THE CURSE OF ALISON HEPBURN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2078, 21 December 1893, Page 16

THE CURSE OF ALISON HEPBURN.

(Specially Written for the Witness Christmas Nimiber of 1895 ")

By JESSIE MACK AY,

PART I.

On the Moor of Dalgight. T was a day of fierce Australian heat; yet through the far upi country township of Yarra Burra there ran an electric ■ thrill of excitement that banished its usual drowsy midday languor. For the notorious bushranger,

Davie Dunbar, had been captured

that morning, and was now riding to his temporary prison in the Yarra Burra police station. The triumph of Yarra Barra was heightened by surprise, as Davie D unbar was not supposed to be in the neighbourhood, and was being assiduously hunted 200 miles away. The gang had been dispersed some time before: one was taken, another shot, and a couple moie had been traced over the Victorian frontier and lost ; but the marauder in chief had escaped until now. The whole population were crowding the footpaths to see the procession. First rode the hero of the day, Herbert Lacy, the mounted officer in command, to whose promptness and sagacity the capture was due. Next came his friend Dr Medway, who had accompanied the expedition. Ckse behind was the captive, Davie Dnnbar, chained to a trooper on either side, while other two followed, one leaning heavily forward and bearing marks of the straggle. The rear was brought up by a rough litter, on which was carried the black tracker, Nullabar, who sustained yet worse injuries.

As the line filed past, murmurs of varying tone swept through the eager crowd.

11 The heavens bless Misther Lacy ! We're rid o' the baste entoirely ; and honest men can go to bed widout fear of wakin' up murthered," remarked a burly Irish farmer. His wife looked somewhat wistfully at the tall captive.

" Ah, Dennis, tut it's the pity to see him at the gallows feet, an' him so young an' such a figure of a man ! Isn't there the laste little chance of a pardon at all 1 "

" Divil a bit ! " responded Dennis cheerfully. "Is it out o' your sinses ye are, woman, to be talking o' pardon for the baste ? Twice he's killed a man — wanßt in fair fight, and wanst in black murder 1 "

" But they say he was druv to the life, Dennis ; dear, an' the troopers gave him the bad name before ever he looked at Jimmy Doolan's cattle."

"My crikey I he's up a tree now ; but he had a fine fling while it lasted," said a halfgrown flashy youth with a touch of envy. Among all the swaying, mutterißg, multitude one figure stood stock-still and mute. This was a tall woman of magnificent figure and carriage, who might have been five-and-twenty. Her dres3 waa cheap and plain ; but the head, crowned with coilß of luxuriant brown' t hair, was the head of a queen ; her cheek had a rich duskiness like a fine peach ; and her brown eyes had a bard glow like iron beginning to redden with heat. Warmth and colour permeated her whole being — thrown out, as a beholder could not but think, by some intense repressed fire within. Like all the rest, her eyes were steadfastly fixed on the prisoner ; but it would have been difficult to guess what emotion lay behind those tight-locked lips and flaming eyes — whether gratified malice, auger, or pity, neither sign or syllable of it escaped her. Even the absorbing sight of the bushranger could not prevent a few glances of wonder at this woman, manifestly a stranger In Yarra Burra. Herbert Lacy, carelessly and triumphantly scanning the people, saw her and started, while a hot flush rose to his face. Davie Dunbar was now straight in front of her. Despite his 6ft 2in of glorious animal manhood, he .had already taken on the furtive wild-beast look of the iugitive — the downward eyes with darting side glances. In one of those flashes he encountered the inscrutable eyes, of the woman, and he too started painfully. For a quarter of a minute they looked each other in the face ; then his head sank to its former sullen pose. The gates closed behind them, and the gratuitous show was over.

Three or four hours later, Herbert Lacy and Arthur Medway were resting in the shadiest corner of the broad verandah, and cnatting of the day's exploit.

" Well, Lacy, you are safe for promotion now ; you never did a better stroke in your life," eaiS Medway.

"No credit to me specially," laughed Herbert. " That clue might have led to nothing, you know. But fate decided it should make my fortune instead."

" Fate 1 I suppose that is what you call Providence when you are devotional," began the stout young doctor. " I'm sorry to take down your self-esteem, Lacy, but I really don't think either of the powers mentioned mind you and me any more than I do the wood insect on that table."

" Here, you nefarious mixer of bread pills, don't be airing your materialism round my diggings, and don't start,, any of your bosh about chance, high arbiter, and all the rest. You would say, doubtless that it was chance put Davie Dunbar behind the grating yonder to stand his trial for murder.

" Far from it, my dear sir. Davie Dunbar is a case of atavism pure and simple. Born of a nation that habitually subsisted on stolen cattle, hereditary instincts were too strong for him. Dunbar fere used the birch rod too much or too little — the effect is much the tame. From stealing to fighting is a natural step; and self-preservation edged him on to murder. There you are ! They say his whole Australian career only lasted three years. You'll lose no time to-morrow ? " 11 You bet. He is a perfect eel, and I shall not feel easy till I band him over at headquarter. If he slips out of my fingers by the way, I see no resource but to inquire for the nearest gooseberry bush and hang myself on it."

" I thought, dear bey, that you were too much an object of providential care to dread any such cataßtrophe," sneered the doctor,

" You surely know that we Lacys are the last people to doubt the working of unseen agencies in human affairs, though in our case they have worked wofully against us."

, "If you assert it, I won't gainsay that the Laoys may be bigger fools than ether people, but I never heard any supernatural reason for it," eouably rejoined the doctor. "Never heard of the moor of Dalgight? Never heard of the curse of Alison Hepburn ? Well, you shall hear it forthwith, if only to oonvince your sceptical soul that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in your philosophy." " Another bottle of beer then to wash it down, for you're not a heaven- born narrator by a long chalk, my young friend. There, I'm fortified. Trot out the Lacy skeleton 1 "

" Well, it was in the golden days of James 11, when boot and thumbEcrew were in fashion over the Border, and that unappreciated reformer, John Graham of Olaverhouse, was gently spreading by fire and sword the inestimable blessings of ths Anglican faith — of which I am an unworthy member, and you ought to be. Shortly before the Trial of the Bishops — am I getting out of your historical depth, old man 1 "

" Eather not I " said the doctor laconically, between two puffs of smoke.

" Well, just in the last days of James, the said unpopular reformer had for associate and helper in disseminating the truth a certain great grandfather of mine twice removed, Captain Julian Lacy, of Erlwood Hall. As the exigencies of the story demand it, you'll forgive the mention of the estate and ancestor in this free and democratic country, where it's infra dig. to speak of anything older than 40 years."

" You are pardoned, dear boy. I owned a grandfather in a small way myself," replied Dr. Medway, mildly.

" From the chronicles which have reached his admiring posterity it would nob seem that my revered ancestor was quite the man for a select tea-party. He was considerably beyond the fashion in the matters of swearing, dicing, and fighting — and the fashion of the time was accommodating enough for most. It is said that even Claverhouse, who in general found him a very coDgenial comrade in the Church Militant, had to check him for over-zeal in shootiog a batch of Cameronians, as among them there happened to be a couple of worthy fellows who had recinted and betrayed their parson two days before. Well, Captain Julian Licy had special charge to deal with one, Adam Hepburn, of Dalgight, a noted and stiff Cameronian, who had borne armsatßothwell Bridge. Thedragoons, making a sudden march across the moor of Dalgigh;, a wild and rocky waste in Kirkcudbright, caught two small boys carrying some food in a basket.

" • Who's this for, my bonnie men ? ' said the captain. But not a word would the small boys say ; they only shook and wept as the great grim dragoons jeered at them.

" Then the captain said fiercely

" • We'll see if the cub's cry will draw the bear," and all of a sudden he stabbed the elder boy's arm with his sword point. The little fellow gave a loud, shrill cry. Scarce had the echo passed when Adam Hepburn himself sprang from a cave near by, the mouth of it cunningly hidden between two rocka. He ran towards them, crying :

" 'Are ye seeking Adam Hepburn, sirs? Let these babes free and he yields to ye.'

" The captain laughed and said

"'Batter late than never. Now, Mr Hepburo, of Dalgight, we who ride on his Majesty's errands have scant time to spate, so make up your mind quickly. Will you down on your knees and join these good fellows in a friendly toast — " Long life to the King, and confusion to the Convenant 1 " or will you stand and see those two precious lambs of grace shot like a brace of mooifowl — yourself after? 1

" • Man, man, are ye flesh and blood that ask it?'

" ' That am I. Come, you may trifle with Claver'se himself sooner than with Julian Lacy.'

"Then the Covenanter pleaded in an agony for his children, not himself ; but the captain Ofcly laughed. •"The toast, man ; tbe toast. Give us that, or I slay the rebel Hepburns root and branch.'

" ' That shall ye no, for my eldest born is owre seas in Holland. 1 Then he rose, bitterly muttering to himself :

" ' Shame befa' ye, Adam Hepburn, that ever ye kneeled to another than God — an' that in yer last bourl But, oh lit was for them 1 ' Then turning to the soldiers, he cried : ' Shoot, ye children of Belial ; ye can but send us to God. Scotland is drookit wi' the blood o' the saints. Heaven an 1 earth cry agaisst the bloody house o' Stuart 1 '

11 Herbert Lacy stopped and drew a deep breath. " Ah, well, it's all over and done 200 yeara ago ; and ye l -, Medway, I hate to think that the blood of that brute runs in my veins. They shot the children first, then the father. Even as he fell a woman's scream came shrill beside them. And the wild dragoons, who boasted themselves on fearing neither God nor man, fell back a little as they saw her— an old, eld -woman, with streaming white hair and awful sunken eyes, and fingers like bird's claws.

" ' It is the covenanting dog's raaUier. It is Alison Hepburn, the witch ' the soldisrs muttered to each other. Bhe never stayed to look on her dead son, but stood upright facing his murderers, ths foam on her lips as she raved. The old chronicle from which I read all this in my boyhood gave the end of her wild rhapsody :

"• I see it, I see it — I see the sword that shall pieice your black heart, Julian Lacy ; an' the hand o1o 1 a Hepburn bauds it. I see the lands reft frae your house, and a Hepburn oE Dalgight rules them. Thrice shall the head o' the Hepburns slay tie head o' the Lacys. Once by steel, once by water, once by fire ! I see if, I see it 1'

" Then she put her hands to her eyes. • It's owre! ib's owre ! The last Hepburn shall destroy the last Lacy in a far lind. The blood-wyte is on you, Julian Ltcy — on you an' your kin forever 1 '

" With these words she fell in a fib and died before them, and Julian Lacy tried to put her words away; but the soldiers spioad them far and wide, and sore frightened they were at the upshot. For the next year Julian was fighting by Dundee al Killiecrankie, and the young Hepburn, who had come from Holland, spracg at him and cut him down, crying ;

'• ' This for Adam Hepburn, of Dalgight ! This for his bairns 1 ' That was the beginning. The Erlwood estate still belonged to Julian's little son, whose guardians made peace with the ruling powers. But when he grew up he joined the Jacobites, and suffered in the Forty-five ; his lands were given to young Adam Hepburn's son, now an officer in the royal army. So fair Erlwood by the Till passed from the Lacys ; but in a few years that branch of the Hepburns died out, and it went to strangers.

" Now, mark you, in the Indian wars at the close of the eighteenth century my ancestor, Colonel Lacy, was quartered in Bengal, and there one morning he was found floating dead in the Ganges. His death was explained five years after, when his fellow officer, Captain Hepburn, of Dalgight, confessed on his deathbed that, moved by jealousy, he had flung Colonel Lacy in the river.

" The story shifts now to the Napoleonic wars. Both families, I may remark, show the most pugnacious spirit throughout their annals. My then ancestor, a lieutenant of Wellington's Peninsular army, having had a grievous quarrel with his superior officer, deserted to the French, and at the siege of Badajos was seen by a party of his old comrades as he was scaling the wall of a burning building. Thereupon Richard Hepburn thrust him back over the wall, calling him traitor and renegade, and so he died."

"A singular chapter of coincidences, to Bay the least of it," thoughtfully remarked Dr Medway. "Do you really think it came through the old lady's words ? "

" Upon my word, I don't know at times. Taking my commonplace daylight view of things, I look on it sceptically rather ; but taking my dreamy, midnight view, it weighs heavier than you would think. For, alas I there ti good reason to disbelieve it if I can. I am the last Lacy."

" You don't say so ? How stands the other lot for numbers ? "

""Eight years ago, when I left England, an old uncle of mine, a firm believer in the family curse, had ascertained that only two of them remained — a boy and a girl. I trust they will stay in their ancestral halls of Dalgight and flourish like unto bay trees. I bear them no malice, only I'd feel more comfortable if they kept out of Australia." "Don't let the fear of them eat like a grub — no, I mean a canker — into your damask cheek, my valiant chicken," said Dr Medway coolly. There was a long pause. Herbert Lacy rolled a cigarette in,a hesitating sort of way, and at last began, rather shamefacedly :

" Arthur, do you believe in another kind of fate 7 I mean that people are destined for each other and all that ? "

Dr Medway opened his eyes languidly. " What nonsense ia the baby after now, I wonder 1 "

" Medway, old man, I've come to the conclusion that for tact, amiability, and consideration Job's three friends weren't in ib along with you." " Ingratitude, thy name is Herbert Lacy ! When was my friendly ear ever inattentive to the tender murmurings of your — eternal bosh 1 I'm all attention now."

The young man laughed and coloured a little.

" Did I ever tell you of the girl I saw in the Sydney Domain last time I was down on leave ? "

" Did you ever tell me about her ? Didn't you just din it into me just sixteen hundred times In the last five months."

" Perhaps I mentioned it once or twice. She's here. I saw her in the crowd as we rode in with Davie Danbar."

"Then the case looks more hopeful. Sydney may be large enough to hide a stranger ; Yarra Burra isn't large enough to hide a mosquito."

Herbert Lacy's eyes were turned on the road, and he ejaculated :

"A 9 I'm a living man, she's passing now. She's stopping ; she's lifting the latch."

The tall young woman who had stood in the crowd was indeed approaching them with stately steps. " I wish to"" see Mr Lscy if he ia not engaged," she said in a deep voice, refined, bub with something un-Eaglish in the accent. Herbert signified he was the person in question, and Bhe at once began : " I hear your housekeeper is looking for a servant." " True ; my housemaid took the fever yesterday." "I am a stranger, and in need of a situation. I will give you satisfaction if jou will only take me on trial, sir."

"But- -but it could not suit you," stammered Herbert.

" I assure you, sir, I am well used to work. May I go in and say you have engaged me ? "

Scarcely waiting for permission, she disappeared iato ths hGuse, leaving the youcg men looking blankly at each other. The doctor waß the first to speak.

"What do you think of your precious romanca now ? " " What do you think of it ? " " If you ask me, I say she's a vast deal too pretty for a servant here." " But not too pretty for my wife, I suppose," said Herbert shortly. " Of course if you put it that way, I have no more to say," answered the doctor drily.

" Confound yon, man 1 what should there be to say ? Cati'c ynu ses she's no more a housemaid than you're a navvy ? "

PART 11.

On the Plains of Yarra Burra.

Herbert Lacy sut in his rooms watching hi 3 new servant remove the dishes after the evening meal. Her movements were quick and deft ; her lips were still tightly closed as before ; his almost timid efforts to begin a conversation had elicited replies respectful indeed, but chil'ing m their self-possessed dignity. Once only did she look him full in the face ; that waß when he made some reference to his last night's capture. Boy as he still was in heart, he longed inexpressibly for some word of commendation from the beautiful woman. But the inscrutable regard of the deep eyes spoke no admiration, as she said slowly :

" And you will have the reward that is put on him ? "

" I want no money ; it is honour, promotion, I want."

" Honour, promotion I That is just blood mom-y in another form, is it not? " " Put it another way ; it was my duty to the country that required me to take him," be

said, desperately slipping from the heroic to the defensive. Then he changed the subject suddenly.

"Do you know that I have seen you before ? "

" No, sir." " Sit down, and I'll tell you when and where."

" I would rather stand, sir."

" Then I'll stand too. It was in Sydney, five months ago. It was late in the afternoon. I was passing round Wooloomooloo Bay in a boat, and I Baw you sitting alone on Lady Macquarie's chair."

" Likely enough. I have sat there often, and alone," she said sorrowfully.

"I never forgot you — never. I knew that we would meet again. To-day, when I saw you, I was scarcely surprised ; I was so sure of it."

Not many women could have heard Herbert Lacy's soft voice without the smallest inner response, or passed the honest boyish face without an atom of fleeting regard. But the ice of this woman's demeanour thawed not a whit as she turned to the door. "Stay," he said hurriedly. "It was very stupid of me ; I never asked your name." "Alison Hepburn," she said. Herbert's face paled, and be put out his hand to the table.

" Alison Hepburn, of Dalgight," he Btammered."

It was her turn to blanche.

"How do you know that?" she said, almost fiercely. Herbert did not answer at once ; he passed his hand over his forehead once or twice, and a peculiar gleam habitual to him when excited shot into his gray eyes. It was far different from the red glow in Alison's — a pale light that gleamed out in an instant with a beautiful buc weird brilliancy in the dilated orbs. Only one of the many friends who admired that quick iridescence on Herbert Lacy's face knew what it foreshadowed. Bat Arthur Medway knew, and feared.

Alison was still standing in front of him, her head forward, her lips parted. At last he spoke in a voice studiously smooth and low.

" Thereare strange things in this world, Alison. You must hear the whole story before judging, or you will think me mad. Long years ago our destinies were terribly linked together — do not look at me like that ; I am in sober earnest. Tha end is in your hands, and you only can turn the tide of evil that has been long ago. Alison, you are my fate ; I felt it at first ; I know it now. Alison, my beautiful, beautiful Alison 1 you must either kill me or marry me."

" Marry you I " she burst out impetuously, then checked herself, continuing in a strange musing tone : " You, Mr Lacy — you love me 1 " " To madness, Alison." She raised her head and looked at him keen.

'"A man will do much for the woman he loves," she said.

" What would I not do for you 1 " he said, laughing softly. "If it were a great — a terribly hard thing 1 " Her glowing eyes looked straight into his ; she was within an inch as tall as he. He felt his will and reason drifting away as in a trance.

"If it were my life you asked, you should have it," he answered.

"IE I did not ask ifc merely— if I begged it, implored, entreated like this, could you refuse me 7 You are noble, generous, kind — you could not, you could not I " f Surely the world was turned upside down in space ; the cold and queenly woman was at his feet in an agony of tears, passionately clinging to his hand, and looking up in his face. "My darling ! what is this ? " " Set Davie Dunbar free," she gasped. Herbert staggered back, and put both hands to his breast as if stabbed.

"Alison, Alison, I offered my life, but this is honour."

"Honour! to join, with those Australian bloodhounds in the «ry after one poor hunted man I 0 1 you do not know how he was tempted. Honour before God is not the hard word it is before men — it is mercy, longsuffering, gentleness. And you shall do nothing ; your name shall never suffer ; only let me carry out my plan." He grasped her shoulder fiercely. " What is Davle Dunbar to you ? " he asked hoarsely.

" He is — my — brother," she said slowly.

There was a long pause. Alison drew down his hand to her and bent over it timidly. " For my sake," she whispered. " Let me think — let me think," he muttered, and staggered out of the room. Next morning Yarra Burra was electrified to hear that Davie Duiibar had escaped. The strength and daring of the prisoner were well known ; but the manner of his escape showed that he must have had a confederate outside. About six the alarum, was raised, and long before seven Herbert Lacy and his men were mounted for the road.

"He will make for the sea," he said, and turned the party in that direction.

Arthur Medway dressed hastily in time to see his friend riding down the straggling street of the township.

" This is a bad business, Lacy, and you look frightfully seedy over it. Don't take it so hard ; you'll catch him yet. If the tracker Nullabar hadn'c been hurt yesterday you'd have had him in no time."

Herbert put the doctor's remarks aside with a stern gravity unusual to him, and rode hastily away.

Id was late in the evening when they returned unsuccessful. Herbert Lacy had flung himself down in his sitting room. Alison, anxious and wild-eyed, came in and looked the questions she did not dare ask.

" It; is all right, dear girl," hesaid, glancing furtively round. "He must be in Victoria by now. Ah, what a day it has been ! I scarce dared to look my own men in the face. Never mind, my resignation goes up tomorrow, and I shall feel &traighter with the world then."

" O dear Mr Lacy, must it come to that ? What, can I say to you of all I feel ? " ■" Ooly say you will marry mo next week " She sprang back from the outstretched arms like a tigress at bay. "' Don't touoh me 1 " she shrieked. " Alison, what do you mean 1 " She covered her faco with her hands and cow Qred guiltily.

" CM forgivi: me, you good and noble mm 1 — Forgive me and forget me. I did very wrong, but I was so tempted." " Speak out ; you are torturing me." " I will tell no more lies. God forgive me I—lI — I am his wife."

Herbert looked at her with a white, dazed face. "You are Davie Dunbar's wife? Is that what you say, Alison ? "

"It is true," she sobbed. Herbert looked at her with a strange, weird quietude, saying in a measured voice, after a long pause : " The story is finished. The last Hepburn and the last Lacy — yes, it iB all over now. It was not your fault; it was fated. But leave me now ; your tears do me no good." Far into the night he Bat alone in the same chair, with his head leaning on his hands. First a dead silence prevailed in the room, then a few mutterings began, like the first drops of a storm. Then the house rang with a chorus of horrible laughter. Destruction had not come in death. For tbe rest of his short life Herbert Lacy was a raving madman!

Ib was six years after the escape of Davie Danbar. Dr Medway had treated himself to a well-earned holiday, and was riding through a remote district of South Australia. A cosy farmhouse invited the thirsty traveller to alight and ask for a drink. A handsome woman came to the door, and cordially asked tbe doctor into a neat sitting room. The visitor looked at her critically, and said, with a little hesitation :

" I think we have met before, Miss" —

11 Mrs Duff," said she, quietly filling up the gap with expectant eyes. As he pauzed a tall man passed the window with a pruning hook in his hand.

"Mr Duff, I presume ? I have also seen him before."

The woman leaned back in her chair with a ghastly face.

"Do not fear," said the doctor hastily. " Believe me, I have no intention of startling you in the slightest. Let bygones be bygones. If you will only answer a few questions in a friendly and confidential manner, I shall be eternally obliged."

" About him ? " Bhe gaspad faintly.

"No, my dear madam, about yourself. I had someinklingat Yarraßurra of your relation to — Mr Duff. But when you took service in Me Lacy's house you gave the name of Alison Hepburn. May I ask if it was your maiden name ? " " It was." " And you are of an old Scottish family which lived at Dalgight in Kirkcudbright."

" How do you know all this ? " j- "An old story, Mrs Duff. And your brother ? Was he alive then ? "

" No, he died three years before ; lam the last of my family."

" Strange, indeed," mused the doctor. She had been scanniag his face attentively, and spoke now in her turn.

"Ab, I know you now. Yon were the friend of that dear, good Mr Lacy. Tell me about him. Did he get better ? "

"He died mad five years ago," said the doctor shortly. " If my surmises are correct," he added, " you had great, if not open, came for gratitude to him."

" I had, indeed, miserable creature that I am I He gave new life to us both."

"He did ; he gave his own. And," he continued, with a touch of unwonted feeling, " if ever I knew the poor lad, he would not have grudged it to you, for a sweeter soul than Herbert Lacy never lived."

An hour later the doctor rode away. As he looked back on Alison's prosperous but childless home, he muttered :

" Can such things be, or was it all a chair, of chances ? And yet, if that tragedy did begin two centuries sg> on the moor of Dilgight, my own eyes saw it finished to the bi.ter end on the plains of Yarra Burra."

[The End]