The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Strange Revenge. 327
to say, that then and afterwards I blessed the fate that gave
me Jessie Macleod—the bonniest and most popular girl in the
county. To love her was so natural, that it has always been
a problem to me why I did not fall prone at her feet before
duty, as I then considered it, called me to her side. You
may say what you choose about your philosophy of life, your
coincidences and accidents, but I am a thorough believer
in the matrimonial creed that marriages are arranged, tor
good or for evil, by the operation of a law or an inter-
vention, whatever you may call it, which is infinitely higher
than mere physical predilection or chance acquaintance."
" That time-v/orn theory, dear father, is beset with many
difficulties. Were it true, why should it be decreed that a
man or a woman is endowed with a love which is
desperately hopeless, and plucks all heart out of existence
for ever ?"
" That exceptions prove the rule must be my answer in
the meantime, as my story is approaching its most exciting
chapter."
" I was wondering where the duel could possibly come
in, now that your rival is effectually disposed of, and you
have carried off the fair lady."
" It was a sudden affair, to be suie. We had gathered
in the village one market day, half a dozen of us, all sons
of farmers, and gay over the discussion of a social function on
the tapis. Just as Walsh turned the corner of the Inn, we
burst into laughter, caused not by Walsh's appearance, but
by one of the innumerable jokes a rattling good fellow,
named Tom Saunders, had made. Whether Walsh thought
we were laughing at him or not I do not know— I have
never found out to this day—but, at all events, he came
straight on, face aflame, and struck me a skelp on the cheek
with his open hand."
" ' I wish to insult you,' said he.
" Before I could recover from my astonishment, Jamie
Reid—a prompt and singularly commonsense youth was
Jamie—had grasped the situation.