it was the Black Colonel!

Yes, the Black Colonel in full Highland regalia, bowing and nodding to
the people about him, who courtesied back with an easy homage, for they
knew him instantly; the Black Colonel as large as life, eminently
pleased with himself, taking possession of the place and the occasion,
as if he were a conquering hero coming into his own; the Black Colonel,
Jock Farquharson of Inverey, a chief among the men of whom it has been
written that:

"Brak loose and to the hills go they."

If I was stunned, the piper was not, for he walked up the room with a
deliberation which the quick step of his tune did not warrant. Behind
him paced the Black Colonel, and as he came nearer to myself and the
ladies, I saw them turn as if to ask me whether this was in the
programme. So far, the Black Colonel had not let his eyes catch ours.
He gave himself to the crowd, as a well-graced actor gives himself to
the house when it applauds him. He had the music on his side, too,
for, at the platform, the piper stepped aside into a corner, still
blowing hard, and this brought the Black Colonel full to the front,
immediately beside us. Thereupon he slowly bent in salutation to
Marget and her mother, while everybody watched and waited, wondering
what was to happen now.

"Ladies," he said softly, but distinctly, "I hope that if to-night I
have come unbidden by our friend, Captain Gordon, I am not unwelcome to
you, aye, and even to him. We are all kins-folk, and I wished to
manifest a kindly feeling by joining in this meeting. I also desired
to make fuller acquaintance, than has hitherto been possible, with two
kins-women who have suffered hardly in times which, let us hope from
the promise of this gathering, are about to be forgotten. It would
show my boldness forgiven if I might open the ball with Mistress
Marget, for Captain Gordon, as host, will wish to conduct her mother."

Again the Black Colonel bowed, as if he were master of the situation,
which, in fact, he fully appeared to be. Confident and gracious, he
offered Marget his arm, and she took it mechanically, such being the
force of suggestion, exercised by a strong man's mind, especially with
many eyes looking on. Mechanically, also, I held out my arm to
Marget's mother and, while our small world still wondered, I found
myself in a foursome reel with the Black Colonel. But he was Marget's
partner!

He talked merrily to her when the drowning music would