ruin! Remain to be our prop and stay-and hope everything from time.” "It is too late, Edith," answered Lord Evandale; "and I were most ungenerous could I practice on the warmth and kindliness of your feelings toward me. I know you cannot love me; but were it otherwise, the die is now cast. ܙܙ As he spoke this, Cuddie burst into the room, terror and haste in his countenance. "Oh, my lord, hide yourself! they have beset the outlets of the house!'' was his first exclamation. "They? Who?" said Lord Evandale. “A party of horse, headed by Basil Oliphant, have surrounded the house." "Oh, hide yourself, my lord," cried Edith, in an agony of apprehension. "I will not," answered Lord Evandale. "What right has that villain to assail me, or stop my passage? I will make my way were he backed by a regiment! Tell Halliday and Hunter to get the horses; and now farewell, Edith." He clasped her in his arms and kissed her tenderly; then, bursting from his sister and Lady Margaret, who strove to detain him, he rushed out and mounted his horse. All was in confusion. The women shrieked and hurried in consternation to the front windows, from which they could see a party of horsemen, of whom two only seemed soldiers. They were in the open ground before Cuddie's cottage, and displayed caution in approaching the mansion, as if uncertain of the strength within. "He may escape if he will only take the by road," said Edith. But Lord Evandale determined to face the danger, which his high spirit underestimated. Commanding his servants to follow him, he rode composedly down the avenue. Old Gudyill and Cuddie, in spite of the cries of the wife of the latter, picked up weapons and hastened after him. Cuddie posted himself behind a hedge, with his gun pointed toward Basil Oliphant. As soon as Evandale appeared, Oliphant's party seemed to attempt to enclose him. Their leader stood still, sup ported by two armed dragoons, and by a countryman of strong figure, stern features and resolute manner, whom Evandale at once recognized as Balfour of Burley. "Follow me," said Lord Evandale to his servants; "and if we are forcibly opposed do as I do." He advanced at a gallop toward Oliphant, who called out: "Shoot the traitor!" and the entire four fired their carbines at the unfortunate nobleman, who reeled in his saddle, and fell from it mortally wounded. Halliday took aim at Inglis and shot him dead; and a ball from behind the hedge shot Oliphant in the forehead and stretched him lifeless on the ground. Burley urged his followers onward, and attacked Halliday, sword in hand. At this instant, the clatter of troops was heard and a party of horse appeared on the fatal field advancing from the Glasgow road. They were foreign dragoons led by the Dutch Commander Wittenbold, accompanied by Morton and a civil magistrate. A hasty call to surrender in the king's name was obeyed by all except Burley, who turned his horse and attempted to escape. He turned on the two foremost of his pursuers, and mortally wounded one and crippled the horse of the other. Reaching Bothwell Bridge he found the gates shut and guarded. He then plunged into the stream amid a shower of bullets. Two balls struck him and he felt himself dangerously wounded. He returned to the bank he had left and gave the signal for surrender. The troopers thereupon ceased firing, and two of them. approached with the intent to disarm him. But evidently his purpose was revenge, not safety. As the soldiers approached, he collected his remaining strength and struck one of them a blow on the head which felled him from his horse. Meanwhile the other dragoon, a strong muscular man, laid hands upon him. They fiercely grappled with each other, fell headlong into the river and were swept down the stream. Their corpses were taken out about a quarter of a mile down the river and thrown into a hasty grave. Thus perished the stern enthusiast Burley, and the brave and generous Lord Evandale. Morton had flung himself from his horse upon perceiving the nobleman fall, to render his dying friend all the aid in his power. Evandale recognized him; for he pressed his hand and intimated by signs his desire to be removed to the mansion. This was done with all the care possible, and he was soon surrounded by his lamenting friends. But the clamorous grief of Lady Emily was far exceeded in intensity by the silent agony of Edith. Unconscious even of the presence of Morton, she hung over the dying man; nor was she aware that fate in removing one faithful lover had restored another from the grave, until Lord Evandale, taking their hands in his, pressed them both affectionately, united them together, raised his face as if to implore a blessing on them, and then sank back and expired. The marriage of Morton and Miss Bellenden was delayed for several months, as both went into deep mourning on account of Lord Evandale's death. They were then wedded. Lady Bellenden was finally prevailed upon to countenance Morton, for Edith was her only hope, and she wished to see her happy. Morton, or Melville Morton, as he was generally termed, stood so high in the world and was in every respect such an eligible match, that she put her prejudice aside and consoled herself with the reflection that marriage went by destiny, as Charles II., of happy memory, had once said to her in her ancestral halls, when she showed him the portrait of her grandfather, the Earl of Torwood, the handsomest man of his time, and that of Countess Jane, his second wife, who had a humped back and but one eye. Lady Margaret was restored to her property and her castle, as heiress to her cousin, Basil Oliphant, who died without a will, and the delighted Cuddie Headrigg resumed the occupation of his original cottage. Mrs. Alison Wilson received once a year in her large wainscoted parlor Mr. and Mrs. Melville Morton, who on such occasion dined with her. She always made great preparations for this annual festival, the hangings being all displayed and the huge brass candlestick festooned with laurel. Neil Blane lived to a good old age, drank ale and brandy with his numerous customers, and played Whig or Jacobite tunes as best pleased them. His daughter Jenny was so wealthy that a laird sought and married her. The last report of Goose Gibbie was that he was whipped through the streets of Hamilton for stealing poultry. THE FORTUNES OF NIGEL CHARACTERS NIGEL OLIFAUNT (Lord Glen varloch), a young and impecunious DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM (Steenie), an imperious, profligate young JAMES I., KING OF ENGLAND. CHARLES, his son and successor, nicknamed Baby Charles, from LORD HUNTINGLEN, an English earl of good repute. LORD DALGARNO, his dissolute son, friend of the prince and an GEORGE HERIOT, a wealthy London jeweller, through whom the JOHN CHRISTIE, a London ship chandler with whom Nigel at one DAVID RAMSAY, a London watchmaker. BEAUJEAN, keeper of the London Ordinary, or club-house. CAPTAIN COLEPEPPER, a thief and assassin. DUKE HILDEBROD, the portly leader of the outcasts at Whitefriars. FRANK TUNSTALL, also an apprentice in Ramsay's shop. LAURIE LINKLATER, a cook in the royal kitchen; friend of Richie. MAXWELL, the king's usher at the palace. ANDREW SKURLIEW HETTER, a scrivener of bad repute. MARTHA TRAPBOIS, the homely daughter of the wealthy usurer. NELLY CHRISTIE, attractive wife of John Christie, ship chandler. London barber. TIME-Scotland and London (1620). I. THE long-continued hostilities which had for centuries separated England from Scotland had been happily terminated by the accession of James I. to the English crown. (377) |