Annie o' the Banks o' Dee

she was coming tosee him, "she and her maid, Jeannie Lee," she continued. Her uncle waswell and hearty, but they were no longer owners of the dear old houseand lands of Bilberry. She would tell him all her story when she sawhim. And the letter ended: "With unalterable love, your _own_ Annie."

  The ordeal of such a meeting was one from which Reginald naturallyshrank; but this over, he would devote himself entirely to communionwith Heaven. Only Heavenly hopes could now keep up his heart.

  The day came, and Annie, with Jeannie, her maid, arrived at the prison.

  He held Annie at arms' length for a few seconds. Not one whit alteredwas she. Her childlike and innocent beauty was as fresh now, and hersmile as sweet, though somewhat more chastened, as when he had partedwith her in sorrow and tears more than three years ago. He folded herin his arms. At this moment, after a preliminary knock at the door, thegaoler entered.

  "The doctor says," he explained, "that your interview may last an hour,and that, fearing it may be too much for you, he sends you this. And akindly-hearted gent he is."

  He placed a large glass of brandy and water before Reginald as he spoke.

  "What! Must I drink all this?"

  "Yes--and right off, too. It is the doctor's orders."

  The prisoner obeyed, though somewhat reluctantly. Even now he needed noDutch courage. Then, while Jeannie took a book and seated herself atsome little distance, the lovers had it all to themselves, and after atime Annie felt strong enough to tell her story. We already know it.

  "Yes, dear, innocent Reginald, we were indeed sorry to leave bonnieBilberry Hall, and live in so small a cottage. And though he has keptup wonderfully well, still, I know he longs at times for a sight of theheather. He is not young now, darling, and yet he may live for verymany years. But you were reported as lost, dear, and even thefigurehead of the _Wolverine_ and a boat was found far away in thePacific. Then after that, dearest, all hope fled. I could never loveanother. The new heir of Bilberry Hall and land proposed to me. Myuncle could not like him, and I had no love to spare. My heart was inHeaven with you, for I firmly believed you drowned and gone before.Then came Laird Fletcher. Oh, he was very, very kind to us, and oftentook uncle and myself away in his carriage to see once more the bonnieHighland hills. And I used to notice the tears standing in dear uncle'seyes when he beheld the glory and romance of his own dear land, and theheather. And then I used to pity poor uncle, for often after he camehome from a little trip like this he used to look so forlornly at allhis humble surroundings. Well, dear, from kindness of every kindFletcher's feelings for me seemed to merge into love. Yes, true love,Reginald. But I could not love him in return. My uncle even pleaded alittle for Fletcher. His place is in the centre of the DeesideHighlands, and, oh, the hills are high, and the purple heather andcrimson heath, surrounded by dark pine forests, are a sight to see inautumn. Well, you were dead, Reginald, and uncle seemed pining away;and so when one day Fletcher pleaded more earnestly than ever, cryingpathetically as he tried to take my hand, `Oh, Annie, my love, my life,I am unworthy of even your regard, but for sake of your dear old unclewon't you marry me?' then, Reginald, I gave a half-consent, but a whollyunwilling one. Can you forgive me?"

  He pressed her closer to his heart by way of answer.

  How quickly that hour sped away lovers only know. But it ended all toosoon. The parting? Ay, ay; let this too be left to the imagination ofhim or her who knows what true love is.

  After Annie had gone, for the first time since his incarcerationReginald collapsed. He threw himself on his bed and sobbed until verilyhe thought his heart would break. Then the gaoler entered.

  "Come, come, my dear lad," said the man, walking up to the prisoner andlaying a kindly and sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "Keep up, my boy,keep up. We have all to die. God is love, lad, and won't forsake you."

  "Oh," cried the prisoner, "it is not death I fear. I mourn but forthose I leave behind."

  A few more weeks, and Reginald's case came on for trial.

  It was short, perhaps, but one of the most sensational ever held in theGranite City, as the next chapter will prove.

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

  A SENSATIONAL MURDER TRIAL.

  The good people of Aberdeen--yclept the Granite City--are as fond ofdisplay and show as even the Londoners, and the coming of the lords, whoare the judges that try the principal cases, is quite an event of theyear, and looked forward to with longing, especially by the youngpeople.

  Ah! little they think of or care for the poor wretches that, in chargeof warders or policemen, or both, are brought up from their cells, tostand pale and trembling before the judge.

  The three weeks that intervened between the departure of poor, unhappyAnnie from his cell and the coming of the lords were the longest thatReginald ever spent in life--or appeared to be, for every hour was likea day, every day seemed like a month.

  The gaoler was still kind to him. He had children of his own, and inhis heart he pitied the poor young fellow, around whose neck the halterwould apparently soon be placed. He had even--although I believe thiswas against the rules--given Reginald some idea as to the day his trialwould commence.

  "God grant," said Reginald, "they may not keep me long. Death itself ispreferable to the anxiety and awful suspense of a trial."

  But the three weeks passed away at last, and some days to that, andstill the lords came not. The prisoner's barred window was sopositioned that he could see down Union Street with some craning of theneck.

  One morning, shortly after he had sent away his untouched breakfast, hewas startled by hearing a great commotion in the street, and the hum ofmany voices. The pavements were lined with a sea of human beings.Shortly after this he heard martial music, and saw men on the march withnodding plumes and fixed bayonets. Among them, guarded on each side,walked lords in their wigs and gowns. Reginald was brave, but his heartsank to zero now with terror and dread. He felt that his hour had come.Shortly the gaoler entered.

  "Your case is to be the first," he said. "Prepare yourself. It willcome off almost immediately."

  He went away, and the prisoner sank on his knees and prayed as surely henever prayed before. The perspiration stood in great drops on hisforehead.

  Another weary hour passed by, and this time the door was opened to hisadvocate. His last words were these:

  "All you have got to do is to plead `Not guilty'; then keep silent. Ifa question is put to you, glance at me before you answer. I will nod ifyou must answer, and shake my head if you need not."

  "A thousand thanks for all your kindness, sir. I'm sure you will doyour best."

  "I will."

  Once more the gaoler entered.

  "The doctor sends you this," he said. "And drink it you must, or youmay faint in the dock, and the case be delayed."

  At last the move was made. Dazed and dizzy, Reginald hardly knewwhither he was being led, until he found himself in the dock confrontingthe solemn and sorrowful-looking judge. He looked just once around thecourt, which was crowded to excess. He half-expected, I think, to seeAnnie there, and was relieved to find she was not in court. But yonderwas Captain Dickson and the four sailors who had remained behind toprosecute the gold digging. Dickson smiled cheerfully and nodded. Thenone of the policemen whispered attention, and the unhappy prisoner atonce confronted the judge.

  "Reginald Grahame," said the latter after some legal formalities weregone through, "you are accused of the wilful murder of Craig Nicol,farmer on Deeside, by stabbing him to the heart with a dirk or _skeandhu_. Are you guilty or not guilty?"

  "Not guilty, my lord." This in a firm voice, without shake or tremolo.

  "Call the witnesses."

  The first to be examined was Craig's old housekeeper. She shed tearsprofusely, and in a faint tone testified to the departure of her masterfor Aberdeen with the avowed intention of drawing money to purchasestock withal. She was speedily allowed to stand down.

  The little boys who had f
ound the body beneath the dark spruce-fir inthe lonely plantation were next interrogated, and answered plainlyenough in their shrill treble.

  Then came the police who had been called, and the detective, who allgave their evidence in succinct but straightforward sentences.

  All this time there was not a sound in the court, only that sea of faceswas bent eagerly forward, so that not a word might escape them. Theexcitement was intense.

  Now came the chief witness against Reginald; and the bloodstained dirkwas handed to Shufflin' Sandie.

  "Look at that, and say if you have seen it before?" said the judge.

  "As plain as the nose on your lordship's face!" said Sandie, smiling.

  That particular nose was big, bulbous, and red. Sandie's reply,therefore, caused a titter to run through the court. The judge frowned,and the