THE OMATTA PAtLY BE13 : STNOAY , OCTOBER HO , 1808.
CHAl'TUIl IT.
Imirrnri > HIiiRH n Hymn.
( Copyrlfiht , 1608 , by S. II. Crockett. )
Laurence turned and behold bis brother
In another Instant the two young men had
clenched and were rolling on the ground ,
wrestling end striking according to their
ability. Sliolto might easily have had the
bettor of the fray but for the fact of Laur
ence's recent degradation , for the elder
brother was the teller by an Inch , and of n
frame of body more lithe and supple , llut
the accuracy of Laurence McKlm's shape ,
and the severe training of the smithy had
not left a superfluous ounce of flesh on hlin
anywhere.
In a minute the brothers had become the
center of a riotous , laughing throng of var-
Jets , archers Becking their corps , young
equlrea sent by their lords to find out the
exact positions allotted to each contingent
by the provost of the camp. For , ns the
wappcn-shaw waa to be of three days' dur
ation , In all Its nobler parts , a wilderness Of
tents had already begun to arise under the
scattered white thorns of the great Dorcland
croft which stretched up from the river.
These all laughed and jested after their
Itlnd , encouraging the youths to fight It out ,
and naming Laurence the Ilrock , or Badger ,
from his stoutness , and slim Sholto thb
Whltterlck , or , as ono tnlght say , the
Weasel.
"At him , Whltterlck ! Grip him ! Orlp him !
Now you have him at the pinch. Well pulled ,
Ilrock I Good , Brock ! Well done ! Well done !
Ah , would you ? Hands off that dagger ! Let
fisticuffs settle It. The Whltterlck hath It
the Whlttorlck ! "
And thus ran the comment. Sholto being
cumbered with his armor , Laurence might In
tlmo have gotten the upper grip. But n di
version occurred which completely altered
the character of the conflict. A stout , red
dish young man came up holding In his hand
a staff painted with twining stripes of white
and red , which showed him to he the mar-
phal of that part of the camp which per
tained to the earl of Angus. He looked on
n moment from the skirts of the crowd and
then elbowed his way sclf-Importantly Into
the center till ho stood Immediately about
Laurence and Sholto.
"What means this hubbub. I say ? Quit
your hold there and come with me. My lord
of Angus shall nettle this dispute ! "
He had come up Just when the young men
wore In the final grips. Sholto at last hav
ing gotten his will of his brother's head ,
and as the saying Is , was giving him "Dutch
eplco" In no very knightly fashion.
The Angus marshal seeing this , seized
Bholto by the collar of his mallrd chlrt , and ,
drawing him suddenly back , caused him to
loao hold of hla brother , who as quickly
rose to his feet. The red man began to beat
Sholto about the headpiece right heartily
with hla staff , which exercise made a great
ringing noise , though naturally , the skull
cap being the work of Mallse ManKIm , little
harm ensued to the head unclosed therein.
But Master Laurence was instantly on fire.
"Here , Foxy-face , " ho cried , "let my
brother a-bo ? What business la It of yours
if two gentlemen have n difference. Go
back to your Angus kernes and ragged craw-
boglo Highland folk ! "
Meantime Sholto had recovered from his
surprise , and the crowd of varlcts was melt
ing apace , thinking the Angus marshal Fonie
ono of consequence. But the brothers Mac-
Kim were not the lads to take beating with
a stick meekly , and the provost , who Indeed
had nothing to do with the Galloway part
of the encampment , had far better have
confined his ofllclousness to his own quar
ters.
ters."Take
"Take him on the right , Sholto , " cried
Laurence , "and I will have at him from this
side. " The Hed Angus drew his sword and
threatened forthwith to slay the lads If they
came near him. But with a spring like a
gray grimalkin of the woods Sholto leaped
within his guard ere he had time to draw
back his arm for thrust or parry , and nt
the same moment Laurence , snatching the
red and white staff out of his hand , dealt
him BO sturdy a blow between the shoulders
that , though ho was of weight equal to both
of his opponents , he was knocked breathless
at the llrst blow and went down beneath the
Impetus of Sholto's attack.
Lnurenco coolly disengaged his brother and
began to thrash the Angus man with his own
staff upon all exposed parts till the dry
wood broke. Then he threw the pieces at
his head , and the two brothers went off arm
In arm to find a woody covert In which
to repair damages against the weapon showIng -
Ing and the Inspection of their lord and
his keen-eyed master armorer.
As soon they bad
as discovered such a
sequestered holt , Laurence , who had fre
quent experience of such roughaudtutublo
encounters , stripped off his doublet of purple -
plo velvet and turning the sleeve Insldo out
ho showed his brother that It was lined with
a roush surfaced cloth almost of the nature
of tcasle. This being rubbed briskly upon
any dusty garment or fouled armor proved
most excellent for restoriue the closs and
beauty. The young men. being , as It were ,
born to the trade , and knowing that their
armament must meet thulr father's Inex
orable eye as ho passed along their lines
with the carl , rubbed and polished their
best , and when , after hi lf an hour's brisk
work , each examined the other not a speck
or stain was left to tell of the various casual -
ual Incidents of the morning. Two bright ,
fresh-colored youths emerged from their
thicket. Immaculately clad and with coun
tenances of such cherubic Innocence that my
Lord 'Abbot William of the great Cistercian
abbey of Dulco Cor. looking upon them with
bare , bowed heads as they knelt reverently
on ono knee to ask hla blessing , said to his
train : "They look like two young angr-U.
It Is a Bhamo and a sin that two such fair
Innocents should bo compelled to Join In
aught ruder than the chanting of psalms In
holy service. "
Whereat one of the company who had been I
witness to their treatment of the Angus' ' ,
provost aud also of Laurence's encounter
with the knlcht of the black armor was
seized Incontinently with a lit of coughing
which almost choked him. j
"Bless you , my sons , " said the abbot , "I
will speak to my ncphow , the earl , concern
ing you. Your faces plead for you. Evil I
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cannot dwell In such fair bodies. What are
your names ? "
The younger knelt with his fingers Joined
and his eyes meekly on the grass , while
Sholto , who had rlm-n , stood quietly by with
his steel cap In his hand.
"Lnurenco MncKlm , " said the younger ,
modestly , without venturing to ralso his
cyce from the ground , "and this Is my
brother Sholto ! "
"Can , jou sing , pretty boy ? " said the abbot
bet to Laurence.
"We have never been taught , " answered
Sholto. But his brother , feeling that he
was losing chances , broke In :
"I can sing , If It please your holiness ! "
"And what can you sing , sweet lad ? "
said the abbot , smiling with expectation
and setting hla hand to his best car to as
sist his Increasing deafness.
"Shut your fool's mouth , " said Sholto
under his breath to his brother.
"Shut your ownl 'TIs ugly as a rat trap
at any rate ! " responded Laurence In the
Bamo key. Then aloud to the abbot ho
said , "An1 It please you , sir , 1 can sing , ' 0 ,
Mary Quean ! ' "
The abbot smiled , well pleased.
"Ah , exceeding proper , a song to the
honor of the queen of heaven ( he devoutly
crossed himself at the- name ) ; I knew that
I could not bo mistaken- you ! "
"Your pardon , most reverend , " Inter
jected Sholto , anxiously , "pleaso you to ex
cuse my brother. His voice hath Just
broken , and ho cannot sing at present. "
Then under his breath ho added : "Laurlo
MacKIm , you God-forgotten fool , If you
slni { that song , you will have us both
stripped In a trlco and whipped on the bare
back for Insolence to the earl's uncle ! "
"Go to ! " said his brother , "I will sing.
The old cock is monstrous deaf , at any
rate ! "
"Sing , " said the abbot , "I would hear you
gladly. So fair a face must bo accom
panied by the plpo of a nightingale. Be
sides , we sorely need a tenor for the choir
at Sweetheart ! "
So , encouraged In this fashion , the daring
Laurence began :
Nno priests nboot mo shall bo scon ,
To mumble prayers bnlth morn find e'en ,
I swap them a' for Mary Quean !
I'll bid n.ic mass for mo bo sung ,
Dies Ille , dies lrn ,
Nor clcnklng bells for mo bo rung ,
Sis semptr solet llcrl !
I Bang my ways to Mary Quean !
"Ah , very good , very good , truly ! " said
the abbot , thrusting his hand Into his pouch
beneath his gown. "Hero arc two gold
nobles for thee , sweet lad , and another for
your brother , whoso countenance Is some
what less sweet. You have sung well to
the pralso of our lady. What did you say
your name was ? Of a surety we must
have you at Sweetheart. And you must
have the Latin , too , as I heard In the
hymn ! It Is a thing the moat marvelous.
Verily the very unction of your grace must
have visited you In your cradle ! "
Laurence held down his head with all
his native modesty , but the more open
Sholto grow red In the face , hearing behind
him the tittering and shoulder-shaking of
the priests and lay servants In thu abbot's
train , and being sure that they would In
form their master as soon as ho passed by
concerning the true Import of Master Lau-
rcuco's song. Ho was muttering a rapid
recitative , "O , wait , wait , Larrlo MacKIm ,
till I get you on the Cnrllnwark shore. A
Eoro back and a stiff skinful of bones shall
thou have , and not an Inch of hide on theo
that Is not black and blue. Amen , " he
tiddcd , stopping his maledictions quickly ,
for at that moment the abbot came some
what abruptly to the end of his benedic
tion.
tion.The
The great churchman rode away on his
fair white palfrey horse , with a smllo and
a backward wave of his hand.
"I will speak to my ncphow concerning
you this very day , ray child ! " ho cried.
And the countenance of the most gcntlo
youth kept Its sweet innocence and nngellc
grace to the last , hut that of Sholto was
dark and frowning.
CIIAPTI3II X.
The limes of Iliilmnulilf.
By 10 of the clock the braes of Balmnghle
were a sight most glorious to look upon. Well
nigh 12,000 men were gathered there , of
whom G.OOO were well mounted knights and
fully equipped men-at-arms , every man of
thorn ready to thrust a lance or ride a
charge.
Tbo line of the tents which had been set
up extended from well-nigh opposite the
Island castle of Thrlovo to the klrk-hlll of
Ralmaghle. Every knight's following was
strictly kept within Its own pale
or fence of green wands set
basket wise , pointed and thrust Into the
earth llko the trap spring of those who
catch mowdlewarts. Many also were the
quarrels and bickerings of the squires who
had been sent forward to choo e and arrange
the several encampments. Nor were rough
and tumble fights , such as we have seen
the MacKlrns Indulging in , thought deroga
tory to the dignity of any save belted
knights.
Kach camp displayed the banner of Its own
lord , but , higher than all , from the top of
every mound and broomy hillock , floated thu
banner of the overlord. This was the white
lion of Galloway on a ground of blue , and
beneath It , but on the same staff , a pennon j
whereon was the bleeding heart of the Doug
las family.
Thu lists were set up on the.level meadow
that Is called the boatcroft. At cither end ' ,
a pavilion had been erected , and the lists
were strongly fenced In , with a rising tier
of seats for ths ladles
along one side aud n
throne In the midst for the Douglas him
self , as high and as nobly upholstered as If
the king of Scots had been presiding In
person.
At 10 by the great sun dial of Thrlevo the
earl , armed in complete armor of rare work ,
damascened with gold and bearing In his
hand the truncheon of commander , rode first I
through the fords of Louhar. and ( mineI I
dlately after him came his brother , David ,
n tall , handsome boy , whose olive skin and
high-bred beauty attested hla Douglas b.rth.
Next rode the carl of Angus , a red , foxy-
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featured man , with mean naJ shifty eyes.
He sat his horse awkwardly , perpetually
hunching his shoulders forward as If h ( >
feared to fall over his beast's head.nd
saving among his own company , no man did
him any honor , which caused him to isrln
with wicked sidelong smiles of hate aud
envy.
Then amid the shouting of the people
there appeared on a mllk-uhlto palfrey ,
Margaret , the carl's only sister , already
famous over all Scotland ns "tho fair maid
of Galloway ! " With her rode ono who , lu
the esteem of most who saw the pair that
day , was yet a rarer flower , even Maud
Llndcsay , who had como out of the bleak
north to keep the lonely little maid com
pany. For Margaret of Douglas was yet no
more than a child , but Maud Llndesay was
19 years of her ago aud lu the first perfect
I bloom of her beauty.
I Behind came the whole array of the
knights and barons who own allegiance to
the Douglas Herons nnd Maxwells , Ard-
i ivoll MacuMocha , Gordons from the Glen of
| ! ' Kelts , with Agnows and MacDownlls from
the shlreslde. But above all , and outnuui-
nerlng all , there were the lesser chiefs of
j iho mighty name Douglases of the north ,
j .Moray and Ormont among them these noble
young sons of James the Gross of Avondalc
I
rode nearest their cousin , the head of the
clan. Then came Douglases of the border ,
Douglases of the Hermitage , of Renfrew , of
I Douglasdale. Every third man In that great
company which splashed and caracoled
through the fords of Lochar was a William ,
n James or an Archibald Douglas. The king
himself could not have raised In all Scot
land such a following , and It Is small won-
Shrovetldo did he not drive off five of our
best milch cows nnd hath steadfastly re
fused to restore ) them. Anathama inarnna-
tha to his vile body and condemned his
soul. "
Every nerd of this comment nnd addi
tion was heard by the person most con
cerned.
Or It might bo "Henry Amllllgan his
mother's pen God wot. And his father's ,
too , doubtless If only ono could know who
the father was. The devil dwell In his fat
belly ! ExorcUe tc "
So It went oil till the temper of the young
carl of Galloway was strained almost to
the breaking point , but ho wished act to
cause a disturbance among so great n com
pany and on a day of such renown.
At last they came to the muster of the
clean-run Umber lads of Kelton , artificers
mostly , aud stated retainers of the castle
and Its various adjacent bourgs of Carlln-
wark , Rhonchouse , Colston and Mains of
Thrlevo.
Some one Immediately tools the abbot by
the elbow , and shouted In his car that this
was the company ho desired to see. Then
ho rode forward to the left han.1 of bin
ncphow. as Mallse and ho passed slowly
down the line , examining the weapons.
'Laurence MacKIm ! I wo ill see Lau
rence MacKIm ! " cried the abbot , holding up
his hand , as If In the chapel of his mouas-
'ery. The earl stopped , an-1 Malls3 turned
right about on his heel in r < Mt astern &b-
mett.
"What wants old Marrow-bine's with our
Larrle ? " hi muttered. "Stiroly he cannot
have pof.cn Into mischief with Jie lasses
HE TOOK THB REINS OF HER PA LFREY AND LED HER TO THE STAND.
der If the heart of the young man expanded
within him. ,
Presently , soon after the arrival of the
cavalcade , the wappcn-shaw was set In ar
ray , and , company by company , the long I
double line extended as far as the eye coutd
reach from north to south along the side
of the broad and sluggish moving river.
Sholto , who , In virtue of his courage and
good marksmanship had been placed over
the archer company which waited on the
right of Iho ford , fell In behind the cortege i
of the carl. Ho was first man of all to have '
his equipment examined and his weapons
obtained , as they deserved the commenda
tion of his liege lord , and thu grim , unwill
ing approval of Mallso , the master armorer ,
whoso unerring eye could not detect so much
as a speck on a shirt of mall or a grain of
rust on the waist piece of shining steel.
Then the earl rode down the lines , and
Sholto , remembering the encounter among
the dust of the roadway , breathed moro
freely when ho saw his father's back.
And surely that day the heart of the
Douglas must have ben proud and high
within him , for there thev stood , company
behind ordered company , the men on whom
he could count to tha death. And the lad
of 18 , who In Scotland was greater than the [
king , looked upon their steadfast thousands
with a swelling heart.
The abbot had made particular Inquiries
whore Laurence was stationed , which was
In the archer company of the laird of Kelton.
Most of the monkish band had been made too I
happy by the deception practiced on the |
abbot concerning Mary Quean , and were Joe J
oo desirous to have such a rogue to play i
pranks In the dull abbey to tell any talcs
on Laurence MacKIm. But ono Berguet , a
Belgian priest , who had begged his way to
Scotland , and whoso nature was that of a '
spy nnd a sycophant , approached and vol- |
untccrcd the Information to the abbot that !
this lad to whom he was desirous of showing .
favor was n ribald and a hypocritical youth. '
"Eh , what , " said the abbot , "a bodlo for
thy ill-set tongue , false loon , dost think I
did not hear him slug his fair and seemly i
orisons ? I tell thee , rude outland jabberer - .
berer , that I am a Douglas , and have ears '
better than those of any Frenchman that ,
ever breathed. For this thou shall kneel
six nights on the cold stone of the holy '
chapel house nnd say of paternosters ten j
thousand and of misereres thou shall sing
three hundred. And this shall chance to
teach theo to be scanter with thy breath
when thou speakest to the abbot of the
Foundation Devorglll concerning better men
than thyself. "
Then the priest gasped anil fell back , and
none other was found with nught to say
against Master Laurence , which , considering
the 10,000 paternosters and the 300 mlseres ,
waa not unnatural.
As the earl passed along he was annoyed
by the Iterated requests of his undo to bo
Informed when they should como to the
company of the laird of Kelton. And the
good abbot , belug like all de&f men , apt to
speak a llttlo loud , did not Improve matters
by constantly making remarks behind his
hand , upon the appearance of character ( as
known to him ) of the various dependents
of Iho Douglas house who had come out to
show their loyalty and exhibit their pro- i
purcdness for buttle.
And thus It was. The young carl would
come lu his Inspection to a company of
Solwaysldo men stiff-Jointed flshers of sal- !
raon nets , out of the parishes of Rcrrlck or |
Borguo ; or , as It might be , rough colta from' '
the rock fecarps of CMvend , scramblers after ,
wild birds' nesta on perilous heuchs and
poachers on the deer preserves of Cloak
MOES ns often as they hart a chance. Then
the earl , having zealously commended the
particular Barnbachle or Muncbcrs who led
them , all would be peace and con.vrd till
out of the crowd behind would Issue- the
growling comment of hla uncle , the abbot
of Dulce Cor. I
"A rlose-listed old thief ! The saints plty |
him not ! He will surely fry la belli Last )
already. But I henna I kenna. When I
was 1C I can mind I can mind. And the
loon may well be his father's own son. "
And Mallse , the man of brawn ,
watched out of his quiet gray eyes the
face of Abbot William , wondering what waste
to cotno next.
Laurence stood forth nt a word of com
mand from the earl. He saluted , and then
dropped the point of his sword meekly upon
the ground. His white and rose cherub's
face expressed the utmost Goodness and In
nocence.
"Dear kinsman , " said the abbot to his
nephew , "I have a request to prefer which
I hope you will grant , though It deprive you
of ono retainer. This youth Is not fit com
pany for rude soldiers and ruftlers of the
camp. His mind Is already on higher things.
He hath good , clerkly Latin , also , being
skilled In the humanities , as I have heard
proven with mine own ears. His grace of
language and deportment Is manifest , and
ho can sing the- sweetest and moat spiritual
sougs In pralso of Mary and the saints. I
would have him In our choir at Sweetheart
abbey , where wo have much need both of a
volco such as his , and also of a youth whoso
sanctity and Innocence will leaven with the
grace of the spirit the neophytes of our col
lege , and the consideration of which may
even bring repentance Into older and more
hardened hearts. "
MallseMacKIm could not believe hi ? ears
as ho listened to the abbot's rounded periods.
But nil the same his gray eyes twinkled ,
his mouth slowly drew Itself together Into
the round of an 0 , from which Issued a
long , low whistle , perfectly audible to all
about him except thu abbot.
"Lord have mercy on the- Innocence and
cloistered quiet of the neophytes If they get
our Larrlo for an example ! " muttered Ma
llse to himself ns ho turned away.
Even the young earl smiled , perhaps re
membering the last time he had seen the
youth before him , clutching and tearing like
a wildcat at his brother's throat in the
smithy at Carllnwark.
"You desire the llfo of a clerk ? " said Lord
William pleasantly to Laurenco. Ho would ,
gladly have purchased his '
uncle's at even a
greater price.
"If your lordship pleases , " said Laurence
meekly , adding to himself , "It cannot bo so
hard work as hammering at the forgo , and
if I like It not why then 1 can always run
away. "
"You think ou have a call to become a
holy clerk ? "
"I feel It here ! " quoth Master Laurence
hypocritically , Indicating correctly , how.
ever , the organ whoso wants have made
clerks of so many that is , the stomach.
Earl William smiled yet more broadly ,
but , anxious to bo gone , ho said : "Mine
uncle , hero Is the lad's father , Mallse Mac-1
Kim , my masterarmorer nnd right good
servant. Ask him concerning his eon. "
" 'TIs all up a rotten tree now ! " muttered
Laurenco. "My father will reveal all. "
Mallsp. MacKIm smiled grimly , but with
n salutation to the dignitary of the church
and relative of his chief he said : "Truly , I
had never thought of this , my ton. as worthy
o be a holy clf.k. But I will not stand lu
the way of his advancement or thwart your
favor. Take him for a year on trial , and If
you can make a monk of him , do so nnd wcl-1
come. I recommend a leathern strap , well
hardened In the fire , for the purpose of mak.
Ing a beginning. "
"Ho shall , Indeed , have penance If hft
need It. For the good of the eoul must the ,
body suffer ! " said Abbot William , ounteuj j
tlously. i
"Saint's bones and cracklings ! " muttered I
Laurence , "this Is none so cheerful. But I
ran always run away If the strap grows over
Umber , and' then let them catch me If they
can. Sholto will help me. " I
"Fall out ! " commanded the earl , sharply ,
"and Join yourself to the company of Abbot
William. Come , Mallse , we lose our time. "
Thus was one of our heroes brought Into
tbu wuy of becoming a learned and holy
clerk. But these who knew him best ngreed
that he had u far road to travel.
cu.u'Tim xi.
The AinliiiKRiiilnr of I'rnncT.
The enrl had almost arrived at the pa
vilion erected at the southern end of the
Jousting meadow when n gust of cheering
borne along the lines announced the arrival
of a belated company. The young mau
glanced northward with Intent to discover
by their pennons who his visitors might be.
But the distance was too great , nud Identi
fication was made moro difficult by the
swarming of the populace round the new
comers. So , being unable to maku the mat
ter out , Earl William dispatched his brother
David to bring him word of their quality.
Presently , however , and before David
Douglas' return , shouts of "Avondale ! Avondale -
dale ! " from the men of Lanarkshire In
formed the young earl of the name of one
at least of thou ; who had arrived. A
frown darkened his brow so quick and angry
that It showed the consideration In which
the Douglas held his granduucle , James the
Gross , earl of Avoudalc ,
"I hope , at least , " ho said In a low voice
to Mnllse. who blood half a step behind
him , "that my cousins Will and James
have come with him. They are good metal
for a tourney and worth breaking a lance
with. "
By this tlmo the banners cf the visitors
could bo seen crossing the fords of Lochar ,
while high advanced above all private pen
nons two standards could be scon the
royal banner of Scotland , aud close beside
the rampant lion , the lilies of France.
"St. Bride ! " cried the carl , "have they
brought the king of Scots to visit me ? His
majesty had been better at his hornbook
or playln gball ID the tennis court of Ster
ling. "
Then came David back , riding swiftly on
his Ono dark chestnut , which , being free
from the mantle In which the horses of
knights were swathed , and having Its mane
and tall left long , made a gallant show
as the lad threw It almost on Its haunches
In his pride of horsemanship.
"William , " said David Douglas , "a word
In your ear , brother. The whole tribe are
here fat Jamie and all his clan ! "
The brothers conferred a little apart , for
In these troubled times men learned caution
early , and , though the Douglas was the
greatest man In Scotland , yet , surrounded
by meaner men as ho was , It behooved him
at all times to bo Jealous of his llfo nud
honor.
Earl Douglas came out of the sparred en
closure of the tilt ring in order to receive
his guests.
First , as an escort to the royal ambassa
dors of France and Scotland , who came be
hind , rode the earl of Avondale and his four
sons , noble young men and all unlikely lo
have sprung from such a stock. James the
Gross rode a broad Clydesdale mare , a short ,
soft , unwleldly man , sitting squat on the
saddle like a frog astride a roof , and glanc
ing sideways out of the pursy recesses of
his eyes.
Behind him came his erdest son William ,
of a true Douglas countenance , quick , high
and stern. Then followed James , whose
lithe body and wondrous dexterity In arms
was already winning him repute as one of
the bravest knights In all Christendom In
every military and knightly exercise.
Behind the Avondale Douglases rode two
men abreast , with a lady on a palfrey be
tween them.
The first to take the eye , both by his
stature and remarkable appearance , rode a
charger covered from head to tall In the
gorgeous red and gold diamond trappings
pertaining to a marshal of France. He was
in compMe armor and wore his visor down.
A long blue feather floated from his helmet ,
falling almost upon the flank of his horso.
A truncheon of gold and black was at his
side. A pace behind him the lllleo of Franco
were displayed , floating out languidly from
a banner staff In the hands of a young
squlro.
The knight behind whom the banner royal
of Scotland fluttered was a man of different
mold. His spare frame seemed burled In
the suit of armor which he wore somewhat
awkwardly. His pale , ascetic face looked
more in pTace in a monkish cloister than on
a knightly tilting ground , and ho glanced
this way and that with the swift and furtive
suspicion of one who , while setting one trap ,
fears to be taken In another.
But the lady who rode on a white pal
frey between these two took all men'a re
gard , oven in the presence of a marshal of
France and a herald of the king of Scots.
The Earl Douglas having let his eyes once
rest upon her , could not again remove them ,
being , as It were , fixed by greatness of the
wonder which ho saw.
It was the lady of the pavilion under
neath the pines , the lady of the evening
light and the midnight storm.
She was no longer clothed In simple
white , but arrayed llko a. king's daughter.
MAUD LINDSEY HAD SMILED AT HIM
WHILE THE FRENCH LADY PINNED
ON THE CROSS.
On her head was a high peaked coiffure ,
fiom which there flowed down a graceful
cloud of finest lace. This , even as the earl
looked at her , she caught at with a bewitch
ing gesture and brought over her shoulder I
with her gloved hand. A close-fitting robe of' '
palest blue outlined the perfections of her' 1
body. A single llcur-de-lls In gold was cm-1 \
broldered on the breast of her white bodice , i
and the came device appeared again and '
again on the white housing of her palfrey.
She tat In her saddle , gently smiling , and
looking down with n sweetness which was
cither the perfection of finished coquetry or
the expression of the finest natural modesty.
Strangely enough , the first thought that
came to the Earl Douglas after hla llrst sur
prise was one In which triumph was blended
with mirth.
"What will the abbot and Mallso think of
this ? " ho said , half aloud. And he turned
htm about lu order to look upon the face of
hla master armorer. |
Ho found Mallso MacKIm ashen pale and
drawn of countenance , the mouth open and
squared with wonder. His Jaw was fallen
alack and his hands gripped one upon the
other like these of ono praying to tliu
saints.
The earl smiled , and bidding Mallse unlace
his helmet In compliment to bia guests , he
stood bareheaded before them , his head ap
pearing above the blackness of bis armor i
i
bright as a flower with youth , nnd Instinct'
with the fiery beauty of hla rnco.
II was James the dross who ramo forward
lo net an herald. "My well beloved nephew , "
he began , lu somewhat whining tones , "I
bring you two royal embassies , ono from the
king of France and the oilier from the king
of Scotland. I have Iho honor to present to
.you Marshal Olios do Kctz , ambassador of
the most Christian king , Charles VII , who
will prcsenlly deliver his waster's message i
lo you. " I
The marshal , who llll now had kept his '
visor down , slowly raised It , and revealed
a face which , after belug once seen , could
never afterward he banished from the
memory. It was a largo gray-white coun
tenance , with high check bones and color
less lips , which were continually working
otio upon the other. lllack eyes wcro set
close togelher under heavy , hairless brows ,
and n long , thin tioso curved between them , ,
like Iho beak of an unclean bird. j
"Earl William , " said the marshal , "I hid
you greeting In the nanie of your llcge
lord , Charles , king of France , nud nlo In
that of his son , the dauphin Ixwls. I bring
you also a further token of their good will ,
lu that 1 hall you heir to the great estates
and dignities of your father and grandfather - .
father , dukes of Touraltio nd premier vas-1
sals of the king of France. " I
The young man bowed , and In spile of the' '
Interest of his message , the marshal caught
his eyes resting upon the face of the lady
who rode bcsldo him.
"To this I add that which , sivo for the
message of the king , my master , ought fitly
to have como first. I present you to this
fair lady , my niece , the the Damosel Sy-
bllla do Thouars , late maid of honor to your
high princess , Margaret of Scotland , who
of late hath expanded Into a yet fairer
flower under the sun ot our land of
France. " I
The earl dismounted and throw the reins
of his horse to Mallse , whoso foco wore an
expression ot bitterest disappointment and
Instlnctlvn hatred. Then he went to the
side of the Lady Sybllla and , taking her
handj ho bowed his head over It , touching
It with hla lips with every token ot respect.
Still bareheaded , he took the reins of her
palfrey nnd led her to the stand reserved
for the queen of beauty.
Hero being arrived , the carl Invited her
to dismount and occupy the central seal , j
"Till your arrival It lacked an occupant ,
but 'today the gods have been food to the
house of Douglas , and for the first tlmo
since the death of my father I set it filled.
Smilingly the lady consented , ind with n
wave of his hand the Earl Wllli.im Invited
the Marshal do Rctz to lake the place on
tb other side of the Lady Sybllla.
Then turning haughtily to the herald of the
king of Scots , who had been standing alone , '
ho said : "And ilovv , sir , what would you
with the Earl Douglas ? "
The ascetic monkish man found bis words
with llttlo IOFS of time , showing , however ,
no resentment for Earl William's neglect of
reverence to the banner under whose protec
tion ho caino.
"I am Sir James Irving of Drum , and I
stand here on behalf of Sir Alexander Llv-
Ingston , tutor aud guardian of Ihe king ot
Scots , to Invite your friendship nnd aid. ]
The Lord Crlchtou , some tlmo chancellor of j
this realm , hath rebelled against the royal
authorlly and fortified him In Edinburgh
castle. So , both Sir Alexander Livingston
and the most noble lady , the queen mother ,
desire the assistance ot the great power of
the carl of Dugfas to suppress this revolt.
Scarcely had these words been uttered
when another knight stepped forward out of
the train which had followed the carl ot
Avondale.
"I am hero on behalf of the chancellor of
Scotland , who Is no rebel against any right
authority , but who wishes only to bring this
distracted realm back Inlo some assured
peace , nnd to deliver the young king out of
the hands of flatterers nnd letchers. I have '
the honor of requesting on behalf of the
chancellor of Scotland , Sir Wllrlam Crlch-
ton , the true rcpresenUtlve of royal author
ity , the aid and alliance of my lord of Doug
las ! "
A smile of haughty contempt passed over
the face of the earl , and ho dismissed both
heralds , utlcrlng in Iho hearing of all those
words which aftcrwari became so famous
over Scotland :
"Let dog eat dog what should the lion
care ? "
CIIAPTI2II XII.
MUtrcNM Mnnil llinl < 'Kliy.
The sports of the llrst days of the great
wappenshaw were over. The Lord James
Dougfas , second fcou of the Gross One , bad j
won the tourneying by unhorsing all his '
opponents without even breaking a lance.
Sholto MacKIm wore on his cap the golden
buckle of archery , and look his way happily
homeward , much uplifted that the somewhat j
fraudulent eyes of Mistress Maud Llndusay ,
had smiled upon him while the French ,
lady was preening It there. |
The knightly part of the great muster had
gone back to their lenls aud lodgings. The (
conimonally were mostly stringing away
through the vales and hill passes to their
homes , no longer In ordered companies , but
In bands of two or Ihree. Dlspules and (
misunderstandings arose hero and there be- 0
twcen men of different provinces , The j
Galloway men called "Annandalo thieves"t t
at those herder men who came at the sumc
mons of Iho hereditary warder of the
Marches. The borderers replied by loud
blcatlngs , which signified that they held the n
Galwi-glans of no better understanding than n
their native shoep.
H was a strange and varied company J
which rode homo to Thrlevo to receive the t
hospitality of the young carl of Douglas
nnd duke of Tnuralnc. The castle Itself n
being no more than a military fortress , con- j c
talnlng , In addition to the soldiers' quar
ters , only the apartments designed fet the
family ( and scant enough of these ) , could j\ \
not of course accommodate so great a comn
pany. I'
But , as was the custom at all great v
houses , though more In England and of
Franco lhan In poverty-stricken Scotland ,
the earl of Douglas had In store an abun
dant supply of tents , some of them woven
of arras and ornamented with cloth of
gold , others of humbler but equally service
able material.
His mother , the countess of Douglas ,
who knew nothing of the occurrences of the
night of the great storm , or guessed at the
suspicions of witchcraft and diablerie , which
made a hell of the breast of Malisc , the
master armorer , received her sou's guests
with distinguished courtesy. Mallso him
self had gone BO soon ns he set eyes on
the companion of the Marsbal de Hotz to
find Iho abbot , that they might consult to-
gcthcr , only , however , to discover thai iho
gcntla churchman had quitted the field as
teen as ho had obtained the consent of his
nephew to Ihe possession of Ihe now choris
ter , to whom ho had taken so sudden and
violent a fancy.
The hoofs of the whole cavalcade were soon
Bounding hollow and dull upon the wooden
brldgo which the carl's father had erected
from the left bank to the southernmost cor
ner of the Isle of Thrlevc , a bridge which a
single charge of powder or even a few
strokes of a woodman's ax would have been
sufficient to remove- and disable , but which
nevertheless enabled the castle dwellers to
avoid the extreme Inconvenience of passing
the ford nt all stages of the river.
Sholto MacKIm , with all the consciousness !
of a shining success In Ihe stiffness of the
pock which uphold the slight additional
weight of the earl's gold hucKlo In his cap.
found himself , not wholly by accident. In
the Immediate neighborhood where his
heart's beloved , Maud Lliidcsay , like a val
iant seneschal , had kept her place all day
clobe bcsldo the maid of Galloway , ns Mar
garet of Douglas waa always called.
And BOW the little clrl waa more than
i
' ' over eager to keep near to hrr fair "ROUV-
rrnnnte , " for lhi > ambassador of the king of
France had be nt ono look upon her , FO
strangit nnd searching that Margaret , though
uot naturally timid , had cried nlotid Involun
tarily nnd clasped her friend's hand with a
grasp whlcn slip refused to loosen till Sholto
had promlfted ( o walk by the tide of her
pony nnd allow her to net her trcmtilliij
fingers In the thick of his clustering curlK.
For the armorer's eou wns In those Him-
plo days an ancient nlly of the llttlo nobla
damsel , and ho dreamed , and not without
Rome excuse , Hint In nn nge when every
Iran's strong mm nnd brnvn heart consti
tuted his fortune the time might come when
ho might even offer himself to Maud Llnde-
say , baron's daughter though she was. For
both his father nnd himself wore already
high In favor with their master , the carl ,
who could create knights and dispose lord-
chips as easily and much more effectually
and i finally than the king himself.
The emissaries of the chancellor and Sir
Alexander Livingston did not accompany
the others back lo the caslle after the tdiort
and haughty answer which they had re
ceived i , but with their followers returned
Iho way they had come lo their several
headquarters ; , giving , ns was natural be
tween foes so bitter , a wide berth to each
other i on ihelr northward Journeys lo Edin
burgh : nnd Stirling.
"What think you of this day' doings ,
Mistress : Llndcsay ? " asked Sholto , as he
Kwung along beside the train with lltlle Mar-
parct i ot Douglur ' hand ( Ulll clrulcblng Iho
thlclc t curls nl the back of hl.s neck.
The mald-of-honor tossed her shapely
head 1 , nnd with u llttlo pretty upward curl
of the lip exclaimed : " 'Twas a stupid day
as ever I saw. There waa not a single hand
some knight nor yet ono beautiful woman
on thu Held this day ! "
"What of Jumcs of Avondalc when knights
arc being Judged ? " suld Sholto with H kind
of gloomy satisfaction , boyish nnd charac
teristic , "ho looked often enough \ your di
rection to prove that he did not agree with
you about the lack ot the beautiful woman ! "
At this Maud Llndesay elevated her
pretty | nostrils yet further Into the air ,
"James of Avondale Indeed , " she said ; "ho
Is j not to bo compared , either for dignity or
strength , with the earl himself , nor yet
with many others whom I know of lesser
estate. "
"Sholto MacKIm , " cried the clear , piping
volco of the lltllo Margaret , "how In the
world am I to kicp hold of your hair If you
shako and jerk your head like that ? If you
do not keep still I will send for that pretty
boy | over there In the scarlet vest , or ask
my , cousin Jnmes to ride with me. And ho
will , too , I know , for he likes bravely to bo
besldo my dear Maud Llndosay. "
Sholto held his head erect and forth-
looking ] as If ho had been under the Inspec
tion i of the earl nnd were doubtful ot his
weapons , passing muster.
There came n subtle and roguish smllo In
the | eyes of Mistress Maud Llndesay as she
observed the suddenlug stiffening of Sholto's
bearing.
"Foul feet , slow bellies , fushlonless and
slack ( are ye to run my lord's errands , but
quick ( enow to return home upon your
.
tramping , clattering ruck of horses , and
expecting to ride over my brldgo of good
pine ' planking Instead of washing the dirt
from your hoofs In Dee water. "
The long flies of horsemen threaded their
way across the green plain of the Isle to
ward the open space In front of Thrleve
castle ' , the points of their spears shlnlna
high ' In the air and the shafts so thick that
seen ' from a distance they made a network
of slender lines reticulated against the sun.
The great Island fortress of the Douglases
was then in Its highest state of perfection
as ' a fortress and dignity as a residence.
Archibald , the Grim , who built the keep ,
could i not have foreseen the wondroui
beauty 1 and strength to which Thrlevo had
attained under his successors. This night
of the Wappenshaw the lofty gray walls
wcro hung with gaily colored tapestries
draped from the overhanging gallery ot
wood which ran round the top of the castle.
From the four corners of the roof flew
the banners of four provinces which owned
the sway of the mighty house , Galloway ,
Annandalo , Lanark and the Marches , while
from the center , on a taller flagstaff than
any , flew the standard royal , for so It
might bo called , the hearts and stars of
the Douglases' moro than royal house.
The outer walls thus blazed with color ,
and the woods around gave back the con
stant reverberation of artillery , as with
.
hand guns and artillery of weight the garrison
risen ' greeted the return of the earl and his
guests. The green castle Island from end to
end was thick with tents and gay with
pavilions of many hues and various design ,
{
their walls covered with devices , and each
flying the colors of its ownerw , while on
poles without dangled shields and harness
of various kinds , ready for the younger
squires to clean and oil for the use ot their
masters on the remaining days of the
tournament. (
Sholto waited at the bridge head , Impa
tient with the prcefl , and eager to bo loft
nlonn with his own thoughts , that ho might
go over the words nnd looks of his heart's
Idol , and suck all the sweet pain ho could
out , of her hard-heartcdncss. Suddenly
passed backward from lip to lip , according
to the universal , nnd , Indeed , obligatory ,
custom of the time , there reached him the
"passing of the word. " He heard his own
name repeated over nnd over , In fifty voices
nnd tones , waxing louder na the "word"
ncarcd him.
"Sholto MacKIm Sholto MacKIm , son of
Mallse , the armorer , wanted to speak with
the carl. Shollo MacKIm ! Sholto "
A great nolt of a Moray hlghlandmnn with
mouth like a go h , uboutcd In his very
car.
( To be Continued. )
Rev. M. C. Harris , superintendent of
Methodist missionary ' work among the Jap-
niicfco of the Pac'lflc elope nnd the Hawaiian
islands , Is the onlv Christian clergyman
\vlio has been decorated by the emperor
Japan.
' IiilfTercil llirlorliiri'iortlio tlHiiinccl
nltti protrudhix pllo tirouuM on liy constipa
tion wllli wblcli I niti nnilctrd for twenty
yours l ran across your CASt'AKKTS In the
town of Munoll. la. uiul never found anything
to equal thorn To-day I nm entirely free from
pilMs nd leal lUo , i new man "
U ll.KiiTZ , Mil Jont-d St. , Sloui City , la.
1 I'altablP.Wnl. ! . TtitO Good. Do
U , Never Hlckeu. Weaken , cr Orl | > f , 10o,24clUfl.
. . . CURE CONOTIPATION. . . .
" - " " ' ? ' < "H 'l i trttl. H T.rk. 811 ' .y
