Produced by University of Michigan Digital Library, Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship and the Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe at http://dp.rastko.net [Illustration: p. 148.] The DAYS OF BRUCE BY GRACE AGUILAR D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. THE DAYS OF BRUCE; A Story FROM SCOTTISH HISTORY. BY GRACE AGUILAR, AUTHOR OF "HOME INFLUENCE," "THE MOTHER'S RECOMPENSE," "WOMAN'S FRIENDSHIP," "THE VALE OF CEDARS" ETC. ETC. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON & CO., 90, 92 & 94 GRAND ST. 1871. PREFACE. As these pages have passed through the press, mingled feelings of pain and pleasure have actuated my heart. Who shall speak the regret that she, to whom its composition was a work of love, cannot participate in the joy which its publication would have occasioned--who shall tell of that anxious pleasure which I feel in witnessing the success of each and all the efforts of her pen? THE DAYS OF BRUCE must be considered as an endeavor to place before the reader an interesting narrative of a period of history, in itself a romance, and one perhaps as delightful as could well have been selected. In combination with the story of Scotland's brave deliverer, it must be viewed as an illustration of female character, and descriptive of much that its Author considered excellent in woman. In the high minded Isabella of Buchan is traced the resignation of a heart wounded in its best affections, yet trustful midst accumulated misery. In Isoline may be seen the self-inflicted unhappiness of a too confident and self reliant nature; while in Agnes is delineated the overwhelming of a mind too much akin to heaven in purity and innocence to battle with the stern and bitter sorrows with which her life is strewn. How far the merits of this work may be perceived becomes not me to judge; I only know and _feel_ that on me has devolved the endearing task of publishing the writings of my lamented child--that I am fulfilling the desire of her life. SARAH AGUILAR. _May_, 1852. THE DAYS OF BRUCE. CHAPTER I. The month of March, rough and stormy as it is in England, would perhaps be deemed mild and beautiful as May by those accustomed to meet and brave its fury in the eastern Highlands, nor would the evening on which our tale commences bely its wild and fitful character.