The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

714 The Highland Monthty.
THE
A STRANGE REVENGE.
By D. Nairne.
CHAPTER XIV.
GLOOM.
Castle was wrapped in the silence and gloom of
death. Nature itself conspired to deepen the solemn
eeriness of the circumstances, for not a breath of wind
sighed among the turrets, whistled through the key-holes of
the great oaken doors, or rattled the ill-fitting windows of
the ancient building. Now and again a servant would tip-
toe his or her way along a passage, a door would be closed
softly, and again the stillness remained unbroken. Those
who spoke did so in whispers. It was a smitten household;
smitten from comparative gaiety and expectation into grief
and deadening disappointm.ent.
The laird, alone in his chamber, lay extended on a
couch, his face blanched, endeavouring to comprehend the
awfulness of the blow which had descended upon his
house. Had it been he himself that lay stretched in his
cerements, " he could have understood it," he argued with
unconscious humour ; for he was old, and the hand of
death might be said to be upon him. But a young maiden,
apparently in the enjoyment of a satisfactory measure of
health, had been taken in a breath, just as he expected to
be ; and he was left ! Truly, the ways of Providence were
queer
!
" Oh !
Richard, my poor son," he murmured, " little do
you know that, while your thoughts are turned to amuse-
ment. Death has snatched away your bonnie bride, with-
out loving word or look being exchanged ; without a soul
to close her eyes. My poor boy—my poor, poor boy."