The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Treacherous Friend. 263
the bride of l^ldwarcl Uillon." A fierce ^leam of anger shot
into Dillon's face, as he made a step towards him and
hissed :— " Thank the Saints that thy age protects ihee, old
man, else I would sevcrcl\- chastise thee." " Let not ni\-
age," cried the old man, with a dry contemptuous lau-h.
" prevent thee haxing satisfaction if thou canst obtain it.
Edward Dillon, thou hast done meaner things in thy da\-
than strike a greyheaded old man." " Wretch," exclaimed
Dillon, raising a cane he held in his hand with the intent to
strike, but, ere he could swing it round his head, the
stranger, with a well-directed blow from his right arm, sent
him staggering half-stunned to the ground, and then coolly
walked away.
A month passed awa\-, and one morning, as Dillon was
aroused from his sleep, he leaped gaily from his couch, and
the first words he uttered were, " This is m}' marriage day !"
He soon dressed himself, and b)- and by he was joined by
a couple of his brother officers, who had come from London
to be present at the marriage. The village was gay with
flags that morning, for Mary Murray was a favourite with
young and old, and many of them crowded into the church
long ere the hour appointed for the ceremony. The mar-
riage party entered the church soon after ten o'clock ;
and,
the clergyman being already there, the service proceeded.
The church was the Scotch Episcopal, and when the clergyman
had repeated the words, " Who giveth this woman
away ?" a voice, clear and distinct, sounded through the
building, " No man shall give this woman away to Edward
Dillon." Everyone turned with a startled and wondering
Dillon, with
locjk to where the voice proceeded from ; and
undefined terror, beheld the old man whom, a month before,
he had encountered on the high road in front of Miss
Murray's dwelling, advancing towards them from an obscure
corner in the church. Everyone waited in breathless silence
the result of this unlooked-for and unwonted incident. The
old man continued his advance until he stood before the
clergyman, to whom he bowed, then faced the company.