Part 8 (2/2)

Her heart was thus discoursing with itself when a page opened the door for her cousin, who begged admittance. She had just fastened the flowing charge into its azure field, and while embroidering the motto, gladly a.s.sented.

”You know not, my good old man,” said the gallant Murray to Halbert, as he conducted him across the galleries, ”what a n.o.ble mind is contained in that lovely young creature. I was brought up with her, and to the sweet contagion of her taste do I owe that love of true glory which carries me to the side of Sir William Wallace. The virtuous only can awaken any interest in her heart; and in these degenerate days long might have been its sleep had not the history which my uncle recounted of your brave master aroused her attention, and filled her with an admiration equal to my own. I know she rejoices in my present destination. And to prevent her hearing from your own lips all you have now told me of the mild as well as heroic virtues of my intended commander--all you have said of the heroism of his wife--would be depriving her of a mournful pleasure, only to be appreciated by a heart such as hers.”

The gray-haired bard of Ellerslie, who had ever received the dearest reward of his songs in the smiles of its mistress, did not require persuasion to appear before the gentle lady of Mar, or to recite in her ears the story of the departed loveliness, fairer than poet ever feigned.

Helen rose as he and her cousin appeared. Murray approved the execution of her work; and Halbert, with a full heart, took the pennon in his hand. ”Ah! little did my dear lady think,” exclaimed he, ”that one of these loved locks would ever be suspended on a staff to lead men to battle! What changes have a few days made! She, the gentlest of women, laid in a b.l.o.o.d.y grave; and he, the most benevolent of human beings, wielding an exterminating sword!

”You speak of her grave, venerable man,” inquired Helen; ”had you, then, an opportunity of performing the rites of sepulture to her remains?”

”No, madam,” replied he; ”after the worthy English soldier now in this castle, a.s.sisted me to place her precious body in my lord's oratory, I had no opportunity of returning to give her a more holy grave.”

”Alas!” cried Helen; ”then her sacred relics have been consumed in the burning house!”

”I hope not,” rejoined Halbert; ”the chapel I speak of is at some distance from the main building. It was excavated in the rock by Sir Ronald Crawford, who gave the name of Ellerslie to this estate, in compliment to Sir William's place of birth in Renfrews.h.i.+re, and bestowed it on the bridal pair. Since then, the Ellerslie of Clydesdale has been as dear to my master as that of the Carth; and well it might be, for it was not only the home of all his wedded joys, but under its roof his mother, the Lady Margaret Crawford, drew her first breath. Ah! woe is me! that happy house is now, like herself, reduced to cold, cold ashes! She married Sir Malcolm Wallace, and he is gone too! Both the parents of my honored master died in the bloom of their lives; and a grievous task will it be to whoever is to tell the good Sir Ronald that the last sweet flower of Ellerslie is now cut down!

that the n.o.blest branch of his own stem is torn from the soil to which he had transplanted it, and cast far away into the waste wilderness!”**

**The Ellerslie in Renfrews.h.i.+re here referred to, and which was the birthplace of William Wallace, and the hereditary property of his father, Sir Malcolm Wallace, was situated in the abbey parish of Paisley, three miles west of the won of Paisley, and nine from Glasgow.

A large old oak, still called Wallace's Oak, stands close to the road from Paisley to Leith, and within a short distance from it once stood the manor of Ellerslie. The venerable name is now corrupted into Elderslie, and the estate has become the property of Archibald Spiers, Esq., M. P. for Renfrews.h.i.+re. For this topographical account, I am indebted to a Renfrews.h.i.+re gentleman.-(1809.)

The tears of the venerable harper bore testimony to his inward resolve, that this messenger should not be himself. Lady Helen, who had fallen into a reverie during the latter part of his speech, now spoke, and with something of eagerness.

”Then we shall hope,” rejoined she, ”that the oratory has not only escaped the flames, but perhaps the access of the English soldiers?

Would it not comfort your lord to have that sweet victim entombed according to the rites of the church?”

”Surely my lady; but how can that be done? He thinks her remains were lost in the conflagration of Ellerslie; and for fear of precipitating him into the new dangers which might have menaced him had he sought to bring away her body, I did not disprove his mistake.”

”But her body shall be brought away,” rejoined Lady Helen; ”it shall have holy burial.”

”To effect this, command my services,” exclaimed Murray.

Helen thanked him for an a.s.sistance which would render the completion of her design easy. The English soldier as guide, and a troop from Bothwell, must accompany him.

”Alas! my young lord,” interposed Halbert, ”suppose you should meet some of the English still loitering there?”

”And what of that, my honest Halbert? would not I and my trusty band make them clear the way? Is it not to give comfort to the deliverer of my uncle, that I seek the glen? and shall anything in mortal shape make Andrew Murray turn his back? No, Halbert! I was not born on St.

Andrew's day for naught; and by his bright cross I swear either to lay Lady Wallace in the tomb of my ancestors, or leave my bones to bleach on the grave of hers.”

Helen loved the resolution of her cousin; and believing that the now ravaged Ellerslie had no attractions to hold marauders amongst its ruins, she dismissed Lord Andrew to make his preparations, and turned herself to prefer her suit accordingly to her father.

Ere Halbert withdrew, he respectfully put her hand to his lips.

”Good-night,” continued she, ”ere you see me again, I trust the earthly part of the angel now in paradise will be safe within these towers.”

He poured a thousand blessings on her head, and almost thought that he saw in her beautiful form one of heaven's inhabitants sent to bear away his dear mistress to her divine abode.

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