CHAPTER XXXIII.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 207, 28 June 1878, Page 3

CHAPTER XXXIII.

"We will now retrace our steps to an •earlier time in the day on which the Abbey of Aberbrothock was destroyed, and narrate what took place :n tbe interior of that building. For some time the Abbot had been aware of the gathering cloud that was <***•& 'ned to overwhelm him, aad he was uneasy in his mind, and very suspicious of all around him. He appeared to have completely recovered from the attack made upon him by Lindsay, but a long white seam made by the blow from the goblet was no improvement to his appearance. Without confidence in his own vassals, and in terror almost to the verge of insanity at the thought of Gordon discovering his abduction and imprisonment of Lady ■ Jeannie, and without his unscrupulous hireling to destroy both her and the evidence together, his punishment for a" life of hypocrisy and sensuality and crime had already commenced. To drown thought he drank ; and in his sleep he dreamed hideous dreams, from which he awakened enervated and prostrated in body and mind. That morning he had dreamed that .he had been attacked by the heretics, who, with a huudred swords at his hreast, were forcing him to confess his crimes, and he awakened shrieking with terror. Hastily clothing himself, he hurried to Glenmore, and speaking as if he had received private intelligence, urged him to make a strong reconnaissance. Then he retired again to his private apartment, where he nearly drank himself insensible ; then he threw himself on his bed, where he slept a deathlike sleep for several hours. The noise of the returning soldiery awakened him, and he again sought Glenmore, who told him of his meeting with the Ogilvies and Carnegies, and the certainty of the Abbey being attacked that day. Then he sought the secret apartment of the women, but Alice and Lady Jeannie fastened themselves into their room, and the others were not able to arrest his attention ; so he wandered back to his own room, where he again drank and brooded, till the noise oi' the rabble in advance of the armed Reformers aroused him. Then he proceeded to the great hall, where all the monks, fear-stricken and trembling, had assembled, and opening a pane in one of the illuminated windows, he looked down on the heaving, struggling mass below. Struck with the certainty of his fate, he sank in despair into a large cushioned chair, and thought of suicide. But bold as he was in vice and crime, reckless and unscrupulous as he had been with the persons and property of -others, he shrank from this resource. He heard the fierce battle at the great gate ; he heard the garrison driven back, and the loud clang of the great gate as they secured their retreat, and he never lifted his head or moved in the chair. He heard the smashing in of the postern door, the wild combat in the corridor, the chrashing blow of the muekle smith on the secret panel, and the cry that Lady Jeannie was found ; and then he started hurriedly to his feet, for he knew that his hour had come. The door of the great hall was dashed open, and a great number of the Gordons, mad with battle and wounded pride, swarmed into the noble apartment, and without warning commenced cutting and stabbing at the monks. They were followed hy Glenmore, who instantly stopped them hy crying — " * Hold, my lad§, that is too easy a death for such ruffians " j then he hurriedly advanced to where the Abbot stood, and boldly confronting him, roared at the top of his voice-— ' Assassin, robber, hypocrite, answer me, who caused the murder of the Laird of Glenbucket 1 who insulted the whole clan Gordon by grossly outraging their Lady V The Abbot draw up his portly form with something like dignity, then seizing the cross that hung at his girdle, he held it aloft aud shrieked out— * Stand back, blasphemous man, or dread the wrath of an offended God. If you and your men do not instantly quit this apartment, I will excommunicate you, and condemn you to eternal punishment in the next world. 7 Some of the Gordons, ignorant and superstitious, cowered and drew back at this tremendous threat, but Glenmore shook his clenched hand in the Abbot's face, and hissed out — ' I will show you the excommunication of the clan Gordon, and their punishment in this world ;' then turning to his men he cried, { Bring ropes, lads, and bind them.' Ropes were soon brought, and one by one the monks were bound hand and foot, and thrown carelessly on the floor. The Abbot was then seized last of all and stript of all the insignia of his office and rank, tied neck and heel, and thrown contemptuously among the rest. Then Glenmore turned to his men and said —

' Lads, see if you can find among the stores of these knaves some barrels of spirits or oil. I will make the vengeance of the Gordons remembered in Aberbrothock for hundreds of years.'

A number of the men hurried away, and soon returned rolling in several barrels of spirits and oil. Glenmore then ordered the heads to he smashed in, and the contents poured on the floor,

thoroughly saturating the bound and prostrate monks. Then Glenmore eried — * Now, lads, you have done well, and deserve to be rewarded. Carry off everything you can, for I intend to fire this accursed den, and give those rascals to the devil they have served so

long? The Gordons burst into a loud cheer, and, with all the acquisitiveness of the Highlander, commenced annexing all and sundty. Nothing came amiss to theso gentry — plate, priests' dresses, bedclothes chairs, or barrels of wine or spirits — all that was worth taking was taken.

Meanwhile Glenmore slowly lit a torch, and coolly applied it to the spirits on the floor and the hangings on the walls, amid the yells and shrieks of the horror-stricken monks. Then he ordered about a dozen of his more immediate attendants to different parts oi the building to make a general blaze, and faithfully his orders were obeyed. The fire in the great hall crept slowly up the gorgeous hangings, and spread in a long blue wave along the floor of ' the noble room. Then the saturated clothes of the wretched monks ignited, and the lurid flames ate in through skin and flesh and bone ; and the howls and cries oi the tortured sufferers were terrible to hear. Glenmore looked on with grim determination until the place flamed like a furnace, and every cry was hushed, and it became impossible to remain any longer and live- He slowly retired down tbe great staircase, and when he reached the courtyard he ordered the bagpipers aud buglers to sound the rallying song of the clnn, to bring out any of his men who might still remain in the burning building. Then he walked down the garden to where the leaders of the Reformers were, and stood with them watching the destruction of the noble pile. The I sun slowly - sank beneath the horizon, and as the grey shades of gloaming ' deepened into darkness, the fierce blaze lit up all the surrounding country. On the East Neuk of Fife, the people gathered in groups wondering at the strange, unwonted sight. Far out on the trackless ocean, the lonely mariner I saw the reflection stamped blood- red in ! the sky, and shuddered as he thought \ of violence and crime. High up on the Grampian Hills, the Highland marauder saw the flames, and laughed as he thought of the foray and the prey. The grim Reformer, as he calmly looked on, talked of God's judgment, on the ungodly, and of the destruction of the Scarlet Woman ; while the poor j ignorant Papist make the sign of the cross, and shuddered at the profanity oi the unbelieving heretics. Floor after floor fell in with a mighty crash, and then a great flame would light up the scene with vivid brightness, to be succeeded by clouds of smoke aad thick darkness. At last preparations were made for a march, and with many torches lit, and amid cheers, and songs, and laughter, tho destroyers oi the lordly Abbey of Aberbrothock took their departure, laden with plunder. Thn Fife spearmen, the best-disciplined and most soldier-like men there, headed by the muekle smith and Lord Lindsay, after much hand- shaking and many farewells, took their departure for their boats, where they embarked. The Grants, and Leslies, and Munroes eacamped on the ground till morning, when they took their departure northwards, struggling under tho weight of their spoil. The rabble from Dundee, after a deep carouse with the rabble of Arbroath, which ended in a free fight, were chased by the brave men of the Brothock till near the Oastie of Claypots. The neighbouring lairds, after taking leave of Glenmore, and Sir John, and Malcolm, took their homeward way ; and N the Gordons, Ogilvies, and Carnegies marched for Ethic, leaving the ruins still smouldering and smoking. Three centuries have passed away, and during all that time the interior of the noblest ruin in Scotland has been used as a place of interment for the sacred dead. There are few natives of Arbroath but have some of their heartstrings firmly fastened about the lowly headstones that stud the ample floor of the auld Abbey.

Before Sir John and his companions left the Abbey, they saw the dead buried and the wonnded cared for, and then they followed their clansmen to Ethic House. It would be difficult to describe the reception they received from the loved ones there — such embracing, and kissing and hand - shaking, such laughter and tears and excitement. The clansmen were encamped in the fields in front of the house, and feasting and revelry became • tha order of the day. Messengers with letters were sent to the Earl of Huntly and Sir David Ogilvie, giving details of the destruction of the Abbey and the liberation of Lady Jeannie, and a private letter to the Earl bore Lady Jeannie's unalterable resolve to marry Malcolm, with his sanction if possible, without it if necessary. The Earl, who was fighting a losing battle with the Reformers in the north, felt himself powerless to oppose, so he gave a reluctant consent to what he could not prevent. Sir David Ogilvie, as proud i as Lucifer at the thought of his son's marriage with the sister of the great Earl ot Huntly, came down from the braes with his lady and every man that owned the sway of the Clan Ogilvie in Angus. Cavalier and Catholic, he rather boggled at the idea of the mar-

riage ceremony being performed by a heretic preacher, but both Malcolm and Jeannie had had more than enough of Popery, and so he had to give way. As everything was settled, it was agreed to haye the double wedding within the week, and after much blushing and hesitation, the Ladies Jeannie and Elizabeth consented. The evening before it took place, Tarn Glen wanted * tae ccc if Maister Malcolm wad speak a wird.' Malcolm, radiant with happiness, gladly consented, and Tarn, looking very sheepish and scratching his ear, told Maister Malcolm that he wis gain, tae be' marrit tae a bonnie lassie, an' he wad like if Maister Malcolm wad lat him an' his lassie be marrit alang wi' him 'an' his leddie.' Malcolm laughed heartily, and shook Tarn by the hand, saying ' that he was glad to hear that there was so much good sense in him, and that both he and Lady Jeannie would be very glad to have them, and that he was sure neither John nor Lady Elizabeth would object, and ended by inquiring if Tarn needed any assistance V 1 'Deed no,' said Tarn ; s ye see I got a gude heap o' siller frae thae pirate ruffians, an' the lassie's father is gey an weel gathered.' Malcolm again renewed his good wishes, and then Tarn set off, first for Aberbrothock, where he ordered Tarn Anderson to make immediate preperation to take to Ethic all the meat and drink that he could either buy, beg, borrow, or steal ; then he set off to St. Vigeans, and after a night ol' drinking, dancing, and sometimes fighting, he next day arrived at Ethic with every man, woman, and child in the village.

Such a scene as Etbie presented on the wedding-day was never seen there before nor since. Such a medley ol confusion, such shouting, and dancing, and singing, such playing of bagpipes and bugles and fiddles, such eating and drinking, were never before heard of The country for many miles was emptied of its population. Men, women, and children, old and young, married and single, flocked to Ethic to share in the good things there, Malcolm and Lady Jeannie were married first, then John and Lady Elizabeth, and then Tarn Glen and his Annie. Annie, nervous as became the occassion, and uneasy afc being in presence of so many above her in station, was soon put at her ease by the ladies, who were attracted by her beauty and modest bearing. Tarn, who did not seem to know whether he stood on his head or his heels with joy, was rather taken aback by overhearing his old flame Janet — Archy Grey's wife — saying to some one, ' that, for as fine as it wis the noo, she wadna be surprised to see her thrash him wi' a stick yet.' Tarn • looked at the pretty, blushing face of his newmade wite, and then at. the pale, freckled, sharp - featured countenance of the speaker, and thought, as he laughed, that &rehy had a far better chance of being thrashed than he had. During the banquet that succeeded the weddings, Sir John Carnegie made a speech, in which he congratulated "the Reformers on the victory they had won, and eulogised the boldness and bravery of Malcolm Ogilvie, and before the whole assembly, presented him with the title-deeds of Gienogle, signed by the Estates of Scotland in Parliament assembled, and finished by proposing the health of the Laird of Gienogle and his lady, the lovely Jeannie Gordon. The whole party sprang to their feet, "and with enthusiasm rent the air with their cheers. Tbe clansmen feasting outside took up the cheer, and peal after peal gave forth their joy, while bugles and bagpipes and drums lent their martial aid. For fourteen days the revel continned, and then the chiefs began their homeward march.

The Gordons were the first to move, j for a rumour had arrived with news j that Huntly had lost a battle with the '■■ Reformers, and that Glenmore and his men were to return at once, as he needed every man. Then the neighbouring lairds went home with their men, and Malcolm, wishful to see his new possession, after consulting Lady Jeannie, announced his departure. So one morning ihe horses were brought, and after bidding farewell to Sir J ohn and his lady, Malcolm and Lady Jeannie, Sir David and his lady, and John Carnegie and Lady Elizabeth and his sister, a number of armed attendants, set out for Inverquharity and Gienogle. The clansmen who were on foot were to return at their leisure, led by Tarn Glen and Archy Grey, accompanied by their wives, and the miller and his son, who were the custodians of Tarn's gold, and who were determined to see it and Annie conveyed safely to their home. There is little more to tell. Some ot the Carnegies, coming through the Seaton Den shortly afterwards, noticed' that the roof of the hut of the witch oi the den had fallen in, and curiosity prompted them to look inside, when they were shocked to find her lying across the floor dead. They buried her t where she lay, and passed on their way, none knowing who she was or where she came from.

Tarn Anderson- continued to keep the " Three Angels " for some years, but after the destruction of the Abbey the town dwindled for many years, as the monks were the sole cause of the trade that was done; but latterly, having saved a good deal of money, he built a house for himself on the Boulzie Hill, to which he retired with his family. He lived to be a very old man, and was

often heard to declare that the greatest pleasure he had was to * tak' a stap up the length o' Gienogle, an ? fecht the pirates ower again wi' Tarn Glen.' His wife always said that ' fin he cam' back frae thae daunders his nosa was aye unco red, an' she (looted that there wis mair brandy gain' than she wad like tae drink,' to which Tarn would laugh and ;say that 5* wimen wis aye givning aboot something.'

Ten years have elapsed since the foregoing events took place, and for a brief space we will again lift the curtain and transfer our readers to Gienogle. The mansion is evidently new, probably built with Malcolm's share of the pirates' gold, and a fine garden well laid out is entirely surrounded by a very high, strong parapet wall. On a balcony in front of the house are seated several people, whom our readers will recognise as old acquaintances. That old grey-haired man leaning on a staff beside the pleasant old lady with the smiling face is Sir David Ogilvie of Inverquharity, and his wife. That tall, stout man, who is looking so earnestly down the glen, is Malcolm Ogilvie of Gienogle, and that beautiful woman who is hanging so affectionately on his arm, and who looks so happy, is the Lady Jeannie Ogilvie. She is stouter and more matron-like than of yore, but that is the same lovely face, the same innocent trustful look, and the same beautiful golden hair that we admired so much during the progress of our tale. At the bottom of the garden, near the gate, is a pony led by a tall man with a pleasant countenance, on which are seated two handsome children, whom he evidently watches with the

greatest care. A nurse maid strolling on the path between them and the house, carrying an infant, will show our readers the family of Malcolm and Lady Jeannie. The man leading the pony is Tarn Glen, and the nurse Mary Munro, Annie's sister, the little girl who so hospitably entertained Malcolm and Lady Jeannie when he rescued her from the runaway horse.

* I do not see any signs of them, Jeannie,' said Malcolm, still gazing steadily down the Glen, ' and I was so certain that they would come to-day.' * It is not late yet, my. Malcolm,' said Lady Jeannie ; ' you "are over impatient.'

Tarn had by this time come within hearing distance, and Malcolm eried —

' Tarn, put down the children, and ride to the mouth of the gfen and see il they are coming yet/

Tarn set down the cjjpdren, and, telling Mary to look after them, he mounted and set off at a sharp trotthrough the gates, and through the clachan that lay sheltered in the glen at some distance from the mansion., until he reached the entrance of the estate, from whence he had a view of a great sweep of country. Stopping his pony, he raised himself in his stirrups and shaded his eyes with his hands ; then, reseating himself with a dump in the saddle, he gave his thigh a tremendous slap v/ith his hand, at the same time exclaiming — '

' Lord keep us a' ! — sic a crood ; an' the lads no oof, nor naething.' Digging his heels into the pony's side ? he galloped up the glen till he came to a house of a much better class than the rest. Dismounting, he threw open the door, crying, as he did so —

* Annie, lassie, they're a' comin', an' there's nane o' the fouk oot yet. Bring the little anes wi' ye, for I hae nae time? Then he seized a bugle that hung on the wall, and running out and remounting, blew a blast that could have been heard a mile away. Tbe people of the little village or clachan came running out at the sound, and Tarn cried out —

i The laird's frien's are a' coram', sirs. Haste ye up tae the gate; an' mind ye cheer weel, an' there will be plenty o' yill gaun.'

When he again reached the gateway he met his friend Archy Grey with about a dozen armed men, who were to be the guard of honour, to whom, he said —

* Noo, Archy, they're a' eomin' ; set the lads weel, an' keep the road clear.''

1 00, ay, Tarn, we ken fat tae dae ; this is no the pirates' cove, ye ken ? ' Tarn trotted up the garden amidst the laughter of the men, and delivered his message, and then he dismounted and walked down to the gate.

He was followed by Sir David and his • lady, and Malcolm carrying his son and daughter, while Lady Jeannie followed accompanied by Alice with the infant. Alice after her liberation from the Abbey, had been disowned by her relatives, and Lady Jeannie had acted a sister's part to her as she had promised. When they arrived at the ga^e Aefpuk o' the clachan'had^'li assembled, and the retainers were busy arranging them into : something like order. Annie Munro, j as pretty as ever, but grown very stout and matron-like, with a little girl in her arms and three sturdy boys by her side, had taken up a position beside the Laird's family, while not far from her could be seen the sharp, thin features of Janet, Archy Grey's wife. Janet had no children, and what between her envy of Annie's pretty face and sturdy weans, and the slight that Tarn put upon her at Auchmithie Castle, it is certain that she had little love to spare for any of them.' , And now at the mouth the glen appeared a great cavalcade of ladies and gentlemen and armed -retainers, riding

along in an easy careless way. Soon they passed the clachan and approached the gate, where they were received by a loud, long cheer, which was repeated again and again. Who is that old gentleman who sits his horse so well, and who is more vigorous than many young* men ? That is Sir John Carnegie, now about seventy ; and that lady beside him is his daughter, who is married to the young Laird of Carnoustie. There is J'oung John, now stout and muscular ; and see, that is Lady Elizabeth who has sprung off her horse, and is now clasped in the arms of Lady Jeannie. Then there is tho young Laird of Carnoustie, and who are those behind him 1 Strangers surely. Malcolm looks dubiously at them, and then inquiringly at young John Carnegie, who laughs, and takes the strange lady and gentleman by the hand, and, with mock ceremony, says — i • Permit me to introduce to the Laird I of Gienogle Sir Hugh Orr of Dunrod and his lady. Sir Hugh and Lady Orr, this is the Laird of Gienogle, formerly Malcolm Ogilvie, our fellow-lodger in the pirates' cave? ' indeed,' said both, clasping each by the hand, and scanning each other's ample proportions, 'who would have thought it V { Forgive my rudeness, Lady Orr, but I was so astonished,' said Malcolm. * Sir Hugh and John and I had some rough experience lodging in that same cave? ' Sir Hugh is never tired telling of the misery he endured there, and the comfort you were,' said Lady Orr. 4 Bnt if you had not been captured he would have died there.' * You see, Sir Hugh, one should never despair/ said Malcolm. ' Your story has ended very differently from what you oxpected.' 4 That ia true,' said Sir Hugh, laughing to his wife ; ' but her ladyship led me a pretty dance, and nearly refused ! me after all. We are only now on our wedding jaunt.' Here Lady Jeannie came forward and begged to be introduced. After the introduction it was shameful to see the amount of kissing that the ladies j wasted on one another, while so many I gentlemen were present who might have been the recipients. However, it came to an end, and amidst tho shouts and cheers of the retainers, in which Tarn Glen acted so enthusiastically that he nearly burst a blood vessel, the company moved on to tbe mansion. . Here a banquet awaited them. Barrels of ale and joints of meat were sent out to the retainers and their families, and j in the evening a great bonfire on the hill above the glen told all the countryside the meeting of the Laird and Lady of Gienogle with their dearest friends. I Need we say more % We think not. ( Concluded.) \