Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VAoawiv chair. A Thrilling' Domestic Story. Vou havo all hoard of the Cheviot moantains. If you have not, they are a rough, Tugged, majestic chain of hills, which a poet might term the Roman wall of nature; orow nod wit^ snow, belied with storms, surrounded by pastures and fruitful fields, and still dividing the northern portion of Great Britain from the southern. With their proud summits piercing the clouds, and <Meir dark, rocky dcclivitiea frowning upon the glens below, they appear symbolical of the wild and untamable spirit of the borderers who once inhabited their sides.? We say, you have all heard of the Cheviots, *nd know them to be very high hills, like a huge clasp riveting England and Scotland tomthnr! hnt wn nnt nwnrn <>/>< ?a ? I ~ - '? ? - ? """ Jv" may have heard of Marchlaw, an old, greylooking farm house, substantial as a modern fortress, recently, and, for aught wo know to tho contrary, still inhabited by Peter filWW . liot, the proprietor ot some fire hundred surrounding acres. The bo^ndatiro of Peter's farm, indeed, were defined neithor by fields, hedges, nor stooo walls. A wooden stake here and a stone there, at considerable distances from each other, were tho general landmarks ; but neither Peter nor his neighbors considered a few acres worth quarrol~w ingabout; and their sheep frequently visited eaeh other's pastures in a triendly way, hartuq^pusly sharing a family dinner, in the sattgfoirit as their mastMUBMted&tWiK Belvoe-ftee at each other's tables. Peter was placed in very unpleasant circumstances, owing to tho situation of Marchlaw House, whioh unfortunately, was built immcdiatly across tho " ideal line " dividing the two kingdoms; and his misfortune was, that, being born within it, he knew not whether he was an Englishman or a Scotohj man. 'He could traco his ancestral line no farther back than bis great grandfather, who, it appeared fronvthe family Biblo, had, to gether with bis grandfather and fath*er> claiuiedvftfaifchlaw as their birth-place.? Thoy, however, were not involved in the >-^f*8ame perplexities as their descendsnt.^Che ' parlor was distinctly acknowledged tosofrln. Scotland and two-thirds of the kitctfe0^jfjfc&, as certainly aH^wedto be in Euglam&fliir aue*tU*? wewTaura in the ?.D'TIP one parkf and, therefore, were Scet^iuab beycnW'q aostion ; but Peter, unluckily, bo-,| ing brought into the world before the death of his grandfather, his parents occupied a room immediately ovor the debatable bounr"'' dary lino which crossed the kitchen. The ** . room though scarcely eight feet square, was evidently situated between the two countries j but, no one being able to ascertain what portion belongod to each, Poter, alter many arguments and altercations upon tho subject, was driven to the disagreeable alternative of confessing he knew not what countryman he was. What rendered the confession more painful was, it was Peter's highest ambition to be thought a Scotchman. All his arable laud lay on the Scotch side } his mother wus collaterally related to the Stuarta j and few families were more aneient or respetnWfe than the Elliots.? Peter's speech, indeed, betrayed him to be a walking partition between tho two kingdoms, a living representation of the Union; for in one word ho pronounced tho letter r with the broad, masculine sound of the AT it n *._ 3 a!_ _ _ . - fit _ If norm oriioo, ana in me next wun me liquid burr of the Northumbrians. Peter, or, if you prefer it, Peter Elliot, Esquire, of Marchlaw, in the counties of Northumberland and Roxburgh, .was, for snany years, the best runner, leaper and wrestler between Wooler and Jedburg.? ' ' Whirled firom his band, the ponderous bullet vhifsed through the sir like a pigeon on the wing; and the best putter on the Borcompetition As a feather jmhis grasp, ke seized the unwieldy hamit round and roupd his head, ac, wtenpanying with agile limb its evolutions, 1 * pwiftly as swallows play around a circle, and btvkd ft from his hands like a shot from a Me, till antagonists shrunk back, and the jtyfotatd!* burst into a shout. "Well done, Squire forever!" once exclaim^HI^^K^jllle observer of titles. "Squire! ^^f|Pplwrye squiring at ?" returned Peter. "Conftrand ye ! where was ye when I was uhrtstened Squire ? My name's Peter Elliot ?your man, or onybody's man, at whatever they like I" Peter's soul was free, bouuding, and buoyant as the wind that carolled in a se X J I VK PI'VUHAI IU m UUIIIVHU^I upvu U MP nativo hills; and his body was thirteen atone of bsalthy, substantial flesh, steeped in the .spirits of life. He had been long married, but marriage had wrought ncf&ohango upon .him. ' They who suppose that wedlock transforms the lark into an owl, offer an insult to the lovely brings who, brightening our darkest hours with the smiles of uffeotion, teach us that that only is unbecoming in the husband wbioh is disgrsoeful in tho man. Nearly twenty yoars had passed over them; but Janet was still as kind, and, in Lailfiiiiiii i hlf eyes, as boautful as when, bestowiug on i bim her hand, she blushed her vows at the ? aker; and he was still as happy, as gener- 1 ous, and as free. Niqe fair children sat ar i ound their domestic hearth, and one, the c youngling of the flock, suiil^d upon its Mo- c ther'sknee. Peter had never known sorrow; i he was blest in his wife, in his children in his t flocks. He had become richer than his futh- J crs. He was beloved by his neighbors, the ? tillers of his ground, and his herdsmen ; yea, p do man envied bis prosperity. Hut a blight 14 passed over the harvest of his joys, and gall a was rained into tho cup of his felicity. f It was Christmas-day, and a more inelau- t< choly-looking sun never ro6e on tho 25th of * December. Qua va*i, wblo clouJ, like a u universal pall, overspread the heavens.? For weeks the ground had been covered G with clear, dazzling snow; and as through- si out tho day, the rain continued its unwear- d ied and monotonous drizzle, the earth as- A sumed a character aud appearance melan" r< choly and troubled as the heavens. Like a a piastiff that has lost its owner, the wiud r< howled dolefully down the glons, and was ^ re-echoed from the caves of the mountains, u as tho lamentation of a legion of invisible Vi spirits. The frowning snow-clad precipices & were instinct with motion, as avalanchejipon e< avalanche, the larger burying tho smaller, t* orowded downward in their tremendous journey to the plain. The simple mountain rills * bad assumed tho majesty of rivers ; the ^ torrent, and, gnshingflbtth as cataracts, in C1 fury and in foam, envelopend the valleys in an angry flood. But, at Marchlaw, the fire biased blithely ; tho kitchen groaned be- c' neath the load of preparations for a joyful th feast; aud glad faces glided from room to t? room. Peter Elliot kept Christmas, not so much a because it was Christmas, as in honor of its bt being tho birth-day of Thomas, his first- th born, who, that day, entered his nineteenth or year. With a father's love, his heart year- b< ned for all his children ; but Thomas was the pride of his eyes. Cards of apology hnd not then found their way ainoug our border B hills ; and, as all knew that, although Peter a admitted no spirits within his threshold, nor *>' a drunkard at ^is table, he was, naverthe- w ^ag^tyggartin MPfcoepttaniy," Bis Invl- ov Ration wore accepted without eeromony.? The guests were assembled ; aud the kitchen 111 being the only apartment in the building u> large enough to coutaiu them, the cloth was b( spread upon a long, clear, oaken table, th stretching from England into Scotland.? It Ou the English end ol the board were plac- be ed a ponderous pluui pudding, studded with hi temptation, and a smokiug sirloiu ; on Scot-- n( land, a savory and well soasond haggis, with th a sheep's head aud trotters ; while the inter* mediate space was filled with the good h; things of this life, common to both king- at doms and to the season. gi The guests from the north, and from the cs south, were aranged promiscuously. Evory fe seat was filled?save one. The chair b^ o\ Peter's right hand remained unoccupied.? 01 He had raided bis hands before his eyes, ui and besought a blessing on what was placed is before them, and was preparing to carve for bis visitors, when his eyes fell upon tho va- u oant obair. The koife dropped upon tho p< table. Anxiety flashed across his counte- it nance, like an arrow from an unseen hand, pi " Janet, where is Thomas ?" he inquir- w ed ; "hao nano o' ye sccu him ? and without h waiting an answer, ho continued?"How up is it possible he oan be absent at a time like p this ? Aud on such a day, too ? Excuse me 0' minute friends, till I just step out aDd see tl if I can find him. Since ever I kept this ti day, as mony o' ye ken, he has always been tl at my right hand, in that very chair j and ii I canna think o' beginning our dinner while u I see ft empty""41 p "If the filling o' the ohair be all," said a tl pert young sheep-farmer named Johnson;' a " I will atpn into it till Mimtnr Thninna nr. ii rive." o "Ye're not a faither, young man." said b Peter, and walked out of tho room. Minuto succeeded minute, but Peter re- ti turned not. Tho guests became hungry, a peevish, and gloomy, while an oxccllent din- d ner continued spoiling before them. Mrs. c Elliot, whose good nature Waa the most prom U incnt feature in her chvufer, strove, by fi every possible effort, to ngwMe the unplea- v sant impressions she perceived gathering g upon their couotenanoes. t! " Peter is just at bad as hinl," she remarked,u to hae gane to seek him when he d kenned the dinnor wouldna keep. And I'qi a sure Thomas kenned it would be rea^y at b one o'clook to a minute. It's aae nnthink- fc ing and unfriendly like to keep folk wa& i ing." And, endeavoring to smile pk>?D * t beautiful black-haired' girl of seventeen, j who sat by her elbow, she continued in an i anxious wnisper? uia ye see naettung o* i him, Elisabeth, hinoy ?" \ The maiden blushed deeply; the question I evidently gave freedom to * tear, which had, < for some tine, been en unwilling prisoner 1 , ' * ^ - J-1 ?- m-iii-Hn the brightest eyes in the room; aucLt nonosyllable, " No," tha| trembled fr< ier lips, was audible only to the ear of I nquirer. In vain Mrs. Elliot despatch me of her children after uuothcr, in qui if their father and brother; they camo n rent, but brought uo tidings more chccrii han the moaning of the hollow wind.iliuutrs rolled into hours, yet neither can ihe perceived the prouder of her gues ireparing to withdraw, and, observing th Thomas's absence was so siugulnr and u ccountahlc, and so unliko either him oft lithcr, she didna ken, what apology to mal ) her friends for such treatment; but ras needless waiting, aud bogged they, wqq so no crrremony. tjutydst Dcgtn." No sccoud invitation was nccessary.rood humor appeared to be restored, ai irloins, pies, pasties and moorfowl began isappcar like the lost son. For a inouici Irs. Elliot apparently participated in tl saturation of cheerfulness; but a low sij t her elbow agaiu drove the color from h )sy cheeks. Her eye wandered to tl irther end of the table, and rested on tl noccupied seat of her husband, and tl icant chair of her first-born. Her hea ill neavily within her; ail the mother gus 1 iuto her bosom, and, rising from tl iblo, "What io the world can be the meai ig o' this t" said sho, as she hurried, wit troubled couuteoancc, toward the door.[er husband met her on the threshold."Wliw# !""* >; 91'?tfc j ->,hi igcrly; "hao yo seen nacthing o' him? "Naething I naething 1" replied ho : i no cast up yet T" And, with a melfti loly glance, his eyes sought au auswer i io deserted chair. His lips quivered, h ngue faltered. t " Qudc forgie me ?" said lye; "and sue day for even an enemy to hi out in ! 1'v sen up and doun everythat I ca link on but not a living-mBkfure bus sec heard tell o' him. Ye'lntcuso me ne< >rs," he added, leaving thfrfpooso;! mm va again, for I canna rest*" / "I ken by mysel', friends, " said Adai ell, a decent-looking N^^ranibriuu, "tin fnithcr's heart is as sensiu'c as the nppl his e'e ; and, I think' we would shop, ant o' natural sympathy. and rcspec^/iV it wortny neigh tx>r,trw? ciMjja^everyuL ?t his foot into the%Trrup, without lo?^ mo, and assist him in his search. For, i y rough, country way o* thinking, it n?u: s something particularly out of the com mo lat oould tempt Thomas to be amissing.ldeed, 1 ncedna say tempt, for there coul ) uo inclination iu the way. And oi ills," ho concluded, in a lower tone," ai >t owrc chancy iu other respects, besidi io breaking up o' the storm. " "Oh'."said Mrs Elliot, wringing h< inds, "I have had the couiiug o' th >out me fur days aud days. My head wi rowing dizzy wi' happiness, but though irne stealing upon me like ghosts, and :lt a louely soughiug about fnyjhwty, will L _ II , .11 .1 / ' 1 J it Doing auie 10 icu me oauso ; uui n iuso is como at last! And my dear Tin ias?the very pride and staff o' uiy lifelost?lost to me for ever ! " "I ken, Mrs. Elliot," replied the Nortl rnbrian, " it is an easy matter to say con osc yourself, for them that dinna ken wh: is to feel. But, at the same time, in 01 lain, country way o' thinking, we are u ays ready to believe the worst. I've oftt enrd my faither say, and.I've as often r larked it myself, that,before anythiug ha ens to a body, there is a something com wre them, like a cloud before the face le sun ; a sort o' dumb whispcriug nbo le breast from tho other world. An lough I trust there is naethiug o' the kit i your case, yet as you observe, whon I fh lysclf growing diuy, as it were, with ha ??w. H tnakeS w6od ' ??? tier's, poor body !?'Bairus, bairns,' si sed to say, 'there is owre mucklo singii i your beads to night; wo will have a sho r before bed-time.' And I never, in u oru days, saw it fail." At any other period Mr. Boll's disserl ion on presentiments would bavo been foui fitting text on which to haDg all t reams, wraiths, warnings, and mnrvcllo ircumstanoes, that had been handed doi o the oompany from the days of their grati ittors; but, in the present instance, th rere too mneh occupted in consultation i nrdiog the different route to be taken beir search. Twelve horsemen end some half-doicn ] iestriaos, were seen hurrying in divers < actions from Marcblaw, as the faint ligl f a Melancholy day were yielding to t leavy darkness which appeared prcssi n solid masses down the sides of the mot ains. The wives and daughters of t >arty wore alone left with the disconsoli nether, who>*Uernatoly pressed her we< ng children'to her heart, aud told then veep not, foi^tjioir brother would soon .urn; while the tears stole dowo her o >heeks, and the infant in her arms w Meaoae its mother wept. Her friei % ? I v he strov?Vith each other to inspire hope, an >in poui?l upon her car their mingled and h he quuerous connotation*. But ono remaine ed silei*. The daughter of Adim Bell, wh ?sV sat ly Mrs. Elliot's elbow at tabic, ha in) shrquk into an obscure corner of the roonr n& BcfiVe her face she held a liandkerchie 4- wet with tears. Her bosom throbbed cob i?. rulsitely ; and, us occasionally her brokci its lighs purst from their prison-houso, a sig at aificant whisper passed ninong the younge n- part dt the company. , lis M/s. Elliot apporachcd her, nod takin: Ice her Aand teudcrly within both of hers? it CTtil^Otoicomfort ye ? Come Elizabeth ? my bonny love, let us hopo for the best.? id \Ye see before yc a sorrowin' mother !? to toother tfiat fondly hoped to see you nn'? it, V?tina say it!?an' uui ill qualified to gi ao Comfort when uiy owu heart is like a furnace ;h 6ut o? ! let us try and remember the blcsi er ed po-tion, 'Whom the Lord lovoth II le cbaMeieth,' an* inwardly pray for strcngtl ie to say his will he done !' " ie TiuA stole on towards midnight, and on rt onctho unsuccessful party returned.? I?- As foot ^fter foot approached, every breat! ie was holdto listen. "No, no, no !" cried th a- mother, auain and again, with increasin; h anguish, ittj^s no tho foot o' my aii - ba.rnAfite her keen gaze still rouiainei - riveted^ i$>ii tho doo^, and was not with ?, Jui the hope or despair relinquished till the individual entered, and with asilcn is and ominous shake of his head, hctokenei i- his fruitlQ? * efforts. The clock had struel u twelve were returned save the fathci is The wind howled 111 ire wildly; the rai pOurcd upon the windows in ceacclcss toi h rents; and the roaring of the mountaii e rivers gave acharaetcr of deeper ghostliues u to their sepulchral silence; for they sat, cac n rapt in forebodings, listening to the storm 5- no sounds were heard, save the groans c it the mother, the wocping of her chfildrer and the bitter aud broken sobs of the be ii reaved i)aideu, wlyC^; leaned her head upo it her fai^sr's bosopi, refusing to Le cou Ic for ted: * At length tho barking of the farm-do n' iJ [ it ^ ~ - an ? ^ tSVbr i(? cwTlras raised to listen, every eye turned t o>' th? door; but, before the tread was yc n audible to the listeue.s?"Oh, it is only P< st tor's foot!" said the miserable mother, auc u weeping, rose to meet him. - "Janet! Janet!" he exclaimed as he ci d tcrcd and threw his arms around her neel ir "what's this couit upon us at last?" "e lie cos: an inquisitive glance round hi ;s dwelling, and a convulsive shiver passe over his mauly frame, as his eye agaiu fe ;r on the vacant chair which none had vci is tured to occupy. Hour succeeded houi is but the coujpany separated not; and lov ts sorrowful whispers mingled with the lamci 1 tations of the parents. Ii- "Neighbor," said Adam Hell, "the uior to * new day at:d we will wait to see what o- may bring forth ; but, in the uicautinn ? let us read a portion o' tho Divine Won un' kneel together in prayer, that whetht li- or not tho day-dawu cause light to shine u on this singular bereavement, the Sun < at llightcouspess may arise wi' healing on h ir wings the hearts o* all present." il- responded Peter, wringing h :n hands y^and his friend taking down the II; e- Hible.road the cliapter wherein it is write p- ?"It m batter to be in tho house of mouri cs iug tb#ti in the house of feasting;" an o' aguiitfflo portion which sayelh?"It is wc at for ufe that I have been afflicted, for bcfoi d, I" was afflicted, I went astray." id The tftoruing came, but brought no ti< id ings of the lost sou. After a solemn fur p- well, all the visitants, save Adam Dell an o- J/V^-dMrfitcr, rctnrijjj#,C'ftrPy^5no to Ihe be owuVflb j*mltTic disconsolate father, wil ng his W/j/kuuj* again renewed their seari w- arotfd^teq hills and surrounding villages months, and years, rolled oi Time IflHFjhibducd the anguish of the p in. renfa iM^a holy calm ; but their first hot tid was no(|Ajtgotte$, although no trace of h he fate hatfineo discovered. Tho general b U8 lief wafltihat be perished on the brcakin vn up or the mow; and the few, iu whose r id- meuibraoce he still lived, merely spoke < fty his death as a "very extraordinary circuu rc. stance," remarking that "ho was a wil< in venturesome 899 o' lad." ChrUtUMa^majboeeded Christmas and P je- ter Elliot Mill kept it in 00m mem oration 1 aL him eho w?^pot. For the first few yaai ,jf after the Ajjtcf their son,, sadnem he lenoo ehfiaeterixed the ?aHy who saidod ng to diirtlftgj^rohbw, mH still at Pater in- right placed the vacant chair.,he But? ak lRppiger branches of the famil ate advanced in jftnra, the remembrance of the Sp. brother became lea apoignnnt. Christmi 1 to was, with all around them, a day of rojoi< re* iogta0(' they began to make merry wit wn their friends; while their parents partoo ept iu their enjoyments, with a suiilo, half < ids appro*4* and half of sorrow. - u ; .* ?> .Hi&ffl?* \ 4 M *.v ,J K* d Twelve years had passed away ; Christm >- hod aguiu come. It wqs the counterpa d of its fatal predecessor. The hills had u o yet cast off their summer verdure : the sui d although shorn ofits heat, had lost none < i. its brightness or glory, and looked down u] sf on the earth as though participating iu i i- gladness; and the clear bluo sky was trai n quil as the sea sleeping beneath tbo moot Many visitors again assembled at Marchlai r The sons of Mr. Elliot, and the young me of the party, were assembled upou a levi g grceu near the house, amusiug themsclvi - with throwing the hammer and other Bo g. gqmgll lb'!" .bin I <lr i"1 1 it cnnsflt Mnnit hi- ?u Lti/i.ifnhir.1 rnn/innlir rw Q?w ?vvw WJ HU 0|^VVU>UI0} IVVVUUVItl i, the deeds of their youth. Juhoson, tl - sheep farmer, whom we have already me: a tioucd, now a brawny aud gigantic fellow I two and thirty, bore away in every gau c the palm from all competitors. More tlu >! once, as l'eter beheld his %sons defeatc i- he felt the spirit of youth glowing in 1) e veius, aud, ''Oh !" muttered he, iu bittc h ness, "had my Thomas becu spared to m he would liac thrown his heart's bluid aft' c the hammer, before he would hae becu be; - by e'er a Johusou in the country !" h While he thus soliliquized and with difi c culty restrained aud impulse to compote wit g the victor himself, a dark, foreign-lookiuj n strong-built seaman, unceremoniously a; d proached, aud with bis arms folded, cast i- look of contempt upon-the boaailnu lt queror. Every eye was turned with a scri it tiuizing glance upon the stranger. 1 1 height be could uot exceed five feet uin t but his whole frame was the model of mu r. cular streugth; his features wer-3 open au n mauly, but deeply sunburnt and woathc - beaten ; bis long, glossy, black hair, curb n iuto ringlets by the breeze aud the billot is fell thickly over his temples and forehead h and whiskers of a similar hue, more coi ; spicuous for size than elegance, gave >f character of fierceucss to a countenance otl i, crwisc possessing a striking impress of mai s- ly beauty. Without asking permission, 1 n stepped forward, lifted the hammer, ai i-' swinging it arouud bis head hurled it u '* wards of five yards beyond Johnson's mo g successful throw._ "Well dona 1" .shouti y the astonished' spectators Tlio hdort'o Peter Elliot warmed within him, and 1 it was hurrying forward to grasp the Strang by the hand, when the words groaned in h 1. I throat "if. was ilist tho llirow n? in? TJinm , j ? "v - ???. would have made !? Yly own lost Thomas i- The tears burst, into his eyes, and, withoi t, speaking, he turned back, and hurried to> urds the house, to conceal his emotion, is Successively, at every game, the strangi d had defeated all who ventured to oppo: l' hiui j when a messenger announced th; i- dinner waited their arrival. Some of tl f, guests were already seated, others cntcriu f, and, as heretofore, placed beside Mrs Ellic i- was Elizabeth Bell, still in the noontide her beauty ; but sorrow had passed over jii n features, like a veil before the countcnam it of an angel. Johnson, crest-fallen and o fi, of humor at his defeat, seated himself 1 1, her side. In early life he had regard) sr Thomas Elliot as a rival for her affections P and, stimulated by the knowledge that Ada Bell would be able to bestow several thou is ands upon his daughter for a dowry, he y prosecuted his attentions with unabated n is siduily, in despito of the. daughter's avc n' siou and the coldness of her father. Pet n had taken his place at the table, and still 1 i- his side, unoccupied and sacred, appear* d the vacant chair, the chair of his first-bor 11 wlu.rcon none had sat since his mvstcrio "C death or disappearance. "Bairns," sutd ho, "did nano o' yo a: j. the sailor to come up aud tak a bit o' dinn wi'.us?" "We were afraid it might lead to a qu: ^ rel wjth^?> Jvhusou," whispered one tr the sons. ;h "He is come without asking," replied tl .), stranger, cutering ; "and the wind shall blc from a new poiut if I destroy the mirth happiness of the company*-" ?* "Ye're a stranger, young man," said P a- tor, "or yo would ken this no meeting i) mirth-makers. But, I assure ye are W( js come, heartily welcome, ilasteyc lassies he added to the servants, "sour 3 o' ye g a chair for tho gentleman." '? Gentleman, indeed !" muttered Johnsr e- between his teeth. if "Never mind about a chair, my hearties Jm said the seaman ; "this will do !" And b . fore Peter could speak to withhold him, 1 ' had thrown himself oarelcssly into the ha lowed, the venerated twelve-yenrsunooe a- pied ehair! Tho spirit of sacrclige ulte }f iog blasphemies from a pulpit could n< re | nave smitten a congregation 01 pious wo shippers with deeper horror and coustcrn 3 ttaft, than did this filling of the vacant chn the inhabitants of Marohlaw. 's "Excuse me, Sir 1 excuse mo Sir !" sa _ Peter, the words trembling upon his tongu "but ye cannot?ye cannot sit there I" f "O man, man," cried Mrs. Elliot, "g ir out o' that 1 get out o' 'hat!?take my chn is ?take any chair i' the house !?but dinn 3- diuna sit there? It has never been sat h by mortal being since the death o* my de , bairn 1?and to see it filled by another is thing I canna endure !" "Sir! Sir 1" continued the father, hate dene it through ignorance, ard we e n8 cuse ye. But that was uiy Thomas's seat! rt Twelvo years this very day?his birth-day ?he perished. Heaven 'keus how! lie ?' weut out from our sight, like the cloud that n> passes over the hills?never?never to roof turn. And, O Sir, spare a father's feelings! p. for to see it tilled wrings tho blood from uiy heart." (8 ? "Givo uic your hand, uiy worthy soul !" exclaimed the scainau, "I revere?nay, Q- hang it! 1 would dio lor your feelings !? v. But Torn Elliot was my friend, and 1 cast un;D clior in this chair by special commission.? I I know that a sudden broadside of joy is a bad thiug; but, as I don't know how to K9 preach a sermon before telliug you, all I r- have to say is?that Tom a'ut dead." |(T nand of the stranger, and speaking with an ? eagerness that almost choked his utterance; 10 "Oh Sir ! Sir ! tell me how !?how !?Did n- ye say living ??Is my ain Thomas living?" of "Mot dead, do you say ?" cried Mrs. ,e Elliot, hurrying towards hiui and grasping his other hand?*4 uot dead ! Aud shall L see my bairn again ? Oh ! may the blcs' sing o' a brokeu-lieartcd mother bo upon is the bearer o' the gracious tidings? But ir- tell me?tell me, how is it possible ! As ye c would expect happiness here or hereafter, diuna, diuua deceive me !" "Deceive you !" returned the stranger, :,t graspiug with impassioned earnestness, their hands iu his?"Never! never! and all I g. cau say is?Tom Elliot is alive and hearty." h "No. no !" said Elizabeth, risiug from her seat, "he docs uot deceive us ; there is that iu his couutcnaucc which bespcakti a P" falsehood impossible." Aud sho also cua deavorcd to move towards him, wheu .Johnm won JKmaw UAU #A MtliKKnW a- hcr"Hands off, you land lubber !" exclaimed n the scauiau, springing towards them, "or, ci shiver me ! I'll show daylight through your s- timbers iu the turning of a hand spike."? lC] And, clasping the lovely girl iu his arms, "Betty ! Betty, my love!" he cried, "don't you know your own Tom ! Father, Mother, dou'tyou kuow mc ? llave you rcalv, ly forgot your own son ? If twelve years I; have made some changes ou hit; face, his a. heart is sound as ever." His father, his mother, and his brothers clung round hiui, weeping, smiling, and tl* miugliug a hundred questions together.? a- He threw his arms around the neck of each, 16 ?uu, in ttusv*vr iu kucir iiiijuinub, repuca? 1(j "Well ! well! there is time enough to answer questions, but not to-day?not to-day!'* P" "No, my bairu," said his mother, "we'll 'St jOU uo questions?nobody shall ask ye [id ?>*?y ^ Knw^ltaui 4oiu away ^ 0f front us, my lore? And, O ninn^ .' where ij ?where hue ye been " It is a loug story, mother," said lie, 0r " and would take a week to tell it. But, l|s howsoever, to make a long story short, you as remember when the smugglers were purj" sued, and wished to conceal their brandy in t our house, my father prevented them ; they loft muttering revenge?and they have been v" revenged. This day twelve yenrs, I went out with the intention of meeting Elizabeth er and her father, when 1 came upon a party gc of the gang concealed in Hell's Hole. In ^ a moment half a dozen pistols were held to my brest, and tying my hands to my sides, ie they dragged uie into the eavern. Here 1 g; had not been long their prisouer, wlicu the >t, snow, rolling down the mountains, almost 0p totally blocked up its mouth. On the second night, they cut through the snow, and 0r" hurrying mo along with them, I was bound cc to a horse, between two, aud, before dayut light, found myself stowed, like a piece of iy old junk, in the hold of a smuggling lug2j ocr- Within a week, I was shipped on board a Butch man-of-war; and for six years J > was kept dogging about on different stations, U1 till our old yawing hulk received orders to is- join the fleet which was to fight against the et gallant Duncan at Cuuiperdown. To think of fighting against my own countrymen, iny own flesh and blood, was worse than to be r* cut to pieces by a cat-o'-niue-tails; aud, uucr der cover of the suioke of the first broadside, >y I spraug upon the gunwale, plunged into ;(j the sea, aud swam for the English fleet.? Nevor, never, shall I forget the moment n> that my feet first trod upon the deck of a us British frigate ! My nerves felt as firm as her oak, aud my heart free as the pennant sk that waved defiance from her masthead !? er I was as active as any one duriug the battle; aud, when it was over, and I found ir- myself again among my own countrymen, of and all speaking mr n\vn laqjma^cy 1 fan- . . cied?uay, haug it I amost believed'?T~ lie should meet my father, my mother, or my / ?w dear Bess, on board of the British frigate. ( or I expected to seo you ull again in a few Vweeks at farthest; but, instead of returning 1 e* to Old England, before I was aware, it was \ o' helm about with us. As to writing, I never * il- had an opportunity hut once. We were anchored before a French fort; a packet \ ot was lying alongside ready to sail; 1 had a \ half side written, and scratching my head >n to think how I should couie over writing about you, Bess, my love, when, as bad luck ," would have it, our lieutenant comes to nio^ c- and sayes ho, 'Elliot,' sayea he4 I know you ic like a little smart service; come, my lad, d- take the hoad oar, while we board aomo of u- those Frcneh hum-boats under the batteries, r- I couldn't say no. We pulled ashore, made ot a bonfiro of one of their craft, and wero set- " r* ting fire to a second, when a deadly shower a- of small-shot from the garrison scuttled our ir boat, killed our commnuding officer with half of tho orew, and the few who wero left id of us were uiade prisoners. It is of no uso c; brothering you by telling how we escaped from French prisons. We did csenpo;and -a rn :ii *?i L!- . ? gv iuiii win once more oil rib vacant cnair. ir Should any of our readers wish farther a, acquaintance with our friends ; all we can in say is, the new year was still yojung when sr Adam Bell bestowed his daughter's hand a upon the heir of Marchluw, and I'cter boheld the once vacant chair again occupied, pe and a namesake of the third generation pratx tliug on his knee.