flung 'its shadow far on the lake, darkening the deck of the ,galley, on which Captain Dalgetty now walked, waiting with some im- patience the signal .to land• Sir Dun- can Campbell, as he was informed by his attendants, was already within the walls of the castle; 'hitt no one en- couraged the Captain's proposal of following him ashore, until, as they stated, they should receive the direct permission or order of the King of Ardenvohr. In a short time after the mandate arrived, while a boat with a piper in the how, bearing the Knight of Ard- envohr's crest in silver upon his left arm, and playing with all his might the .family march, entitled "The Campbells are coming," approached to conduct the envoy of Montrose to •the castle of _Ardenvohr. The distance between the galley and the beach was so short as scarce to require the assistance of the eight sturdy rowers, in 'bonnets, short coats, ,and trews, whose efforts sent the 'boat to' the lit- tle creep in which they usually landed,'before ane could have conceived that it had left the side of the 'birling, Two of 'the boatmen, in spite of Dal- getty's resistance, horsed the Captain an the 'hack of a 'third Highlander, and, wading through the surf with him, 'landed him high and dry upon the 'beach beneath the castle rock. In the face of 'sh'is rock there appeared something like the entrance of a l h hrowed 'cavern, toward which t - assistants were preparing to hurry our friend Dalgetty, when, shaking himself loose from then) with some difficulty, he insisted upon seeing Gustavus safely landed before he,.pro ceeded one step further, The High- lander could not comprehend what,i Ise meant, until one ;who'had, picked up a Tittle English, or rather Lowland Scotch, exclaimed "Houtsl i't'•s a' a'bo'ut her: horse, to useless baste!". Further remonstrance on the part of Captain Dalgetty was internupted by the appearance of Sir Duncan Camp- bell (himself, from .the mouth of the cavern which we hawse described, for the purpose of inviting Captain. Dal- getty to accept ,of the hosipitali'ty of Ardenvohr, pledging his honor, at the same time, that 'Gustavus should be treated as became the hero from whom •he derived his name, not to mention the important person to whom he now belonged. Notw'ith- standin'g this satisfaotory guarantee, Captain IDaigetty would still have hesitated, such ,evas his anxiety to 'wit- ness the fate of itis .companion Gus- tavus, 'had not two Highlanders seiz- ed hien' 'by the arms, two more pushed him on :behind, while a 'fifth exclaim- ed, "Hout awa wi' the daft Sassen- achl does she no hear the Laird 'bid- ding her up to her aim castle, wi' her special voice; and isna that very m,uokle honor for the like o" her?" Thus impelled, 'Captain Dalgetty could only for a short apace keep a reverted eye toward the -'galley in which he had :left the .partner of his military toils. In a few minutes after- ward he found hinisel'f involved in the total darkness of a •stairca'se, which, entering from the law-browed cavern we have mentioned winded up- ward 'through the entrails of the l'iy- ing rock. "The cursed Highland salvages 1" muttered the Captain, half aloud; "`what is to !become of me, if Gustavus should 'be lamed among their untenty hands." "Have no fear of that, said the voice of Sir Duncan, wdho was nearer to him than he imagined; "my men are accustomed to handle horses, 'both in em'barlcing and dressing them, and you will soon see Gustavus as safe as when you last dismounted from his (back." Captain Dalgetty knew the world too well to offer any further remon- strance, whatever uneasiness he. might suppress within his own bosom. A step or 'two higher up the stair showed light and a door, and an iron - grated wicket led him out upon a gallery cut in the open face of 'the rook, extending a space of about six or eight yards, until he reached a sec- ond door, where the path re-entered the rock, and which was also defend ed by an iron portcullis. "An adanir- a'ble traverse," observed the Captain; "and if .commanded by a •field -piece, or even a few muskets, quite suffic- ient to ensure the place against a storming 'party." Sir Duncan Campbell made no answer at the time; 'blot, the moment afterward, when they had entered the second cavern, he struck with the stick which be had in his hand, first on the one •side, ,and then on the other of the wicket, and the sullen ringing sound which replied to the 'blows, made Captain Dalgetty sensi- ble that there was a grin placed on . each side, for the purpose of raking the 'gallery through which they had passed, although the embrasures, through which they might be fired out occasion, were masked on the out - gide with sods and loose stones. Hav- ing ascended the second staircase, they found themselves again on an open platform and gallery, exposed to a fire bath of musketry and wall - guns, if, 'being come with hostile in- dent, they had 'ventured further. A third (flight of steps, cut in the rock like the former, but not caverned over led 'them finally into the 'battery at 'the foot of the tower. This last' stair also was narrow and steep, and, not to mention the fire which might he directed on ie from above, one or two resolute men with pikes and •battle-axes, , could have made the pass ,good against hundreds; for the staircase would not admit two persons abreast, and was not secured by any sort of balustrade, or railing from the sheer and abrupt precipice, on the toot of which the tide now rolled with a voice of thunder. So that, under the jealous precau- tions used to secure this .ancient Cel- tic fortress a person of weak nerves, and a 'brain liable to 'become dizzy might have found it something diffi- cult to have achieved the entrance to the castle, even supposing no resist- ance had been offered. Captain Dalgetty, too old a soldier to feel such tremors, :had no sooner arrived in the courtyard, than he protested to God, the defences of Sir Duncan's castle reminded him more of the 'notable fortress of Spandau, 'situated in the March' of Pranden- bung, than of any place whibk it had .been his fortune to defend in the course of his travels. 'Nevertheless, he criticised considerably thn mode of placing the guns on 'the 'battery we have noticed, observing, .that, "where cannon were perched, like to scarts, or "sea -gulls, ,an the flop of, a rocJk, he had ever observed that they astonish - PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr. E. A. McAlester, M.B., Gradu- ate of University of Toronto. J. D. Colqulyoun, M.D., C.M., 'Grad- uate of 'Dalhousie University, Halifax. The Clinic is fully equipped with complete and ,modern x-ray and other up-to-date diagnostic .and thereuptic equipment. Dr. Margaret K. Campbell, M.D., L.A.B.P., Specialist in Diseases in Infants and Children, will be at the Clinic last Thursday, in every month from 3 to '6 p.m. Dr; F. J. R. Forster., Specialist in Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat, will be at the Clinic the first Tuesday in every month from 4 to 6 p.m. Free well -baby clinic will he held on the second and last Thursday in every month front 1 to 2 p.m. JOHN A. GORWILL, B.A.,M.D. Physician and Surgeon n .Dr. H. H. Ross' office. Phone 51 W. C. SPROAT, M,D., F.A.C.S. Surgery Phone 9,0-W. Office John St., Seaforth DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special art- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, Office and Residence !behind Dominion Bank. Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104. DR. F. J. BURROWS, Office Main St., Seaforth, over Dominion Bantle. Hours 2-5 and 7 to 8 p.m. and by ap- pointment, Residence, Goderich St., two doors west of United Church. Phone 46. DR. F, J. R. FORSTER—Eye Bar, Nose and Throat, Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 11997, Late Assistant New York. Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 1.30 p.m. to .5 p.m. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Auctiot eer for Perth and Huron Counties, Sales Solicited.. Terms an Application. Farm Stook, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell, Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office, WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks 'effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP !dial Fire Iasuraacc C HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. ' OF'F'ICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox, Landesboro; Secretary Treasurer, Al A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. McKercher, R.R.:l, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefield; E R. G. J'armouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewibt, Kincardine, Wm. Yeo, Holmesville. DIREECTORS Alex. Braadfoot, Seaforth No. 3;. James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox,, Londesboro; George Leonhardt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank McGregor, Clinti a No. 5; James Connolly, God erich; Alexi McEwing, Blyth 'Ne. 1; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth Na, 5;. Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. Parties desirous' to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective post - offices. ed more by their noise than they dis- may ed is-nnayed 'by the s'kaith or 'damage which they occasioned." (,Continued)'