THE O rAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , FEBBUABY 5 , 1.899 ,
Py 5. RXrockett
njrvxw or "n * OOe *
S > 'II | IMM of l'r ' < 'cillii r Clmi > 1er .
\VillIiun , sixth curl of nouglaw , falls in
love -with tbo nlpco of Hi * Marshal do Hetz.
Bholto MarKlm. non of the Douglas armorer.
< lUtlnRUUhe jilin-rlf In nrclrry und Is made
cnptnin of the ensile KUtml nnd later he Is
knight' ' (1 ( for bnivo conduct In the tournn-
n'cni. ' Through tbo plots of bin -mlen nnd
the help of Lady Sybllln William is lured to
C'nstlp Crlchton. Sybllhi repents ot ber
mjrwmnit and urcos tbo young curl to re
turn home with nil speed. Murshnl do Flotz
takes Hyhllla to Edinburgh nnd WIN
Hun nccopts th Invltiitlnn of the young
Ulnff of Scotland to visit tbe court At
a bnilquot n liugihour's bead la
broiiRbt In , a sign of treachery. The
curl and bio brothers nro arrested and Im *
prlKonoil. The brothprs fire sentenced to be
oxci-uteil at one' . Sybtlln doclirc : her love
before thp court nnd the txvo Douglases KO
forth to their death. Sboltr. atlrs up the
countrymen. The three MucKlm * . meet , tell
tbn ] * idy DoiiRlns of the loss of ber nons
nnd lenrn In turn from her that Maud
Llndcsay and llttlo Margaret Douglas have
licen kldnnpp'ed by Do Hctz. The Lmly
DoURlns gives Sholto a priceless suit ol
nrmor , blesses him as her son nnd Btnrta
liltn out to aenrcb for the two girls. Sholto
wltli his father nnd brother nnd Lord James
Dotmlns follow tbo Marshal do llctz tn
3'arls and then to Brittany. Lnurcncc
MncKIm enters into service with Je netz ,
The search party bnttlrswith the wolves ,
J iiureuco' Is dlsroverrrl by De netz to be an
Impostor. Is shown , the two girls and told
that If h trips to escape or help conies the
innld of Gnlw.-iy nnd Mauil Llmlesay will
4 > e inurdTui ) . Ixi Mpffrnyo tnunts the Scot-
1Nh maidens. Lmly Sybllla linds Sholto and
] iln rompanlons nnd sends thnm to John ol
airlttuny for help. De Hctz and his assist
ants continue In their crimes not mindful ol
punishment , being- deceived by Sybllla at
lo the vslicrcnbnutB of the Scotchmen. DC
j < ctz murders several children In his search
for porpctiml youth. John of Brittany
uareea to help In tbo rescue ol the maidens ,
ClIAl'TEll
Tlio Tower of Dentil.
Throughout La Vcndeo and all the country
Of Kelz ran a tcrrlblo rumor.
"Tho Marshal do Retz la tlio murderer ot
our children. lie has a thousand bodies In
Iho vaults of his castles. The Duke of Brit
tany has given orders that they shall be
( searched. His soldiers are forsaking him.
The names ofthe dead ore written in black
and whlto and In the handa ot the head men
ot tlio villages. Hasten It is the hour ol
vengeance ! Let us overwhelm him. Rise
up and let us seek our lost ones , oven it we
Hrid no more than their bones ! "
And terrible as had been the gathering ol
the wore wolves In the dark forests around
Machecoul upon Uio night of the light bj
the hollow tree , far more threatening and
tcrrlblo was tlio rising of the angry com
mons.
In whole villages there WHS not ft man
Ictt and mothers , too , marched In that mus
ter , armed with choppers nnd kitchen knives
wild-eyed , angry-hearted , as lionesses
robbed of their cubs. From the deep glen !
mid deeper woods of the country ot net :
they poured. They disgorged from the caves
of the earth , whither the greed and rapacttj
Of their terrible lord had driven them.
Schoolmasters were there , with the cldci
of tholr pupils. For many ot the chlldrer
Diad been lost on their way to school and
of losing boll
these men were in danger
their credit and occupation.
Toward Tlffauges , Champdoce , Machecou'
tbo angry populace , long repressed , surgct !
tumultuously and with them , much wonder
ing nt their orders , went the soldiers ot th <
duke.
But It Is wltli the columns that conce-n
trdted upon Machccoul that wo have chlcflj
three Scots accompanied these
to 4o , Our
nnd with' them wont John ot Brittany him'
Bolt wltli his councilor , IMerro do 1'IIopltal
by his side.
Night fell aa they Journeyed on , ovei
Joined by fresh contingents from all thi
country round. In the van presjcvd forwan
the folk of St. rhllbert , fresh from the tit
tcr destruction of the house of thewitcl
woman In Meffrayo , so that not ono atom
was left upon another. Guided by these , th
duke nnd his party mnde their way easll :
through the forest , oven In the darkness o
tbo night. And as they passed hamlet o
cottage , ever and nnon some frenzle *
mother would rush upon them and fall upoi
, licr knees before the duke , praying him t
look well for her darling , and bringing may
liap some pitiful shred of clothing or loci
of hair by which the searchers might Idcn
tlfy the lost Innocent.
As they went forward the soldiers prlcke
nn ahead and caused the people to fall t
ttbo renr , lest any foreknowledge ot their op
preach might reach the wizard and war
lim | to escape.
The woods of Mnchecoul were dark nn
rillent that night. Not the howl of a questln
wolf was heard. Truly the marshal's de
: nons bad deserted him , or mayhap they wer
till busy at that last carnival in the kee
ot the castle of Mnchecoul.
As the Btormlng party approached neare
and while yet they were several miles dis
tant , they became aware of a great red ligh
that gleamed forth nbovo them. They coul
jiot BOO It , but the peasants of St. Phllbei
with afrlghtcd glancee told how it beaconc
only after the disappearance ot some llttl
'ono from their homes , what strange crlt
woio heard ringing out from that loft
lower and liow for days after the smoke o
n great burning would hung about th
Bloomy turrets ot davil-hauiitcd Machecou !
Kierccr nnd even fiercer Bbouo the re
Klnre. nnd 'tho faces of the soldiers were II
up so that 1'Ierre do 1'IIopltal ordered thor
to keep to the gloomy arcades ot tbe fores
Then by midnight tha cordon was draw
rD closely that none might pass In or oul
'And behind the soldiery the common fol
lay crouched , anger In their hearts , an
their curs turned toward tlio open window
In the keep of Machccoul , from which flare
the rod light of bale ,
Then , covering their lanterns , the thrc
Dr , Hilton's Spe
cific No. 3 is the
fi r s t Ho in c dy
ever otfeml to tht- r , Hilton's
public to Cuic a
Cold , the Grip ,
nU PKKVKNT
PNEUMONIA ,
and it Is the
ONJ-Yieincdyto-
day Hint can do it ,
It was > first adver
tised J nn uir ; y ,
18911 Since then
over ,1 million bot-
tlus linvc Icon
told. Whnt bet
ter testimonial as
to the efficacy of
this rcmedvcdiild The Grip
wo hate ? If your
dru lst ( UiOhii't
ami
huvuitsundsocti. ,
in P. O. tmnpsor
money .order to
13H. HILTON , PUEVEXTS
reecho h bottle bv i , , .
return mail. | PlUMllUOnlH.
A\u have a rrtsu stoi ic of Hilton's No , !
Older of us BUKKMAN ic M'CONNKLJ
DUL'U CO. , Omaha , Neb.
Scots , with nuke John , Pierre do VHopitnl
and a Bcore of officers stole toward the towci
by which the Lady Sybilla hod promised thai
nn entrance ( liould be gained to the casth
of Machccoul.
It was situated at the western corner , to
ward tlio south and waa Joined to Ha fel
lows at the corresponding angles ot tl
fortress by gallcrlcd walls ot great helnht
Ten feet nbove the ground was a llttlo dooi
of embossed iron , but ordinarily no stopi
led to It when the castle wns In n state o :
defcnso. Hut when Sholto adventured firs
into the angle of the wall ho stumbled npoi
n ladder that loaned against the little land'
Ing leJgo nhovo which was tlio door dcnotci
on the plan.
Bholto advanced first , being tbe Halites
nnd most agllo ot all. As ho had expected
ho found the door unlocked and a llttli
passage leading within tbe tower. He la ]
n moment and listened and then , being
certain thcro was a light and the sounda o
labor within , be crawled bacll to the laddci
head and whispered to the Lord James ai
order for total silence.
Then , with SJiolto holding the ladder a
the top , Duk John and bis councllo
mounted like shadows and , with Millso MK
James Douglas , they were presently crouchei
In the passage , with tbo door shut bohlm
them nnd the olllcers keeping watch nt thi
foot of the tower without.
The flvo listened to the sounds of bus ]
picks within the towor. They could hoai
the ring of Iron ca stones and the pantlnf
of men engaged in severe toll.
"Tho marshal Is preparing for flight , '
whispered the dultc cxultlngly. "IIo Is in
tcrrlng his treasures. He has been -warned
But wo will be overspcedy for him. "
And ho chuckled in his satisfaction FI
loudly that Mall Be , using no ceremony vrltl
duke or varied nt snob a season , put lit
band over his mouth.
Then one by ono they crawled along thi
narrow passage on ttiolr bands and knocs
and presently -from a llttlo balcony plas
tered on 'the ' Inner wall of the tower Ilk'
a swallow's nest , they found themsclvtv
looking down upon a strang scene.
A flight of steps led slantwise to the bet
toot , and at the .foot of tbo tower , strlppet
to the skin , they beheld two men busll ;
fllllng great sacks with a curious cargo.
The turret had never been finished , t
contained nothing whatever except th
staircase. So far ns Sholto could see tlier
was not even a window anywhere. Th
door by which they 3iad entered and anothe
which evidently led Into the Interior o
the castle , were Its only outlets. The eartl
at the bottom remained as it had been let
by the builders , who surely must hav <
thought that no madder archltctural freal
was over carried out than this shut towe
of the castle of Maehecoul , with Its blnnl
walls and sordid accoutrement.
Hut most strange of all , the orlglna
earth had been covered to the depth of i
foot or more with dark objects , the tru <
significance of which did not appear fron
the distance of the little gallery when
tbo party of five had stationed themselves
The two men at work below had brough
torches with them and had fastened -these t
the walls by Iron splices. The smoke fror
these hung in heavy morses about tbo towci
Btill further diminishing the clearness will
which the watchers aloft could observ
what went on below.
Ono of the workmen was -tall and spare
with the forward thrust of head and necl
seen In vultures and other unclean birds
The other , who held the sacks , while th
first shoveled , wa ? on the contrary stou
and short , of a notably jovial , rublcum
countenance. In habit like the Jjostler of ai
Inn , or perhaps a well-to-do carrier upo :
tbo roads.
The two worked without speaking as 1
the work were distasteful. "When ono sac'
was full , both would seize their picks an
dig furiously at the flpor of the tower. The
when they had enough , raised , they woul
( all to shoveling the curiously shaped ob
jects Into the sacks again.
As Sholto looked down he heard a hlseln
whisper la bis ear.
"Theso be Blanchent the sorcerer nn
Robin Romulnrt. But last week they too
notice of my llttlo Jean and praised him fc
a noble boy ! "
Sholto turned round , and there at hi
elbow , having followed them in splto of n
orders and precautions , ho discerned th
woodman Louis Verger , whose little so
had been carried off by the gray wolf.
Sholto motioned him back and at a slg
from the duke his father and bo began t
descend , So Htlently did they make thel
way down the stone steps , and so Intent wet
the men upon their work , th'at In a mlnul
afjor leaving the little gallery , Mnllee Btoo
behind the taller nnd Sholto stele like
shadow along the wall nearer to the llttl
rotund maa who had been celled RobI
Romulart ,
The duke held up his hand. Sholto an
Mallso each took their man about tbo thro :
with their left arms and pulled tbcm bach
ward , at the same tlmo covering thcl
mouths with their right bands. Blanche
never moved in the strong arms of Mallei
but Robln , whoso rotund flguro conceals
Ills great muscular development , might hav
escaped from Shalto bad not tbo woodma
Vcrgor flung ( himself at the llttlo man'
throat and brought him to the ground.
Then the duke and the others dcsccndc
nnd as they did go they became cansclon
of a choking mepbltlc vapor which dun
danjt and heavy to tbo lower courses of tl
tower.
Suddenly a wild cry made all shiver. 1
came from Louis Verger , who had sprun
upon Bometlilng that lay tossed aside In
corner.
"Sllenco man on your life ! Silence !
hissed IMerro do THopltnl. "Whatever yo
have found , think ot revenge and help ute
to It ! "
"J have found lilm , Ho Is dead ! Tli
fiends ! The flendsj" sobbed Louis Verge
covering a small partially charred objec
with tbo rurtmantle of which he had mi
Idly divested himself or the purpose.
Then U came upon those who stood on tli
floor of the tower that they were in th
marshal's main charnel hoiuo. Thcso vagi !
forms , mostly charred like half-burtie
i\ooii , these scraps of white bone , these ill
tlo crushed skulls , were all that remalne
of the Innocent children who In the frcsli
ness of their youth and beauty had been sc
duced Into the fatal castle ot Machccoul.
And what wonder that an appalling tern
sat on tlio "heart and mastered the soul <
Sholto MacKIm ? For how did he know tlu
ho was not treading under foot nt each ste
the calcined fragments ot the fair body c
Maud Lludesay ?
Twenty backs had been flllod ready fc
transport , and as many more lay folded 1
n heap in a corner. The marshal , unoas
perhaps as to tbo suspicions against bin
mul anxious to remove evidence from th
precincts of his castle , dad ordered thi
tower of death to be cleared. But truly hi
devil bad once more forcaken him. Tli
order had been given a day too late ,
"God's grace , I utlflo. Let us got out c
his and Belie the- murderer ! " quoth Duke
rohn , making his way toward the door
"Walt a moment , " said Plerro dt I'Hopl-
al. Wo must consider. We cannot lethe
ho commons see this or they -would e ick
.ho castle from foundation to roof tree ,
and slay the Innocent with the guilty. Wo
must seize and hold for fair trial all nlio
are found within. And I , rlerro do I'Hopl *
tal , will try them. "
"What , then , do you propose ? " snld the
luke , getting RS near the door as possible.
"Lot us bring In liithcr the officers and
what soldiers you can trust that's not my
business , " answered the president. "Then
wo will go through the ensile , nnd nftcr
wo have qpcured the prisoners nnd made sure
of sumclcnt pieces ot Justificative evidence ,
of which wo have Infinite supply In those ,
sacks , then wo may e'en permit the people
to work their will I"
As It wns Sholto who hud first entered ,
it was Sholto who first loft the tower ot
death. He It was nlso who at the head' ot
the first band surprised the marshal's sleepy
Inner guard , and helped to bind them with
Ills own bonds. It was Sholto who nt the
foot of the stairs ot the great keep stood
listening that ho might know the right mo
ment to lead the besiegers upward.
Then even ns ho stood thus , down the
stnlrnny there came pealing a terrible cry ,
a Hhrlck of woman In the final agony ,
shrill , desperate , unavailing.
And nt the sound Sholto flew up the Btono
steps In the direction of the try , not knowIng -
Ing whnt ho did , save that he went lo kill.
And scarce n foot behind him followed tbo
woodman , Louis Verger , nnd as they fled
upward the red gloom grew brighter and
they scorned to be rushing headlong Into a
furnac l
OIIA.PTEH LVIII.
Tlip While Tower of Mnchreonl.
So at the command of the Marshal de netz
they sent to brlug forth Margaret Douglas
and Maud Lindesay out of the White tower ,
where they bad been abiding. Margaret had
iono to bed , and , as was her custom , Maud
Llndcsay sat awhile by her side. For eo
far as they could they kept to the good and
kindly traditions of Castle Thrive. It
th < * y were driven out ot the yard .again nd
wont In n long Hiring , one after the other ,
baok. to their pa tur s. douccty and cfdntely.
Just like folk going to holy kirk on Sibbath
days when it Is summertime In Galloway.
"Thon jou said , 'I am weary ot waiting
for blm , ' and I answered , 'Why. ho has not
boon gone more than n day. Sometimes I
do not sao him for weeks and 1 never fret
llko that , '
"Then you answered ( It has all coma so
clcnr Into my head ) , 'Some day you will
know , llttlo one. ' And you patted mo on
the head and went to tbo house-end 1o look
Into the sunset. You looked long tinder
your hand and when you came back you
said , as If you had never said it betore ,
'llu Is long a-comlng. 1 wonder what can
be keeping hlml'
"Then the maidens told usthat tbe supper
wns ready to put on the tnble. whereat you
scolded them , telling them that it was too
enrly and that they must keep It hot against
their master's coming. And to mo > ou
said , 'You are not hungry , are you ? " And
I answered , 'No , ' though I was Indeed v ry
hungry ( in my dream , that Js ) . Then you
said again , Rlghlng , 'It Is strange that he
pliould not mo home. I cannot oat till
he comes. Petlinps he has fallen into a
ditch or Bomo caglo may have peeked out
his eyes. '
"Then all the time H grew darker nnd
still no ono came. Whereat you cried a lit
tle. Hoftly , and said , 'He might have come
I know right well ho could have been here
by this tlmo if ho bad tried. But he does
not love me any more. ' And you were
patting the ground wltli your foot , as jou
used to do when well , when you wont
nway from Trlevo without coming out upon
the lo ds to soy 'Good night' when nil at
once there was a noise ot quick feet brushing
eagerly through the heather nnd some ono
( no. not Landless Jock ) leaped the little
wall and caught me me in his arms "
"No , ho did not catch you In his arms ! "
cried Maud Lindesay. Indignantly , nnd then
stopped , abashed at her own folly. Hut the
little maid laughed meirlly.
"Aim , " she said , "I caught you that time
in my trap. You know who It was In my
dream , though 1 never told you , nor so
much ns hinted. "
also was filled wllh tbn reflectloa of the rod
tideof light -which pbb fl nnd flowed , waxed
and -waned nbove. Saving for that -window
tha nltolc castle was wrapped In gloom and
fllcnce , and It there vurc nny anako within
the precincts they Ttnew belter than to ppy
upon thn midnight dotngfl ot their dread
lord.
lord.The
The little party passed up the gmt stnlr-
case ot the liecp nnd presently baited before
the inscribed wooden door by which Lau
rence bad entered the Temple of Evil before
them.
As Glllci do Slllc opened It tor the tnalds
to enter the skirt of Maud Llndesay'a robe ,
blown back by , tbo draft ot the chamber ,
fluttered against the check ot Laurence
MncKlnt. us he lav on Mn face In the
niche of the wall. At Uio light touch he
came to himself and looked about him with
a strange and In a twit chnncc In nil the
Affections nnd nioioincnts of his heart.
With the eomlnc In of the maidens fears
seemed utterly to forsake him. A clarity
ot DiirncQC. nn alertness of brnln , n strength
of heart unknown before took -the place of
the trembling bath ot horror in which he
had nwooned awny.
H was llko the sudden -appearance ot two
whlto angels , walking fearless nnd un
scathed through the Ritin dominions ot the
lords of bell.
Incarnate good had somehow entered the
house of the demon , ringed though It was
In the slender periphery of n uialden'a
body , and ovll , resistless nnd strong before ,
deemed In the moment to lose half Its
power.
CHAPT13H MX ,
Tlic Sncrlllor to Ittirrnnntlinnnit ,
And as Laurence MacKIm , crouched In the
dim obscurity ot the curtained doorway ,
looked forth , this la what he saw :
Maud Llndcsay nnd Margaret Douglas ml-
vanced Into the center of the temple , where
was a slab of whlto marble let into the
floor. As If by Instinct -the two maidens
stopped there and stood hand In hand be
fore the Iron altar und the vast shadowy
Image which gloomed nbove them , and ap
peared to reach forward In the net to clutch
"I , LA MBPFRAYB , "WILL GLOAT OVER EACH DROP OP DLOOD THAT T3ISTILLS PROM YOUR NECK. "
seemed somehow a tlo with home In that
horrible place In which they were doomed
to abide.
"Give me your hand , Maud , and tell on ! "
said llttlo Jlargaret , nestling closer to her
friend and laying her bead against her arm
as she leaned on the low bedstead beside
her.
Margaret was gowned In a white linen
ll made long ago for the marshal's
daughter , little Marie de Retz , In the days
before the setting : "P of the Iron altar.
Catherine , his deserted wife , 'had been kind
to the girls at Pousaugus and had given to
both of them suoh. articles of garmonture
as they were sorely in need of ,
"Tell on haste you , " commanded llt
tlo Margaret , with the Impprlousness of
loving childhood , nestling closer as she
spoke. "It helps me to forget. I can al
most think when you arc speaking that wo
are again at Tlirleve nnd that If wo looked
out of the window wo should see the Dee
running by and hear Bholto Mac-
Kim drilling his men. out In the
courtyard. Why , Mnudle , what IB the
matter ? I did not mean to make you cry.
But It Is all BO sweet to think upon in this
place. 0 , Maudlc , Maudle , whnt would you
give to bear a. whaup whistle ? "
Then , drawing herself with her hands
about Maud's neck Into a sitting position ,
she took a kercblef from under the pillow
and dried her friend's tears , murmuring the
while : "Ah , do not cry. Mnudj my vision
Will all coino true , nnd you shall Indeed see
Ben Gavin and Thrlovo and everything. I
was dreaming about It last night. Shall I
tell you about It. sweet Maud ? "
Maud Llndesay did not reply , not having
recovered power over her voice. So the lit
tle maid of Galloway went on unbidden.
"Yos , I dreamed a. glad dream yeuter'cen.
Shall I tell It you , nil nnd all ? I will-
though you can toll stories far bettor
than I.
"Mfthought that I nnd you I mean ,
dear Maud , you and I were sitting to
gether In the gloaming at tha door ot u
llttlo house up on the edges of the moor
land , where the heather Is prettiest and long
est. And wp were happy. Wo were wait
ing for some one. I shall not tell you who ,
Maudle , but If you are good and stop cry
ing you can guons. And tliero vias
n ring on your finger , Maud.
No , not likethe old ones not a
pretty ring lilio those In your box , yet you
loved Itmorn than them all and never
stopped turning It about between your finger
and thumb.
"They bad let mo come up to stay with
you and the men wlio had accompanied mo
were drinking in the claclmn. An wo sat
I seemed to bear their loud chorus sounding
up from the change house.
"And you IIMcued and said , 'I wish ho
would come. He Is very long , It Is always
long when ho Is away. ' Hut you never said
who It was who was long away. I shall not
tell you , though I kuow. Perhaps it was
old Jock Lucklamls , who used to bo captain
of the guard , nnd perhaps grouting Peter
from the gate house by the ford. Rut , some
how , I do not think en. Ah , that la better !
Now , do not cry again ! nut listen else I
will not tell you any more , but go to sleep
instead ,
"I'erhaps you do not want to bear the rest.
Yet It was such a pietty dream and of good
omen.
"You do want to hear ? Well , then , be-
good !
"As wo sat there we could hoar the
bumblebees scurrying home , and every now
and then ono of the big boom beetles would
gall whirring past us. We could huar the
uheop crying below In the little gretm mead
ows BO lonc omely , and the milpo bleating
an answer away up in the sky above their
hcuds , and you said , 'U U all so empty ,
wanting him ! '
"Then the maids brought. In the cows and
milked them , standing at the gable end , ando
\\o could feel the > ampl | of their breath sweet
like the srent of tlio ( lowers tbty had been
eating all day long , Then , after
"And ho asked If you had missed him and
you made a sign to me not to speak , Just as
you used to do at Oastlo Thrlevo , and
said : 'No , not a llttlo .bit. Margaret nnd
I were quite happy together. We hoped
you would not come back at all this night ,
for then wo could tiav elopt together. '
Maud Lindesay drew a long soft breath
nnd looked out of the window ot the White
tower into the dark.
"That Is a sweet dre-am , " she murmured.
"Ah ! nould that It were true and that
Sholto I"
She broke off short again , for the maid
clapped her hands gleefully. "You said It !
You said it ! " she cried. "You called him
Sholto. Now I know , and I nm po glad , for
he Is nearly as good to play with as you.
And I shall not mind him a bit ! "
She broke off short in her turn , oeolng
something In her friend's face.
"Why arc you suddenly grown so , eacl ,
Maudle 7" she asked.
"It came to mo , dear JIargnret , " said
Maud , " how ithat we are but two helpless
maids In a dreadful place without a friend.
Let us say a prayer to God to keep us. "
Then Margaret Douglas turned and knelt
with her face to the pillow and her small
U nds clasped la front of her.
"Lend me your allver cross , " she said.
"I lent the little gold one that was Wil
liam's to the Lady Sybllle , and she bath not
given it back again. "
Maud returned her the crosa and she took
it and held U in Hie palm .of her hands ,
looking IOIIK at It. Then she repeated ono
by one the children' ! ! orisons she had been
taught and after that she made a llttlo
prayer of her own. This Is the prayer :
"Lord ot mercy , bi > good to two malda
who are lonely nnd weak , nnd shut up In this
place ot ovll men , Keep our lives and our
eouls and our bodies from barm. Make us
not afraid of the dark or of the devil. For
Thou art the stronger. And do. not forget
to be near us this night , for wo have no
other friend , nnd sorely do wo need one to
love nnd deliver us. Amen. "
It was true. More bitterly than any two
in the whole world these maidens needed a
friend nt that moment. Tor scarcely had the
childish accents been lost In the night
ellenco when the outer door Of the white
tower was thrown open to the wall and on
the steps of the turret stairs they heard the
nolso of men coming upward to their prison
room.
Hut nrst. though the Inner door of their
chamber \\as locked within , the bolts glided
back apparently ot their own accord , It
opened and the hideous face of La Meffrayo
looked in upon them with a cackle of lltnd-
ish laughter.
"Come , sweet maidens , " slio cried glee
fully , .IB tha frightened girls -clasped each
other closer upon the bed , "come away. Tlio
Marshal de Rctz calls for you. Ho hath
need of your beauty to grace his feast. The
lights of the banquet burn In his hall , See
the light fihlno out upon the night. The
very trees are red with It. The skies nro
red. All Is red. Come up make your-
si'lvrH fair for the eyes of the great lord to
behold ! "
Then behind La Meffrayo entered allies
de Klllc and Foltou , the marshal's servants.
" .Make ready in baste you are both to go
Instantly before my lord , nho abides your
coming ! " said Gllles do Sllle , "I'oltou and
I will wait without the door and La Meffrayo
hero shall be your tirewoman and sco that
you have that which you need , nut hasten ,
for ray lord cannot bo- kept waiting ! "
* *
So they brought the Scottish maidens
do\\n from the White tower Into tbo night.
They vsallied hand In hand , Their steps
did not falter , and as they went thpy prayed
to God to keep them from the dangers of the
night , Abiunc , the she wolf , who must have
kept guard beneath , stalked before them ,
und behind them tlic-j- seemed to bear the
hobbling crutch and cackling laughter of La
Mcffraye.
Acrosa tlie wide courtyard they went , It
them. After the first check In his hideous
Incantations Gillcs do netz had returned to
his own chamber. In which , after his exit ,
the light gleamed brighter and more fiercely
red than ever. As the maidens stood on the
marble square La Meffrayo went to the door
and called por.taln words within , some
message which Laurence could not hear.
Then , with .an assured carriage and
haughty stride , came forth the marshal , his
gray hair and blue-black beard In strons
contrast with his haggard , corpsc-llko face ,
from which the momentary glow ot youth
half-restored had already faded , as fades a
footprint upon w t sand.
Gllles do Slllc and Toltou towed silently
before him ns men who have- done their
commissions and who retire to await fur
ther orders. But La Meffrayo stood her
ground.
"Here nre tbo dainty maids from the far
land ; no beggars' brats are they. Noetrnya
and pickings fiom tbo streets no , nor yet
silly village innocents who follow La
Meffraye from the play fields through the
woodlands to the paradise of our Lord
Olllcs ! Hasten not the Joy ! Let tbeso
pearls ot youth and bcauteousncss die in
deed , but let tbem'dle slowly and deliclously.
And in the last blood of an ancient race lot
our master bathe and llnd tbo new life ho
seeks. Hear us , O Barran-Sathanns , and
grant our prayer ! "
Then La Meffrayo approached the maids
and would have touched the dress of the
little Margaret , as if to order It more
daintily for the pleasing of her master's
eye. I3ut Maud Llndesay thrust her aside
like an unclean thing.
Whereat Lo Meffrayo laughed till her
ruaty black cloak quivered and rustled ,
"Ah , my proud lady , she- said , "In a
little , In a very little , you , lee , will bo
calling upon La Meffrayo to save you , to
pity you , nut I , La Meffraye , will gloat
over each drop of blood that distills from
your white neck. Aba , you shall change
your -tone when at the white throat upple ,
vhlch your sweetheart would have loved to
kUu , you feel the bite of the sharp , slow
knife. Then , you will not thrust aside La
Meffraye. Then you shall cry and none eball
pity. Then she will spurn you from her
knees. "
"Out ! " said Gllles de Uetz , briefly , and
llko Eome Inferior Imping devllkin before tlio
great master of-evil , La Meffrayo retreated ,
hobbling to the doorway of the marshal's
chamber , where ebo crouched , nodding and
chuckling and mumbling Inaudible words ,
mingling them ever with ber dry , cackling
laujhtcr.
Gllles de Iletz stopped at the corner ol
the platform and looked long at Maud and
Margaret , where they stood on the great
central square of marble. U was the little
maid who spoke first.
"Dear'messlre " and almost
, she said , sweetly
most confidently , "you have a llttlo girl ot
your own. I know , for I have played with
her. I love her. Therefore you will not
hurt us , 1 am euro you will not hurt us.
You are going to send us bak In a ship to
our own country , because it Is lonely here ,
where Maud and I know no one ! "
Tbo marshal smiled upon ber bis Inscru
table , inhuman * mll # . Iff leaned ftgnlnst *
pillar of strangely twisted design nnd con-
tcmpltled tha two victims at his case.
"L-lfe 1 sweet < o yon , Is It not ? " ho Bald
t lant. "You arc truly happy , being young ,
nnd have no need to bo rnado young ngnln. "
"O , but I amvery old , " said the maid ,
gaining some confidence from tht > quiet of
his \olce. " 1 am nearly & years old. And
our Maudle here , ehp Is 0 , n dreadful ago !
She Is very , very old. "
"You would not like to < Ho ? " suggested
Olllcs do Uetz , with n certain soft Insinua
tion.
" 0 , no , " said Margaret Doiiglns. "t nm
Kolng to llv * long nnd long till < > vcryono
in the world loves mo. I nm going to help
everyone to get what they most desire , And
you know I can , for I shall bo Aery rich.
And If what they say Is true , nnd I nm
Princess of Galloway , 1 shall marry nnd be
a very great lady. 13ut I slull never ninrry
anyone who la not n Douglas. "
The marshal ntxlded.
" 1 lo not think that you shall marry anyone
one- who d not n Douglas. " 1" > * aW. with a
certain grave nnd not discourteous irony In
his tones.
"Yes , " the Imlc mnld went on. She hud
lost rtll fear In nhc very act of speech.
"Yes. nnd Maud is going l marry Sholto
and they will bo so happy , for they love
each oilier so. 1 know 11 , for she told mo so
tonight , just before you sent for us to come
to your feast. That was kind of you to
remember s , though It wns past bedtime.
But now , good marshal , 3-011 will semi UB
back , will you not ? Now , look kind to
night. You will bo Rind nfterwnrd that you
were good lo two maids who never harmed
you , but would bo ready to love you ifou
were kind to them. "
"Hush , Margaret , " said Mnud I.lndesay.
"It Is use-less to epcnk such words to such
a man. "
The Marshal do note turned sharply to
ber.
ber."Ah
"Ah , he said , with n curious bite In his
words , "then , my young lady , you would
not love me , even It I should lot you go ! "
"I should halo and abominate you for ever
nndvcr even If > ou helped mo into Para-
disc ! " quoth Mnud Llndcsay , giving him
defiance in n full cyo volley.
"So , " ho said calmly , "I am Indeed likely
to help you Into Paradise this very night.
Tha.1 is , unlesa St. Peter ot the keys makes
up his mind that so outspoken and trlck-
Bomo a maid had best take a few thousand
years ot purgatory as it were , on passant ! "
A sudden lowering passion at this point
altered his countcnnncc.
"No , " ho thundered , standing up erect
from the pillar against which ho had been
loamlng , and his whole voice and bearing
changing past description. "Jt Is enough
listen ! I will bo brief with you. I have
brought both of you hero that you may die.
r cannot expect of you that you will under
stand or appreciate my motives , which are
Indeed above the knowledge of children.
This Is a temple to a. great god , and ho de
mands the sacrifice of the noblest and most
innocent blood. I do you the honor to bo-
llcvo that It Is here "to my hand. Also , your
deaths will cause a number of people , both
la Scotland and elsewhere sit easier In
their seats. Lastly , I had sworn that you
should die it your friends from Scotland
came to trouble me. They have come , and
Gllles do Retz keeps his word as doth the
great master whl'th he scrveth ! "
Ho bowed In the direction of the vast
shadowy figure , which to Laurence's eye
appeared to turn toward his nlcho with a
leer , as If to say , "Listen to hlml AVhal a
fool he Is ! "
The- maids stood silent , not comprehending
aught save that they were to die. Then sud
denly Gillcs do Retz cried out In his loudest
military tones , "Henrlet , I'oltou , De Slllc ,
bind these maidens upon the Iron altar that
Barran-Sathanas may feed his eyes on their
beauty and rejoice ! "
And as they stood motionless upon the
equare ot white marble , the servitors came
forward and led them , to the great altar ot
Iron. They lifted the maidens up and laid
their bodies crosswise upon the vast grid ,
the bars of which wore as thick a& a man's
arm , arranging them BO that their heads
hung without support over tbo bar nest the
shadowy .Image.
As they bound them rudely hand nnd foot
the long and beautiful hair of Maud Llnde
say escaped from Its fastenings and fell
down till It reached the great bath ot red
porphyry which extended underneath the
whole length of the altar of Iron.
Then through all the Temple of Evil
there ensued nllence. Not n sob or n moan
escaped from the doomed maidens , and the
feet of the assistants fell silent and soft as
the paws of wild beasts upon the ebon door.
( To bo Continued. )
OUT OF TIII2 OIIDINAIIT.
Malleable glaea Is now used In fill decayed
teeth.
Earthenware sleepers are In use on some
of the Japanese railroads.
Several New York bakers were fined $2fl
each for violating the sanitary bakcshop
laws.
Slnco the Introduction of pneumatic rub
ber tires on the London cabs many of tbo
cab horses wear large Swiss cowbells on
their necks ,
In accordance with the terms ot his will
Reuben J. Smith , who died nt Amo-sbury ,
Mass. , recently. Is > to bo burled In a
tomb recently completed , the body bolng
placed In a chair In a sitting position , the
dear of the tomb being tbon locked and the
key destroyed.
The boatwomcn of China , have no need to
agitate for women's rights they possess
them , The boatwomau , whether uho be a
single woman or n wlfo or a widow , Is the
head of the house that Is to say , of the
boat. If s'he is married the husband takes
the useful but subordinate place of deck
hand or bow oarsman , She does the steer
ing , makea bargains with the passengers ,
collects the money , buys supplies and In
ganornl lords It over everything.
Docs anyone know tbo origin of the super-
stlllon that attaches to the singing of the
cricket on the health the continuance ot
"good luck" t the bouecbold ? Perhaps It
has traveled to us all the way from Japan ,
touching England onthe way , for Lafcadlo
Hcarn In his "Exotics nnd Retrospective"
tells us wonderful -and entertaining- things
of how for generations the Jauaneso bav
made n custom of keeping singing insects In
tbo houso. To them thcso Inflects nro what
the linnet , the thrush , the canary bird or
the nightingale orn to other nations that
have yet no much to learn from Japan.
The fear of being b-.irlrd nllvo Iminta
many people , and whllo authenticated cases
of such burial tire few. It d'-cs ' liappen and
there are sometimes occasionally narrow ea-
capcs. A bill line been introduced Into the
Now York legislature requiring that In ccm-
dtertes where there are wore than 100
burials a yrnr mortuaries bo established
where bodies may bo kept untlj there are
unmistakable signs ot docay. Germany has
a ulrnllar law and action of the Bamo nature
Is being urged ID England , The clmnces of
premature burial are , of course , exceedingly
slight , but u supposed cuso was reported a
few dnya slnco from Wisconsin. A womnn ,
who supposedly died u week or more ago
at Marion , 0. , has not been burled yet because -
cause of the failure of fho body to ehow tbo
full evidences of death. A young man at
Slurgecn nay , Wls. , wlio wns thought to bo
ihuil , was being washed by tbo qudcrtakcr
wlu n ho suddenly came to life ,
Absolute purity is the
chief ornament of this
fame-crowned beer ,
VAL.BLATZ BREWING Co.
MILWAUKEE , U.S.A.
Per Sale by Foley Bros. , Wholesale
Dealers , 1412 Douglas Street Omaha ,
Neb , Tel. 1001
r
TONY VASTOU
Has a Few Words to Say About "Hyoraoi. "
It will pay you to road the opinion of
this well known actor nnd manager regard *
IHR the New Treatment for discuses of tlio
respiratory organs.
Nuw Youic CITY ,
Sept. 20 , 1807.
R. T. BOOTH CO.
DKAK SIRS One may live
without "Hyomei , " but ono
cannot live truly happy with
out it. So far as ] know , it
IB the only remedy that posi
tively cures catarrh and' kin
dred diseases and prevents
colds. It has been invaluable
to me , for in my work much
depends on my freedom from
colds.
Did you ever notice that , In spite of nil
the wonderful claims made by Catarrh
specialists and manufacturers , not ono of
them dare guarantee thplr treatment ? "HY-
OMI3" IS GUARANTEED because It t
acknowledged by the physicians to bo the
only known euro for Catarrh , Uronchltls
and Consumption.
U H guaranteed beoauso wo do not wish
to tnko your money unless It does cure.
Send for folder nnd "Story of llyomel. "
Price : Triul Outfit , 25c ; Regular
Outfits , $1,00 ; Extra IJottlos , 50c.
Ilyoniui Bulin. 2nc , Ilyomci Guar
anteed Dyspepsia Cure , 50c. All
druggists , or sent by ninll.
THE 11. T. I100TII CO. ,
Auditorium Building , Chicago.
DR. CHARCOT'S TONIC TABLETS
ciothi ) only positive ! ? Rimranlreil remtdjjor th
mink Ham. Kervoiuncss nna Jlellncbolj caused
by ntonif drink.
WK trAHANTEK FOUR HOXKB
to cure any case with n positive wrl 11 rji gnar-
nntcc or let mil th money , nlnl lo destrbf the
oi-rotlto - for Intoxicating liquors.
TUG TAOI.ETS CAN RF GIVEN WITHOUT
KNOWLEDfiB OF THE PATIENT.
iirr.r. ovcry
or .lnNuiKl JUrutli. Unoa ICC4ID5
H lO.OOwni\lllnull joiifotirUJ boxes nnclro- !
tlrovrli n ctiMrniitri * lo cure or reliiad
lourinoncj. anch l.oiigsno .
nfcycrn , Dillon DI-IIK Co , , Sole Aircntf
Kith nnd Farntiiu. Oiuiilin. Xch.
A safe and poncrful remedy for functional
troubles , delay , pain , and irregularities , is' '
Successfully prt crll > fil hy the lilglictt tledlcal
ipccUIIiK. rrire i.oofnr9 cap ule . Bnldliyall
Jnif lui , or I'ou tree. } ' , ( J. Hex o8i , N , V.
II All IT. A ncn punrnnteed
nalnloKii and safe Eome cure.
Wholly different from nil
otliora. J'oiltlvelyno Interference with work
orbutlnoHS. Bond for Prcfc Ho in pi o imd book.
Dr. Purdy , O. llluz DldR. , Houilou. Tanas.
Patronize
Home Industries
fly PiircliimlMK tinoilN Mnilo at the FoU
Knctorlc * !
FLO UK MILLS.
ii. l < \ til 1,31 AN.
Flour , Meal , Feed. Bran , 1013-15-17 North
17th street , Omaha , NOD. 0. H. Ole X
Manager. Telephone 592.
IKON WORKS ,
DAVIS A COWUU.lv , IKON WOIIKS.
Irun anil nrumi Koiiudcri.
Manufacturers and Jobbers of Machinery.
General repairing a cpectalty. 1D01 , 1C03
and 1&05 Jackson street , Omaba , Neb.
L1NBBKD OIL.
WOODMAN I.I.VHKI3I ) OH , AVOHKS ,
Manufacturer ! ) old process raw llnieed
oil , kettle boiled linseed oil , old proccta
ground Unseed cakes , around and screened
llaisued for drueKl U. OMAHA. N151J.
OMAHA llltl'nV I NO ASSOOIATIO.V.
Carload shipments made in our own re.
frL'erator care. Blue Hlbbon , 1C 11 to Export ,
Vienna Export and Family Export deliv
ered ti all parts of tbo city ,
\
BO1LKIIB.
O8IAIIA IIOII.IIH AVOHKS.
JOHN It. : .nWni3Y. Prop ,
Boiler * . Tanku and Bboot Iron Work.