Page:Jeanie Deans and the lily of St. Leonard's.pdf/15

 15 it was his duty as a minister of the gospel to en- deavour to prevent the fatal consequences which too often attended such encounters He there- fore quit d the ordinary track, and advanced towards the stranger, who on his part appeared anxious to avoid observat on by retiring nearer the hill; hut seeing that Butler seemed dispos- ed to follow him, he adjusted his hat fiercely, turned round, and came forward as if to defy scrutiny “ A fine morning, sir," said Butler ; "you are on the hill early:"-"I have business here," said the young man, in a tone meant to repress further inquiry. “I do not doubt it, sir," re. plied Putler. “I trust you will forgive my hoping that it is of a lawful kind."'_“Sir," said the other, "I cannot conceive what title you have to hope any thing about what no way con- cerns you."-“I suspect," continued Butler, "that you are about to violate one of your coun- try's wisest laws, and, which is more dreadful, to violate the law of God which says, “ Thou shalt do no murder ; --to place yourself in the awful situation where your only alternative is to kill or to be killed "-"Your meaning, I dare say, is excellent," said the stranger; "but I am not here for the purpose of taking away life, but if possible of saving it. If you wish to do a good action, I shall give you an opportunity. Go to yonder cottage which you see over the crag to the right, and inquire for one Jeanie Deans; say to her that he she knows of waited here till now expecting to see her, and that he can abide no longer. Tell her that she must meet me to- night at Muschats Cairn, when he moon rises behind St. Anthony's Hill, or she will make a desperate man of me." Without waiting for a