MURRAY OF THE SCOTS GREYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 2

MURRAY OF THE SCOTS GREYS.

A STORY OF LOVE, INTRIGUE, AND ADYENTUUE. [Sow First Published Under Special Arrangement.] CHAPTER 1.-TBfE GREY CASTLE AND LONELY ISLAND. At a turn of the road the whole length of Loch Tummei, dark fringed'and gently rippling in the moonlight, stretched before me. With that, first glimpse of the deep, silvered water, au unusual quiet stole into my heart and brain.; a quiet that was almost awe. I am no man for presentiments, and-superstition is as far from me as from the canting Lutherans and Golthcim; but hero was a new •feeling, foreboding an epoch-making adventure as plainly as a, growing cloud presages the coming Etorm.

Leaning baek in the seat of my chariot I tried to laugh away the lonely feeling that was creeping over me, and taking out the packet. I was journeying to deliver into Lord Cutts's hand, I re-read the superecripiion. At least, thought I, the adventure, whatever it may lie, that cast its shadow over me at sight of those silver waters, hath nothing !o do with this; and at that I leaned back and idly watched the spinning trees as the chaise rolled along the liigh road towards Shehallion.

I was in a fine, gilt t-eeoralcd chnis, lined jvith bins velvet. Ross, Lord Stair's bodyservant, who drove, was au old soldier, sparing of words and ken of eye. He was ileanmg forward with the green worsted reins about his wrist, -'peering into the shadows easl by the trees; but he was so sure of ihe road that no abatement of speed Vas iioliccbale even at Ihe dark corners.

Tlk: regular beat, beat, of the horses' hoofs put me into a drowsy reverie, which continued lor perhaps half an hour, then a sudden oatli from my driver and a jerk at the reins awoke me lo consciousness. A anan stood m the shadows before us, with lifted hands, crying aloud "Stop, stop!" The (-otiiril of Ites drawing his hanger Ftartled me, hut (lie next moment, the strange voice continued, "Stop, stop! it is here ye are to stop." Ross had drawn up, and I was out in Iho road now, confronting tin; man who waylaid its. He appeared innocent enough, and T (-aw on an instant that, he was not armed. "Gel out of our path," I ealled, as 1 strode lowards him. "It is here ye aro to go," said tho man. lie did not flinch, but waved his hands towards the dark trees away from the lake.

I followed tho direction of his gesture, and saw a desolate gateway with stone pillars, from which the iron gales had either misted or been lorn away, for they lay tumbled in the ditch- wilh weeds growing over thorn. The avenue inlo which the jiian pointed lay in nnfathomaWo blackness under the thick overhanging trees. The stranger waited motionless during my observance of this unattractive road, and then resumed in clownish stupidity, "Ye are to follow me." So cerium >vas ho f would do Ibis that lie turned and strode through tho gates, and at. once disappeared into the darkness of the, avenue.

"Bill, you fool, we do not want to follow." I cried after him. "\Yo aro for Sholiallion."

"Ye are no for Sholiallion at all," called hack the man out of tho darkness, and I could hear his foolsiops slid receding. "Ye aro for Badcnoch Castle, and ye arc to follow me."

"But I will not follow, and yon are a fool," ealled I.

"Yo will," shouted the man from far away down the avenue, "ye will: the .Liird tolled me ye would." The strange fellow was at so great a distance now that. I had perforce to raise my hands and bellow through them that- my words might reach him. " What did tho Laird sav?" T called. "When the Englishman conies bring him to the cat-tie," came back Ihe answer, but. the man still hold on his wav.

The demeanour of the servant, for such I guessed liim to bo, amused me. and T turned to my.driver, who was regaining the altercation as a triviality bonoarb ibis notice. "We will follow liiiii. Turn hero through the gates aud drive forward." ■With thai. J stepped boldly into 'lie inlouse- darkness of the avenue. My nian di-mouiitrxl from bis box, and, loading bis ■horso.s, followed me. When wo bad made ton paces forward I bade him stop, and •we listened to the footsteps of our guide; he was roniinjf toward; us now. In another minute, with a start, I felt his band on my stave.

"Ye carina, sec. it is vera dark; I r/,'ll lead you." he said.

Either the man bad a cat's gift of seeing in Ihe dark, or be knew every yard of Hi? path, for from the moment be touched iny arm we advanced without deviation either to right or left. Presently I?ie darkness was lifted a little, and the moon began lo twist- pale feeble threads of light, through the tangle of leaves and brandies above me. For the first time I saw my guide's face, and assured myself that he, was nothing more than the typical, Jionest, Scotch servant, whosf patehed coat vac evidence to me that he enjoyed none of those luxuries aud privileges that are (indulged in by our rebellious and insolent lackeys m London. I «js about- to question him on his strange conduct, when suddenly the trees fell away, and I found myself on a. broad green lawn flooded with moonshine. At the further side of the lawn, not, 50 nace? away, rose a grey, stone, desolate, castle, with the moonlight glimmering on its shuttered windows. Somehow the light- on those blank windows reminded me of light shining on the open eyes of a blind man. No illumination was visible in any part of Ihe house, and there was no sign of an occupant. The moon illuminated the place so well that I could distinguish the moss clinging lo the lower stones of the building, while through Ihe great doorway, wbioli stood open, I could see several yards into the dark, neglected liail. "Hi, whose house is this?" T called to my guide, who had taken advantage of my pause, to precede mo towards the open doorway.

"Whose house is this?" I repeated, as Ih'o reached the doorstep. The fellow did not deign to turn, but paid in a. low voice. "The laird said I was not, to answer questions. Ye are to step riehl in."

Aft«r I 111? T said no move, and. feeling in l-ho mood for new experiences, I hurried to (lie side of my guide, who now stood on the <-lono flags for a moment within the threshold in the full li«rht of the moon, then made a slep or two forward and disappeared in the gloom. Willi that- he raised his voice and bawled aloud, "My lord, he is here."

His voice echoed and re-echoed through the silent house like a shout in an empty church. There was no response to his call, and in a louder voice he repeated his cry. At this T heard fainllv the shuffling of feet within, and a door opened slowly at- the far end of tltr hall. Th* next moment a man, holding alpft a lighted candle, came out and advanced towards us. He paid no heed to me, but- turned angrily on his servant:

"Yon foot." lie eried " whv is the eastle in darkness? Light the brazier." Then, turning to me. he held the candle above his head and made a. courtly bow.

"Mv lord. T at:o!ogise for (ho dilator!ttos; of my i,crvajit, but follow mo."

I did so. and. walking behind him. filtered the inner room; an oak-panelled' nutriment with a long table down the middle. Jlr strange host, after grssning me warmlv liv the hand, seated himself in a carved chair of stale nl. the head of the fable. Before doing so he flung a clod of peat om the fir' l that blazed on the hearth. The glow of the fire and tile light ct the one candle, which he had placed on the bare tablp. vas all the illumination the room held. In this fitful light I noticed thai the vails were destitute of pictures and of all de"oralion: not a shred of tanestrv covered their nakedness, and the bare, dark panelling absorliee! the light and blurred the outlines of the room_ so (hat it wis imTOssilile to defineits size. Mv !io s t in his Kreat carved chair at the head of an empty table, that would have sealed 50 persons, waited nnlil I wa.i in mv chair near rb" fire. Then he snoke, wilh a little rmovulotis note in his voice. . "Yon will fordve me. 1 feel sure," he said, "but the Irufli i s I have the worst servnts in the world. They have not. vou t «p" }■■> waved his hand over the table— "civil h-might. our supper."

Vow. I nought T. is an opportune moment to learn whv this man set his servant to interrupt my journey in so strange a

fashion. "My lord." I began. But he raised a hand majestically, "It will bo here soon, but we will talk until then."

lie rose, and began to drag his heavy chair over the hare stone floor. At li.e hearth-side opposite mn ho seated himsc'f in the full lighl of the fire. Ho p.as i handsome, dark-bearded man of liicl lie ago, and was wearing the kill. His a.irmonts were old and threadbare even. *o the most casual eye. but his aspect was grave and noble, and as he looked at ne with deep-set, mysterious eyes 1 noticed thai he carried Ids head high, wilh Iho pride-there is no greater pride in the world limn thai—of a Highland chieftain.

" You are admiring my room," he said in a pleased fashion. My eyes had wandered over thi> desolate walls, and hid nolicod that Ihe windows were bare of curtains, and that not a rug softened the footfall on (ho floor. One ihing only did I sec, and that win a dull bronze gong, which stood against a distant wall. 1 was thinking at tlml moment of stories I had heard of the poverty <if the Highland nobles since Ihe misfortunes of Ihe Stuarts had drained their resource*. Lord Kilmarnock 1 had heard, was about » year ago ve-ciicd from death by siiirvnlion. ami rescued.-too, by some of his own tenants, who would have paid iiim rents if they cotdd have done so.

"You are admiring my room." repeated my host, in pleusing tones; "it is. I flatter myself, one of the lines! dining halls in the county. 1 have heard tell your English, houses are fine, but many centuries of Mac(lvceors have been adding and adding to this house." lie paused now, then rose and stood looking at mo.

" Hut I must not keep you; if is nol me you are come to see." He gave u litllo self-conscious laugh, thou walked lo the gong that stood against the distant wall.

Before I could question him again as to my presence there he struck Ihe gong, anil the sound echoed and re-echoed through the house in a weird, thrilling fashion Ihat made mo start in my elniir. The sound had scarcely died away when a door in the dark panelling opened silently, and a girl stood on the threshold. She was robed in black from head to font. It is not for me to describe her beauties. Poets have sung them these 20 years. But as she stood there silent in the doorway, with no colour upon her but the deep blue of her eyes.' mv heart gave a lea]), and I thanked the fates that had led mo into this strange desolate house As she stood before me, pale, with her rich shadowy hair parted on the marble brow, she seemed a woman of a dream, and I dreamt as I looked at. her-dreamt bad; through my life's chequered course, asking the conscience within me if there was anything in that past dishonourable or mean, any wrong in mv life that could show on my face, as I looked into her pure countenance. .My strange host broke the spell. "Marianne," he said, "they are come, yo.t see." At this the fair creature blushed, and, advancing towards me. held out a hand. "You are welcome, my lord," she said with a sweet, faint smile. I bent over the hand and laid my lips upon it. They have mistaken me for another man. thought I at that moment, for I was no rich man, no man of title, but merely a poor fortune-hunter whom fate had cast into their orbit for a few brief hours. When I looked into the grey, trustful eyes of the girl and regarded the pride of tlio father as he stood with one hand extended towards me and the other towards his tall, beautiful daughter, as if he would have conferred a blessing on our meeting, a confession trembled on my lips. It was my duty to tell them of tlio strange mischance that brought me hero, toll thorn that I was not the man for whom they waited. A look into the girl's eyes weakened my resolution. I wavered and was sileni.

In thai silence, as I slood wonder-bound, gazing at Marianne TMacGrogor's shadowy hair, her dreaming eyes, and her noble, beautiful face, .my simple, plain history dinned itself in my ears, and again and again I measured my own insignificance against the grandeur of the rich nobleman who even now was journeying _ hither to claim his bride. What would they think if I were to blurt, out that history so mean and insignificant: were I to fell them that I was an orphan bred in the house of a barber of Padua—a good, clever man, it is true, and an able fencer,—bill a barber? Then my subsequent history, although it was better, was of no importance. My dissolute falhor. who was an officer in the Prussian King's foreign legion, at last recognised my existence sufficiently to procure for me the position of page at. Herrcnhnus.cn to the sister of the Eleetrcss Sophia. Here I spent three idle years dreaming of the future, of tho soldier's life, which was my consuming ambition. But, being penniless, there seemed no chance for me until one day I did a service of a delicate nature for tho princess, which she rewarded as well as she could alt'ord with 100 guineas and a diamond star, which she bade me sell. This sudden access lo wealth brought me to Scotland wilh a letter to Lord Stair, who was to recommend me for the regiment of Scots Greys, of which his friend Lord C'ntts was colonel. It was ill Lord Stair's ehaise thai I was this night making mv way towards Lord Cutts's house near Sholiallion. Such was my simple history to the present moment. For tho rest I possessed a few trinkets, £20 in gold, and a diamond star.

"You are good to come so far to see us." said the girl; but f was still deep in thought, conning over the trivial details of my past. " You are good to come so far to see us." she repeated, and a blush covered her cheeks.

I awoke from my reverie and. bowing low. answered that a journey from the Indies would be forgolien in sight of such a goal.

Again she blushed, and, going to her father, who was seated in his great chair, stroked his hair tenderly and spoke lo him in a low tone.

Suddenly he answered in a voice that was almost querulous. "But. Marianne, we must eat; tell Jacob to bring in the supper."

She left his side at this and went, from (lie room, after begging me to be seated. When she was gone her father looked proudly to ine. "You are a fortunate man, Berkeley." be said; "with all my possessions, that child is the greatest of my riches,"

'file next moment I lie girl re-entered with the servant, who had guided me lo the house. He was a grim, shaggy-headed Highlander, with bristling red eyebrows and light blue eyes, hard as agate. "My lord," said he. speaking to his master. "we lifted the nets an hour since, ■but. there was nothing."

A shade of annoyance passed over my host's face, ■

"Ho. lift them again." he cried. "No." he added suddenly: "Marianne, you go: there is always something when vou lift thein. The fish conic to you, I think. I am very hungry."

At this the girl again moved to his side. I saw a flush corao over hoc face, and her eyes flooded with tea.rs. " Father, you must bo patient," 6he whispered; "I will go." She asked me to excuse her, saying that she would return in half an hour, but something impelled mo to rise.

" Xay, I will come with you if I may!" I said.

"Yes, yes," interrupted the old man; it is right. Berkley shall go with you."

Willi the girl l>y my side I passed out of the house across the dark hall and on to the lawn beyond. My driver was standing I here with the servant Jacob. I allowed the girl to move forward a few paces and I hen took my coachman aside. "Whc are these people?" I_ whispered. "I do not know," ho replied; "but this man Jacob is doited, I fear. Ho says you are the Lord Berkley whom ihey expected, and who is to marry the daughter of the laird. Tis a poor place, sir; I asked for food and sup, and the Highlander laughed, saying rho house was as hare as a church."

I loft him at this and caught up with Marianne MacGregor who. with head up and her pale, proud face lit by the moonlight, was moving across the grass towards the blank gloom of the avenue. In the intense darknci-'s she laid her hand lightly on iny arm to guide mo, for she was as sure of the way by night as by day. Despite the lightness of her touch I felt her lingers tremble as we walked down the dark path towards the loch. Wc moved quickly, without words, and emerged at. lust on the moonlit read. Crossing if. wo came on a fall of soft grass, reaching to Ihe shining waters of the loch. It was as we descended this green, gently sloping bank that. I spoke.

"Do yon think it is kind of me. to como to you?"

The girl by my side started, hut answered with timid candour: "Indeed T do, for you know I have no fortune, and yon had never seen mo."

"But I have heard of you," I ventured.' After that she walked forward in silence at my side. She was deep in thought, but her tall form was straight as a. lance. She held her head erect, and moved wilh that slow dignity of carriage that is so much n. grace in Highland women. .At the edge of Ihe loch we came upon a. boat with oars lying in it. "The nets are by that island," said Marianne, pointing a while hand over I lie waters io a wooded island a quarter of a. milo from where wo slood. She seated herself at the oars, but I begged her to guide and I would pull out for'her. She did so. and sat in Ihe stern of the boat with her dreamy eves over my shoulder o'.v the dark islands beyond. •

I rowed slowly, watching her face in (he moonlight. She was deadly pale, and her loveliness of an unearthly'kind Ihat awed rne. Her black dress disappeared against the shadowy waters, and the sad. palo face that looked beyond me might lia.ve been the face of some_ lovely .spirit floating in Ihe air and following me. When we reached the island wo landed in silence, and T moored the boat.

An hour ago I did not know of this woman's existence, and now we were utterly alcim in the stillness of the night on this l>codarkonod island. CHAPTER H.-"t MARRY TO KAVK MY FATHER." f looked intD the eyes before me. and knew that love had come into my life at lest, but a love that: was hopeless, that could never lxi returned, for this girl had waited for o. lover rich and noble, and an accident, had thrown me inlo her path. Sim bent, over the water to draw I he net, wondering no doubt at my failing to offer assistar.ee, but I caught her hand in mine. "Mistress MacGrsgor," I said .quickly, "are you willing to marry me on so short an acquaintance" " Why, yes," she replied, looking at me in a startled way. "'Why not" She slid her hand slowly out of my grasp.

" Pint you do not loyc me" She did not answer at once, but spoke after a short pause—

"To save my father's house I—would— marry—you."

"Because I am rich?" I asked. I could see tlw blush of shame that overspread her face* and neck.

" Because you are rich," she answered, with drooping eyes.

A growing hatred and fury of this rich man she was about fo marry throw mo into a passion, and like a flash the thought, came into my mind that it would be easy for me to carry her off. ft is easy to marry in Scotland, and why should I not, for I loved her, which Hie strange nun she, had never seen could not do. But it was a look into that guileless face that chocked me. I resolved, however, to talk to her and learn the historv of her life. She seated herself on the sloping pebbly shore and looked with a. forced courage, into my face, but I look my place at 6omo distance from her. By the penile light of the moon I worshipped the mystical beauty of her shadowy hair and marked its drooping curve over her face and ear. If seemed to my fervid fancy that here was a crown and a. veil designed by modesty to hide from irreverent eyes the ivory beauties of her face and neck. We talked for many precious minute*, and she revealed her simple, candid nature lo me in a fashion no girl bred in artifice could do.

Once during our tall; I looked up and gave a Mart; the boat T had tied to a little wooden nier had slipped its moorings, and was foaling" gently out- into the loeh. .Slie bad not noticed this, and to keep her mind from it I lold her as gnily ?.s I was alilo fo-nie 'if the events of mv life. Shewas so liti'o m?<\ to light talk that for some minutes she regarded me gravely, as though I w n ro rending a romanee from a. book, but at: la-l- the humour of some of my escapades caught her, and ever and again she broke into n. little low-lonsd laugh, that rang in perfect harmony with Ihe still soft air. the clear light of the moon, and the heavy silence of the motionless trees behind us. My light talk seemed to give, her confidence, and presently I was able to draw from her something of the incidents of her own life.

She. was too simple and 100 proud to even speak of the poverty that bad come like a ruthless marauder and stripped them of every luxury, of every comfort, and bad left her father, with his great eslate lacking bread to eat. Her mother had died many years ago, before their poverty came, and when Marianne was a tiny child.

"Was she young?" I asked. "Very young and beautiful," she answered me.

"I know that she was beautiful," I said quietly. She looked at me. but did not understand.

"My father loved her; that is why he will never leave here,"

" Did she dio at the. Castle?" I asked, speaking in a low tone, for her voice was very low and sad as she spoke.

" She died there," said Marianne, raising a hand and pointing out to the middle

of the loch; "a boat overturned and she Was drowned."

There came a long pause now, and we each seemed to be thinking of what the other had said.

For my part, I was thinking over her simple, pathetic story, and she, too, was thinking of the things I had said, for suddenly she rose. "We must get the nets and go; my father will bo waiting."

She made a shy step or two towards mo ami extended her white hand. "Lord Berkeley," she said in her candid, timid way, "I like you, and I am glad that you am not a gambler and roue, as I had feared."

This sweet trustfulness, which is the safeguard of guileless woman, touched my heart, and of a sudden the villainy and impudence of the part I was playing shocked and horrified me. I fell on my knees before her and kissed the hem of her dress.

"Mistress MacGrcgor," said I, "our boat is gone. I must swim out and fetch if." I paused at the water's edge, and taking off my diamond star banded it to her on its starlet ribbon. Then with my feet in the water I turned and looked at her. For a moment my belter self bad conquered; a confession trembled on my lips; I was about to cry "I am not Lord Berkeley: I am Armaml Murray, with no friend in the world—a penniless Scotsman, who lives by his wits.' IJut again I hesitated and again remained silent. At last, without a word, I slipped off my fine coat and plunged into the loch. When I had swum but, a few strokes towards the boat I turned and saw the dark figure' of the girl on the little island watching me. She was bending forward, with palms upturned towards inc, and there was "something almost maternal in her attitude. It was difficult to climb into the boat and return to the island, but I accomplished tho task at last.

Marianne was standing at the water's edge, when the nose of her boat, grated on tho pebbles: she steadied it, and held the prow silently, while I landed. I brushed close pi.st her as I stepped on tho shingle, but she stood apart and silent, watching me with unreadable eyes.

I stooped and took up my coat, from the shingle, Then without a word she held forth my diamond .star and moved past mc towards the boat. 1 did not take the star, neither did I look into her face, for I had formed a new resolution.

"Mistress Maetlregor," I said, "I must bid you good-bye." Her eye widened in surprise, but before she could reply I had passed under the trees away from her, and I was mounting the slope towards the thicket, that darkened the middle of our little island. The next, minute. I was out of sight, and descending the island at tho side away from her. At the water's edge I listened for a moment, but there was no sound. Then again I entered the loch, and swam silently for land. It was a long swim, but. every stroke I took I felt, was something of an atonement for my impudence, and at least 1 had fled without giving her the unhapniness of condemning me. I landed at last, ami sank exhausted in the shade of the birch trees.

Looking over the lake, T saw Marianne circling the island in the boat, and fancied I heard her voice calling'. For some minutes she rowed round and round, and then at last made for the shore. I heard footsteps on the road above mo, and saw the servant ■Jucob descending tho slope to the water's edge in search of us. The girl was nearer now, and seeing the man's figure on the shore, she quickened her strokes. She stepped ashore 15 yards from where I lay hid. and her white fare had a frightened expression that was new to me. She spoke in a low tone, bidding th.e man go search for me, and remained watching him as he rowed off. When he was out of sight round the island she raised her open hand and looked into it. Something sparkled in the moonlight; it was my diamond star. She walked a few steps up the hillside, and paused again, then turned and looked with a strained gaze .over the loch. The next iv.sta.nt my heart cave a leap, for suddenly she had raised the star and pressed it passionately to her lips. She paused now in fear at what she had done, and then, with a littlo cry, flung the jewel from her and sped up the hillside towards the. castle. (To be continued.)