The Scottish Chiefs

f Mar was carried from his chamber, and laid on a couch in the state apartment. His lady had not yet left the room of hi

with his family into the Highlands, and there await the issue of the contest. "It is too late to retreat, dear madam," continued she; "the first blow against the public

most of our barons sworn fealty to him? and are not the potent families of the Cummin, the Soulis, and the March, all in his interest? You may perhaps say, that most of these are my relations, and that I may turn them which way I will; but if

at our country; God's gift of freedom is stamped upon it. Our mountains are his seal. Plains are the proper territories of tyranny; there the armies of a usurper may extend themselves with ease; leaving no corner unoccupied in which patriotism might shelter or treason hide. But mountains, glens, morasses, lakes, set bounds to conquest; and amidst

ld feel when all her generous wishes should be fulfilled; and pressing the now completed banner to her breast, with an e

my own powerless sex; had it been otherwise, your rash-headed diso

, I would obey you in all things consistent with my duty to a higher power; but when that com

l a higher duty than that of a child t

relinquishing of duty to you, should my father leave you to take up arms in the assertion of his country's rights. Her rights a

n? Not your heart, for it would star

liver his preserver, I, too, might be content to see Scotland in slavery. But now, to wish my father to shrink behind the excuse of far-strained family duties, and

him. My husband, his vassals, your cousin, and, in short, the sequestration of the estates of Mar and Bothwell, are all to be put to the hazard o

dy Mar, springs from us. That death is the preferable comforter of his sorrows, also, he owes to us; for was it not for my father's sake that his wife fell, and that h

rom her seat. "My saints are perhaps nearer than yours, and before the close of this d

u never disap

he hour in which I complied with the entreaties of Sir Richard Maitland, and permitted you and your sister to remain at Thirlestane, to imbibe these romantic ideas fro

poet and a sage, and believed by his contemporaries to be a prophet. He was born at Ercildown, a village on

bella, in the quiet of Thirlestane, has no chance of giving you the offense that I do; and I am forced to offend you, because I cannot disobey my conscience." A tear stood in the eye of Lady Helen. "Cannot yo

, or with the appeal to the memory of the first Lady Mar, the countess relaxed the frigid air she had assumed, and kissing her, with

hich her father had endowed her the night before, she wrapped herself in her mantle, and, attended by her page, proceeded to the armory. The a

e best suit of armor in his custod

len admired its strength and beauty. "It is the richest in all Scotland

tion. Bring it, with its helme

d by the page carrying the lighter part

meant should adorn her present. Thus time flew, till the sand-glass told her it was the eighth hour. But ere she had finished her task, sh

o thrillingly awful. Her head fell on the armor and scarf. "Sweet lady," sighed she to herself, "who is it that dares thus invade thy duties? But my gratitude-gratitude to the once-loved lord, will not offend thy

by owning the truth. He now told her, that the body of the deceased lady was deposited in the chapel of the castle; and

elf; and then re-entering, covered with a black

her to approve their services. Helen drew near-she bowed to the priests. One of the women put her hand on the pall, to uncover the once lovely face of the murdered Marion. Lady Helen hastily resisted the woman's motion, by laying her hand also upon the pall. The chill of death struck through the velvet to her touch. She turned pale; and waving her hand to the prior to begin, the bier was lowered

his mistress. With faint cries, he gave way to the woe that shook his aged bosom, and called on death to lay him low with her. The women of Lady Helen again chanted forth