CHAPTER IV.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 191, 8 March 1878, Page 3

CHAPTER IV.

The Abbey of ' Aberbrothock was founded by William the Lion, King of Scotland, in 1178, in honour of Thomas il Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, ,wha was assussinated by order of one of the English Kings, while he was officiating at the altar, and who was canonised and promoted in the great army of saints by an obliging Pope of that period. King William himself was interred here in 1214, and his tomb is still shown by the custodian of the "Abbey buildings, at a small sum per head ; so ; that you see that the dead, although they are dead, can still afford the. means of living to the living. Here Robert Bruce and. the,. . Scottish nobility met in 1320 to -concert means' and plans to enable them to resist the claims of Edward IL, King of England, and here, when in the plentitude of his power, the Black Douglas used tq.come, accompanied' by a thousand 'hors'emeh, and 'live for weeks at a time. Next to Holyrobd in Edinburgh, -the Abbey of Aberbrpthock was the most richly .endowed | monastry in Scotland. Its --revenues were enormous" for I, 'a poor cquntryj like Scotland, --whila-.its^. power, and influence ex tended 'over' the whole '. of iJ thb' jnorth-eastern counties. After the.decdy of the Douglases, the Hamilton family managed to seize many of their'estates and dignities, and even at this timo Lord Arbroath is one of the

. ; titles of- that - -clever; moral iiving, re- . spectable, half. Bonaparte, the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon. When -the Earl ioflHuntly:' and his » sister, the beautiful Lady Jeannie » Gordon,. aqcempanied by Malcolm Ogil- » vie and the youngs Laird of ,'Northesk, the .great; gate of the, Abbey, • i the. courtyard was: crowded with their •retainers. On their being observed, aloud cheer jburst from .the .assemblage, while their bodie servants hurried forward to hold ;their horses, and to assist them to dismount. The men.-at-arms who had been so unceremoniously dismissed from his seat . on : horseback by Malcolm elbowed his, way to the front, but, awed by the company in which he found his late antagonist, he spoke in a very different 'tone from what he had done to Tarn Glen: ■-•. Doffing, his steel cap, he said — . -•-.,' ..; . . ' Wad ver honour tell me whaur I'll get my horse ?' , my good fellow, you will find him easy enough, but I ani afraid he will be not of much use when you have found him. I had to kill him to save the lady.' 'Lord keep me, what will I say to to the Lord Abbot -1 lam sure ..to be severely punished, an' ye ken it wasna ■my faut,' Here -Lady Jeannie, laughingly whispered something to her brother the Earl, who immediately turned and said : ' I will give you a better horse fiaii the one you' had, and I will bear you skaithless. with the Lord Abbot, and here is a gold piece' to. pay for .the trouble y e S ot *' . . . : , ■..■:.*?• ...-■'■ ' Pardon me, my Lord,' said Malcolm, with a little hateur,' ' but this is a matter in which I alone am responsible. You would not wish to degrade me in *. my own estimation and that of other people.' ' Now, sir,' said Lady Jeannie, shaking her hand at.him with a saucy smile, 'you know that I, top, am responsible, and that I only received the benefit and you the trouble, so that it must' be as my brother says. lam sure that your friend Northesk will say with me.' ' Your ladyship is doubtless right,' said young Northesk, ' but I must say that in honour with me it would destroy the, pleasurs of having been able to serve you if you take the duty of repairing damages off my •shoulders.' 'That is how I feel,' said Malcolm, 'and I hope that her ladyship and the noble Earl will not destroy the .pleasure I feel in having been of service.' 'If the gentlemen/ said Lady Jean- ■. nic haughtily, while a flush spread over her lovely countenance, '' disdains to accept justice from the hand of one whose life he saved, be can do so at the price ol her friendship? ' I yield,' said Malcolm, excitedly, while his lips quivered.; 'ior the friendship of Lady Jeannie Gordon I would sacrifice everything I have in this world? ' Now; then, that this little quarrel is comfortably settled, I , thinfc we had better seek the presence of the Queen,' ; said the Earl. Lady Jeannie looked wistfully at Malcolm, and extended her hand, which he knelt and kissed, and -then feeling ' ! forgiveness, he, proudly .followed up the great marbel staircase. This staircase was of immense width and of splendid workmanship, an.d.-was lined from top tobottom with a double line of gorge-ously-dressed spearmen, who, with the butt-end of their weapons resting on the ground, stood immovable. At the top of the staircase was the entrance to. the great- hall, which' was erowdeel with a great assemblage of .the northern nobility arid 'landed ' gentry; and their principal followers,; who with their ladies and families had met, by invitation from the Lord, Abbot to be presented to - the Queen,: Regent, and share in the deliberations of'the Council that was to meet next day, and to be followed by a sumptuous -banquet. , When the Earl of Huntly and the . Laddy ; Jeahnie, accompanied by Malcolm Ogilvie, and young oNorthesk, appeared, making their way to where the Queen sat, with the Lord Abbot standing behind her seat, they, became, the . magnet that' attracted all, eyes, and a loud hum of gratification ' : at 1, ladyship's safety spread, through. the hall., „-, When the Queen saw them, she hurriedly started from her seat, and embracing* the, Lady Jeannie, she said— -; ' Ob, ma petite, how you have alarmed . us. Are yousafe, -unhurt?' How did ; you escape ?' , ; -■' .1 .'Thanks to this gentleman,' said Lady . Jeannie, turning ;to Malcolm, ' who' saved' my life,'- f - : - :;; .. ■; : .;.-.-.. , 7 ?:-- /, • 'And how shall we name this gentleman who " has made • us so deeply his debtor ?' said . the,. Queen,' as, she, .again resumed her seat. ' This is Malcolm' Ogilvie, son of the '" Knight ..,-pf > .Inyierquharity,; y- said, the Earl of Huntly," as Malcolm knelt and kissed her hand. r <■ ""'"'' '7' 'It is pleasant, my Lord- Ogilvie,' said the Queen, 'to be .able ; tp say^that your noble race is willing to render us .so many favours.- ; ;How isay we -"shall ' reward -this valiant warrior,, vyh.o rescues distressed "damsels 1 T ' M alcQlmoas- ;a>gude. :lad>- yyour-= - r jesty,' said Lord Ogilvie, a stately old ,man } with'- 5 lo'iig "grey hair ' ;) atid- beard? ' but I fancy .the best regard 7yo7u J: . can gi'e hiqa is a chance o' doing^Tsome service to hoi}* - KifteaFdi Statel'>? 1 "- *• ( And| vvhafe jsays s|Malcol_nv himself V said the Queen Regentj smiling. . ; ; His Lordship has spoken my dearest

■ 1 wishes,'" your Majesty,' ; said Malcolm, f> ' I would like' some' position wherein 1 could show my devotion to your Majesty i and our r holy religion.' * ' And what do you think, my Lord Abbot, about this matter V said the , Queen, turning to where he stood glittering, in -vestments -''of 'fine linen, gold, ■ and jewels. . 'It might be well for your Majesty to ■ keep the gentleman attached to- your person for a time. It is no mean position that would be, suitable for a relative : of the Lord Ogilvie.' When the Lord Abbot had spoken, Malcolm looked up with some curiosity at the person whose advice chimed in so ■well with his owii wishes. To be attached to the Queen's person- was to be hear the Lady Jeannie Gordon, and for that, so deeply was he smitten, he was willing to sacrifice all that this world could give. - , 7 The Lord Abbot, that mau who was more powerful than many barons, whose word was life or death, weal or wo*-, in two counties, was of? middle 5 size; ; of florid complexion, and whose body was the body cf one who. denied himself no indulgence. He was -a Hamilton on the left, side, of the blanket, and .his haughty, arrogant bearing showed him the possessor of uncontrolled power. But, priest-like, he* could -be courteous and plausible when it suited his purpose, and, :priest-like, he could make lavish promises and bieak them without compunction when it suited his purpose. He was known as a stern, cruel enemy of the Reformed doctrines, ,and nothing enraged him more than to be told of the great progress they were making throughout the country? Hence, as none of those around him dared to tell him, he was necssarily ignorant of -much that was taking place around him ; he did" not know how even in. his own neighbourhood they had grown so bold as to, oder. battle to his own factor, nor did he know how ..deeply infected with heresy many of his vassals, were on which he placed the. greatest reliance. ' We think your advice, good, my Lord Abbot, and will adopt it. So Master Malcolm will consider himself attached to our household, and we hope that the time is not far distant when we will buckle on his heels the golden spurs of Knighthood. Who is this gentleman, beside him, your Lordship V ' This is John Carnegie, son of Sir J. Carnegie of Northesk, who desires •to be presented to your Majesty,' said the Earl of Huntly. Young Northesk- knelt , and kissed the Queen's hand, aud then he and Malcolm retired behind her seat, where they could be near her ladies, and see all the gorgeous scene that was passing before them. The meeting of the Lady Jeannie Gordon with the rest of the Queen's ladies was of a very affectionate nature. She, as. the youngest, had been much petted; her beauty and her gentle quiet ways, and her beautiful voice ever breaking into song, had rendered her a general favourite.But the Lady Elizabeth Hamilton was her especial companion. They walked together, rode together, danced ■ and sang* together, attended the Queen together, and were seldom separate by night or by day. Their lite was anything but monotonous. They had been compelled to move so often from place to place, and were sometimes, as at Leith, in situations of no little danger. They were devoted to their mistress, and as she, the chief o.f the State, was foremost in her devotion to the Papal hierarchy, and as the Papal day-star was fast setting in Scotland, they had come to look upon her cause as that of religion itself. Lady Jeannie , had to give her companions a whispered and hurried account of the adventures she had come through ; and when she spoke of Malcolm, her fervid language, and the ■heightened colour of her cheek, created a general smile.. ' 'Tell me, Jeannie, where is.this nonsuch V ' said Lady Elizabeth. 'Is he anywhere near, us f, ' There he is, with young "Northesk, , standing: behind the Lord Abbot.' ' What, is it he with the black hair and the dark eyes? Well, he is a handsome fellow.' ' No,' said Lady Jeannie, pettishly, 'that is him with the long brown hair, and the-*buH's head crest ih his bonnet. See, he is always looking in this direction.' . . •--,•-, " -" • ' - - ' -„, 'And well he may,' said Lady Elizabeth, laughing. ' Why, the poor fellow' is over head and ears, anci if you don't take. .pity on him soon, you will have his life to answer for,' 4 y „•...-■• ; 'Now, Elizabeth, ypu go. .too far,' .said; Lady "Jeannie, withaslight quiver of her lip- 'you forget that I have .only known him a few hours.' y 'Aye, Jeannie, but those few hours have' been hoursc of danger, .and.he saved you when no_one else thought it t wotth their -while to follow r you. j'was" so: terror-stricken Lcould-iipt even ask any one about you? , f _„...,--- ■•■: '.Indeed, 'Elizabeth; J r o aire.*dy love him, .dearly , ',. said; LadyrJeannie,, hiding "her blushing face in her companion's breast, j 'And, oh,X wish I- was sure ;he lp ved me.' 7. '}'. f- -4r- "' He icannot help , it, r Jeannie. See .howvstekl'thiLyihiss'e^'es 1 wander -"ever --in this direction.' --7W- '.■__•;._•-.-?.-.-< 'But] dearest? what will Allan .say ? How77wiir.the'l.chieT 0$ the.. 'peat Clan Gordon, ,the. most powerful nobleman in like tlie idea of a geiitlenmn

< cadet, with nothing but the sword by : his side, becoming his brother-in-law V I ' Ch, Elizabeth, I- tremble when I ; think of it, he is so proud and so passionate ; and yet Allan has ever been a kind brother to me. But I am not a child, and I think"! have. a will of my own. ' However, we will not bode trouble ; things are too serious to ( look far before us.' 'That is right Jeannie; it only : brings sorrow, i wish this reception was oyer, fori am tired. These sea voyages don't agree with me.' While this whispered conversation was going on, Malcolm Ogilvie and John Caregie stood watching the pageant before the in. The sun's rays flashing through the richly-stained glass windows lit up the scene with a splendid 'light, that shone upon ' fair women and brave men,' upon haughty pride and splendid dress, upon children young and people old and grey. Suddenly John caught -Malcolm by the arm, and whispered' — • ' Who can that beautiful girl be who is standing with the Lady! Jeannie ? 1 am dark myself, and I. must confess that I like dark beauty best. I would dare much to be able to call that Lady, mine.' ' And what is to hinder you, John 1 Ye ken the. old byword, ' Never venture, never win." See, who is that staring at the ladies so rudely ?,' ,• - .- . 'That is the Laird 'of Auchmithie, a man who bears but an indifferent character, although I never heard what he was accused of. Well, "he does stare rudely, but, poor deevil, it's all ever lie can do,' said John. ' I must ask Lady Jeannie who her beautiful companion is,' said, Malcolm ; ' and 1 will also ask her to say.,a i good word for you. But, see, the reception is over, and the . Queen is going to'retire. We will <_,o over to the 'Three Angels ' and have some dinner, and prepare for the grand doihgs : to-mor-row." The Queen and her ladies retired to their private appar'tments, and Malcolm, rendered supremely happy by a sunny smile' from Lady Jeannie, accompanied young Northesk to the hostelry, where they met Tarn Glen, and retired to a private room, as we have already narrated. (To be contimied. )