TO TJJL.E OMAHA DA11/Y J3EE : SUNDAY , OCTOBER 23 , 1808.
( Copyright , HOS , by S. R. Crockett. )
CHAI'TUIl V.
Tlio AVItrh Wiiiiinn ,
One waa Mallse , the smith , towering like
A giant. Ills bands rested on the hilt of a
mighty sword , whoso blada sparkled In the
lamplight ns If the master armorer bad
drawn It that moment from the midst of
his charcoal flrc.
A llttlo In front of Maliso thcro stood an
other figure , less Imposing lu physical pro
portions , but Infinitely more striking In ap *
pare ) . The second was a mau of tall and
spare frame , of a countenance grave and
novero , yet with a certain kindly power
latent In It also. Ho waa dressed lu the
white robe of a Christian , with the black
Bcapulary of the order. On his head was
the mltro and In bis band the staff of the
abbot ot a great establishment which ho
wears when ho goes visiting his subsidiary
bouses. Moro remarkable than all was the
monk's likeness to the young man who now
stood bcforo him with an expression of In
dignant surprise on his face , which slowly
merged Into anger as ho understood why the
two men were there.
It was the Abbot William Douglas , the
head of the great abbey of Dulco Corupou
Solwny side.
This was ho who , being the eon and heir
of the brother of the first duke of Touralne ,
had In Iho flower ot his age suddenly re
nounced his domains of Nlthsdale , that ho
might take holy orders , and who had ever
slnco been renowned for high sanctity and
a multitude ! of good works ,
The pair stood looking toward the woman
nnd William Douglas , without speech , a kind
of grim patience upon tholr faces.
It was tbo carl who was the first to
speak ,
"What seek you hero BO laic , my Lord
Abbot ? " be said with all the haughtiness ot
the unquestioned head ot his mighty house.
"Nay , what seeks the Karl William here
alone so late ? " answered the abbot with
equal directness.
The two racta stood fronting each , other.
Mallse leaned upon his two-handed sword
nnd gazed upon the ground.
"I have como , " the abbot went on after
vainly waiting for the young earl to offer
an explanation , " as your kinsman , tutor
and councilor to warn you against this for
eign witch woman. What seeks she here In
this land of Galloway but to do hurt ? We
have heard her with our own cars almost
persuade you to accompany her to Edin
burgh , which Is a city filled with the power
and deadly Intent of your enemies. "
Earl William bowed Ironically to his
undo and his eye glittered ns It fell upon
Mallso MacKlm.
"I thank you , uncle , " ho said , "I nm
deeply Indebted for your so great interest.
I thank you , too , Mallae , for bringing about
this timely interference. I will pay my
debts ono day. In the meantime your duty
Is doffe , Depart , both of you , I command
youl"
Outsldo the thunder had begun to growl
in the distance. An extraordinary oppres
sion had slowly lllled the air. The lamps
swinging on the pavilion rooftrco flickered
and flared , alternately rising and sinking
llko the llfo In the eyes of a dying man.
And the while the lady sat still on the
couch with an expression of amused con
tempt on her face. But now she rose to
her feet.
"And I also ask , In the name of the king
of Franco , by what right you intrude within
the precincts of a lady's bower ? I bid you
leave me ! "
She pointed imperiously with her white
hand to the black oblong doorway from
which Mallso's rude hand had dragged the
covering flap to the ground.
But the churchman and his guide stood
their ground.
Suddenly the abbot reached a haml nnd
took the sword on which his master armorer
leaned. With its point ho drew a wide circle
upon the rich carpets which formed the floor
of the pavilion.
"William Douglas , " bo eald , "I command
you coma within this circle , while In the
right of my holy office I exercise that demon
there who hath so nearly beguiled you to
your ruin. "
The lady laughed a rich , ringing laugh.
"Thcso are Imlced high heroics for so plain
und poor an occasion. I need not to utter a
word of explanation. I am a lady traveling
peaceably under escort of an ambassador ot
France , through a Christian country. By
chance I met the Earl Douglas and invited
him to sup. What concern , spiritual or
temporal , may that b of yours , my Lord
Abbot ? Who made you my lord earl's
keeper ? "
"Woman or demon from the pit , " said the
abbot , sternly , "think not to deceive Wil
liam Douglas , the aged , as you have cast
the glamor over William Douglas , the boy ,
The lust ot the flesh abldoth no more for
ever In thla frail tabernacle. I bid theo lei
the lad go , for ho is dear to mo as mine owe
Boul. ' Let him go , I oay , ere I curse thet
with the curse of God Almighty ! "
Tbo lady continued to smile , standing
meantime , slender and fair , before them ,
her bosom heaving a llttlo with emotion
nd her fair hair rippling in red gold con
fusion down her back.
"Certainly my lord carl came not upor
compulsion. Ho Is free to return with you
If ho bo yet under tutors nnd governors
or afraid of the master's stripes. Go , Ear :
William ; I made a mistake. I thought yoi
had been a man. But I bid you go back tt
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the monk's chapter house to clerkly copies
and childish toys. "
Then black and sullen anger glared from
the eyes of the Douglas.
"Get hence ! " ho cried , "hence , both of
you you , William , ere I forget your holy
office nnd your kinship you , Mallse , that I
may settle with tomorrow ere the sun sets.
I swear It by my word as a Douglas. I will
never forgive either of you for Ibis night's
work ! "
The fair white band was laid upon his
wrist.
"Nay , " said the lady , "do not quarrel
Jwlth , those you love for my poor sake. I
am llttlo worth the trouble. Go back with
them In peace and forget her who sat by
your side an hour. "
"Nay , " ho cried , "that I will not. I will
show them that I am old enough to choose
my company for myself. Who la my undo
that ho should dictate to mo that cm an
earl of Douglas nnd a peer ot France or my
servant , that he should como forth to spy
upon his master. "
"Then , " she whispered , smiling , "you
will Indeed abide with mo ? "
Hej gave her his hand ,
"I will nbldo with you till death ! Body
and soul I nm yours alone ! "
"By the holy cross of our Lord , that
shall you not ! " cried Mallse , "not though
you hang mo high as Hainan for this ere
the morrow's morn ! "
And with these words ho sprang forward
and caught his master bythe wrist. With
ono strong pull of hla mighty arm he
dragged him within the circle which the
abbot had/ made with the sword's point
The lady seemed to change color. At
that moment a gust of wind caused the
lamps to flicker , nnd the outlines of her
whlto-robed figure Eccmcd to waver like
an Imago In water.
"I adjure and command you In the name
of God , the one and omnipotent , to depart
to your place , spirit or devil , or whatever
you may be ! "
The voice of the abbot rose high above
the roaring of the bursting storm without.
The woman seemed to reach nn arm across
the circle , ns If oven yet to take hold of the
young man. The abbot thrust forward his
crucifix.
And then the bolt of God feir. The whole
cavlllon was Illuminated with a flash of light
so Intense and white that It seemed to blind
nnd burn up all about. The woman was seen
no more. The silken covering blazed up.
Mallse plunged outward Into the darkness of
the storm , carrying his young master lightly
na a child In bis arms , while 1ho abbot kept
his feet behind him like a boat In a ship's
wako. The thunder roared overhead like
the sea bellowing In a cave's mouth , and the
croat Dines bent their heads away from the
mighty wind , straining and creaking and
lashing each other In fury.
Mallso and the abbot seemed to hear about
them the plunging of riderless horses as they
stumbled downward through the u ght , their
uath lit by lightning flashes , green and lilac
and blue , and bearing between -hem the
senseless form of William , carl of Doug
las.
CHAPTER VI.
Th1'oUoiilne of MnllHc , the Smith ,
Thcso things material to the llfo and history -
tory of William , elxth earl of Douglas , are
not written from hearsay , but are chronicled
within the lifetime by one who saw them
and had part therein though the part was
hut a boy's one. Ills manuscript has como
clown to us and lies before the transcriber ,
Sholto MacKlm , the son of Mallse , the smith ,
testifies to these things In his own clerkly
script. Ho adds particularly that his brother
Lawrence , being at the tlrao but a boy , had
llttlo knowledge of the actual facts , and IB
not to be believed , If at any time he should
controvert anything which ho has written ,
So far , however , as the present collector and
editor can find out , Lawrence MacKlm ap-
nears < to have been entirely sltent on the
subject , at least with hie pen , so that his
brother's caveat was needless.
* * *
Tho'lnstant Lord William entered his owr
castle of Thrleve over the drawbridge and
without oven returning the salutations ot his
guard , ho turned about to the two men whc
had compelled his return.
"Ho , guard , there ! " be cried. "Seize me
the abbot of the now abbey and Mallse Mac
Klm. "
And much surprised , but wholly obedient ,
twenty archers of the carl's guard , com
manded by old John of Aborncthy , callec
Landless Jock , fell In at back and front.
Mallse. the master armorer , Blood silent
taking the matter with usual phlegm ; but
tbo abbot was voluble.
"William. " ho said , herding out his hand ;
with an appealing gesture , "I have labored
with you , striven with , prayed for you. To *
night I came forth through the storm , am
that though an old man , to deliver you Iron :
the manifest snares of the devil "
But the carl Interrupted bis recital without -
out compunction.
"Set Mallso MacKIn In the inner dungeon , '
ho cried. "Thrust his feet Into tbo greai
stocks and let my lord abbot bo wardec
safely In the castle chapel. He Is little
likely to bo disturbed there at his devo'
tlons. "
"Aye , my lord , It BhaH bo done ! " sali
Landless Jock , shaking his head with gloom )
foreboding as the haughty young earl In hi :
wet and torn disarray flashed past hln
without further notice of the men whom hli
bare word had committed to prison. Thi
carl aprang up the narrow turret stair , pass'
ing as ho did BO , the vaulted hall of thi
men-at-arms , where moro than a hundrec
stout archers and spcarsmen sat carouslnj
and sinning , even at that advanced hour o
the night , while as many moro lay abou
the halls , or on the wooden shelves wblcl
they used for sleeping upon , and whlcl
folded back against the wall during tbo day
At the first cllmpse of their young masto
every man left awake among them struggle !
to his feet and stood stlflly propped , drunl
or sober , according to his condition , with hi ;
eves turned upon the door which gave upoi
the turnpike stair. But with a siright an
ewerlng wave of his hand the earl passec
on to his own apartment.
Ho found his faithful body servant , Ren <
lo Blesols , stretched across the threshold
The stanch Frenchman rose mechanically a
thn sound of his master's footsteps , and
though still soundly asleep , ho stood will
the latch of the door In bis hand and hi
other hold to his brow In salutation.
Lord William Douglas would doubtlea
have cast himself , wet as ho was , upon hi
bed had not Lo Blesols , observing his lord' '
plight even in his own sleep-dulled condl
tlon , entered the chamber after his mantel
acd , without question , or speech , allentl
began to relieve him of his wet huntln
dress. A loooso chamber gown of rich re
cloth , lined with Bilk and furred wit
"crlsty" gray , hung over the back of a blac
oaken chair , and Into this the young eai
flung himself in black and sullen anger.
Lo Blcsols , still without a word spokei
left the room with the vret clothes over fal
arm. As ho did fo a small object roll ?
from gomo fold or crcvlco ot the doublet , ,
where It had been safely lodged till dis
placed by tbo loosening ot the belt or the
removing of the banderole of his hunting
horn.
Lo Blcaols turned at the tlkllng sound
nnd would have stooped to lift It after the
tr.anncr of a careful servitor. But the cyo
of his master was upon the fallen object ,
and with an abrupt wave ot his hand toward
the door , and the ainglc word "Go , " ho dis
missed bis body servant from the room.
Then , rising hastily from hla bed he took
the trinket In his band nnd carried It to the
well-trimmed lamp which stood In the nlcho
that held a golden crucifix.
The Lord Douglas saw in his palm a ring
of singular design. Tho.main portion was
formed of the twisting bodies of a pair of
snakes , the Jewel work very cunningly In
terlaced and perfectly finished. Their eyes
were eet with rubles , and between their , open
mouths they held an opal , shaped llko a
heart The stone was translucent and
faintly luminous llko a moonstone , but held
In Its heart one fleck of ruby red In shape
llko a drop of blood. By some curious trick
of light In whatever position the ring was
icld this drop still appeared to be on the
point of detachlngltsclt nud falling to the
; round.
Earl William examined It lu the flicker
of the lamp. Ho turned It every way , nar
rowly searching Inside the golden band fern
n ipoay , but not a word of any language
could he flnd engraved upon It
"I saw a ring upon her hand I am cer-
aln I saw It on her hand ! " he said these
words over and over to himself. "It Is then
no dream that 1 have dreamed. "
There came a low knocking at the door ,
a rustling and a whispering without. In
stantly the earl thrust the ring upon his
own finger with the opal turned Inward , and
with the dark anger mark of his race
strongly dinted upon his fair brow , ho faced
ho unseen Intruder.
Angus had ever any goodwill to my father ,
and they have none to me , "
"Ah , do not be angry , William , " cried
the llttlo maid , "It will bo beautiful. They
wilt como at a fitting time. For tomorrow
U the great levy and the weapon-showing
and our cousins will see you In your pride.
And they wilt eca me , too , In my best green
sarclnct , riding on a white palfrey at your
side as you promised. "
"A weapon-showing Is not a place for
llttlo girls ! " eald tbo earl , mollified In splto
of himself , casting himself down again on
the couch and playing with the serpent ring
on his flnccr. I
"Ah , now , " cried bis sister , her quick eye
dancing everywhere at once , "you are not
attending to a single word I say. I know
by your voice that you are not. That Is a
pretty ring. Did a lady give It to you ?
Was It our Maud's ? I think It must Imvo
been our Maud. She has many beautiful
things , but mostly it Is the young men who
como hero who wish to give her such things ,
She never gives any of them away , but
keeps them In a box , and Bays It Is good
to spoil the Egyptians. And when I am
tired she will tell me the history of each
and whether he was dark or fair. Or make
It nil up Just as good If she forgets. But
O , William , If I were a lady , I should fall
In love with nobody but you. For you arose
so handsome yea , nearly ns handsome as I
am myself ( she passed her hands lightly
through her curls as she spoke ) . And you
know I shall marry no one but a Douglas-
only you must not ask mo to marry my
cousin William of Avondalc , for ho is so
stern and solemn , besides he has always a
book In his pocket nnd wishes mo to learn
somewhat , as if 1 were a monk ! A Doug
las should not be a monk ; he should bo a
soldier. "
So she lay nnd prattled on to her brother ,
who , burled In bis thoughts and occupied
with his ring , let the hours slip on till at
the open door of the carl's chamber thcro
appeared the most bewitching face In the
"WILLIAM DOUGLAS. I COMMAND YOU COME "
"Who Is there ? " he cried loudly and im
periously.
The door opened with a rasping of tbo
Iron pin , and a little girlish figure clothed
from head to foot ! In a white night veil
danced in. She clapped her hands at sight
of him.
"You are como back , " she cried , "and
you have so fine a gown on , too. But Maud
Llndesay says it Is very wrong to sit up
BO late , even if you are Earl of Douglas and
a great man now. Will you never play at
catch-ns-catch-can * with David and. mo
any more ? "
"Margaret ) , " said the young earl , "what
do you want away from your chamber at
all. Our mother will miss you and I do not
want her here tonight Go back at once ! "
But the llttlo wilful maiden , catching her
skirts in her hands at ) each side , and raising
them a llttlo way from tbo ground , began to
dance a dainty pas seul , ending with t. flashIng -
Ing whirl and a low bow in the direction
of her audience.
William Douglas could not choose but
laugh , and soon sat down on the bed , setting
his clasped hands behind his dead and con
tenting himself with looking at ) his little
sister.
Though at that time but S years of age ,
Margaret do Douglas was possessed of
such extraordinary vitality and character
that she seemed more like II. She had the
clear-cut , handsome Douglas face , the pale ,
olive skin , the flashing dark eyes and the
crisp blue black hair of her mother. A
lithe grace and quickness like that ot a
beautiful wild animal was characteristic of
every movement.
"Our mother hath been anxious about
you , brother mine , " Bald the lli'tle girl ,
tiring suddenly of her dance and leaping
upon the other end of the couch on
which her brother was lying. Establishing
herself opposite him , she pulled the coverlet
up about her so that presently only her face
could be seen peeping out from under the
silken , folds.
"O , I was so cold , but I am warmer now.
And if maid Betsy Ahannay cornea to take
mo away I want you to stretch out your
band like this and say , 'Seneschal , remove
that bosom to the deep dungeon beneath
the castle moat , ' as wo used to do in our
plays before you became a great man.
"Then I could stay very long and talk
fjo you oil the night , for Maud Llndesay
sleeps so sound that nothing can awake
her. "
Gradually the anger passed out of the
face of William Douglas , as he listened to
bis slater's prattle , like the vapors from
the surface of a hill tarn when tbo sun rises
In his strength.
Ho oven thought iwlth some self-reproach
of his treatment ot Mallse and his uncle ,
the abbot But a glance at the ring on
his finger , and the thought of what might
have been his good fortune at that moment
but for their Interference , hardened his reso
lution again to adamant within bis breast.
His sister's voice , clear and high In Us
childish treble , recalled him to himself.
" 0 , William , and there Is such news I
forgot because I have been to overbusled
with arranging my now puppet's house that
Mallse made me. But scarcely were you
gone on Black Darnaway ere a messenger
came from our granduncle James at Avondale -
dale , that ho and my cousins , Will and
Jamea , will b tomorrow at the Thrleve
with a company to attend the Wappea-
Bhawl"
The young man sprang to his feet and
dashed one hand Into the plam of the
other.
"This Is ill tidings , Indeed , " ha cried ,
"what does 'the fat flatterer at the castle
of Thrleve ? If he comes to pay homage , it
will bo but a mockery. Neither be nor
world , as many In that castle wera ready
to prove at the sword's point. The little
girl caught sight of it with a shrill cry ol
pleasure , Instantly checked and hushed
however , at the thought of her mother.
"O. Maudle , " she cried , "como hither Intc
William's room. Ho has such a beautiful
ring that a woman gave him. I am sure a
woman gave It to him. Was it you , Maud
Llndesay ? You are a sly puss not to tell
me If it was. William , it is wicked of you
not to tell me who gave you that ring. II
tt had been some one you were not ashamed
of you would be proud ot It , and tell. Whts-
nor to mo who It was. 1 will not tell nnj
one. not even Maudle. "
Her brother had Tlsen to his feet , -will
a quick movement girding his red gowr
about him as he rose.
"Mistress Maud , " ho said , respectfully ,
"I fear I have given you anxiety by detain
ing your charge so lato. But she Is a willful
madam , and ill to advise. "
"She Is a Douglas , " smiled the fair maid ,
who stood at the chamber door , refusing hi :
invitation to enter with a flash of the eyt
and a Quick shake of the head , which be
tokened no small share of the family quali
ties. "Is not that enough to excuse her foi
being wayward and headstrong ? "
Earl William wasted no more words of en
treaty upon his sister , but seized her in hit
arms , and , pulling the coverlet In wfolch she
bad huddled herself up , with her pert chit
on her knees , moro closely about her , he
strode along the passage with her In hi :
arms , till he stopped at an open door leading
Into a largo chamber which looked to the
south. '
"There. " he said , smiling at the girl whe
had followed behind him , "I wilt lock her It
with you nnd take the key , that I may eafe
bind such uncertain charges. "
But the girl had deftly extracted the kej
oven as she passed In after him , and as the
holts shot from within , she cried , "I thanl
vou right courteously , Lord William , bu
mine- apothecary , fearing that the air ot thli
Isle ot Thrleve might not agree with me
hade me ever to sleep with the key of mj
door under my ulllow. Against fever ant
aulnsles. cold Iron Is a sovereign specific ! "
And solto of his wounded heart , Karl Wll
Ham smiled at the girl's sauclness as he wen
slowly back to his chamber , in spite of hli
earldom taking pains to pass Ills mother' :
door on tiptoe.
CHAPTER VII.
Tlio Douitlus Mauler.
The day of the great vreapon-Bhowlnt
Irroke fair and clear , after the storm of thi
night. The windows of heaven bad hat
nil their panes cleaned and even after broat
daylight the brighter stars uppeared , only
however , to wink out again when tbo But
arose and shone on the wet fields , rcjolclnt
like a bridegroom from his chamber.
And equally bright aud strong came fortl
the young earl , every trace of the anger an <
disappointment of the night having been re
movedfrom , his face If not from his mini
by the recreative and potent sleep of youtl
and health.
In the hall he called for Sir John of Aber
nethy , called Landless Jack.
"Conduct my uncle , the abbot , from th
chapel , where he has been all night at hi
devotions , to his chamber and furnish hln
with all he may requlre.and bring up Mallei
tbo smith from the dungeon. Let htm com
Into my presence In the upper hall. "
William Douglas went up Into a large oak
celled chamber , wide and high , running rlgh
across the castle from sldo to side , and will
windows looking every way over the broax
and fertile strath ot Deo.
Presently , with a trampling of mailed fee
and the double rattle which denoted thi
croundlnc of a nalr of steel-hllted partisan *
Mallso waii brought to the door by two men
ot the carl'A outer guard.
The hue * bulk ot Brawny Kim filled up
the doorway almost completely and he stood
watching tha Douglas with an unmoved
gravity which In tha dry wrinkles about his
eyes almost amounted to humor.
Yet It was Mallso who spoke .first For
at ills appearing the earl had turned his
back upon his retainer and now stood at the
window which lookt toward the north , from
which ho could almost sco over the broad
and placid stretches of the river the men
putting up the pavilions nnd striking spears
Into the ground to mark the space reserved
for the tourney of the next day. ,
"A fair good morrow to you , my lord , "
said the smith. "Grievous as my sin lias
been and Just as Is your resentment , give mo
leaveto say that I have suffered moro than
my deserts from the Ill-made chains and un
couth manacles wherewith they confined me
In the black dungeon down there. I trow ,
they must have been the workmanship of
Nlnlan Lnmont , tbo Hlghlandman , who
dares to call himself houscsralth of Thrlcve ,
I am ready to < lle , If it bo your will , my
lord , but If you are well advlacd you
will hang Nlnlan beside mo with a
iracplet ot his own vllllan handiwork about
his neck ! Then shall Justice be satisfied ,
and MaKso MacKlm will die happy ! "
The earl turned and looked at his ancient
friend. The wrinkles about the eyes were
deeply Ironical now , and the gray eyes of the
master armorer twinkled with appreciation
of his Jest.
"Mnllsc. " cried his master , warnlngly , "do
not play at oat's cradle with Douglas. You
might tempt me to that I might afterward
[ > o sorry for. A man once dead comes not to
llfo again , whatever the monks prate. But
tell mo how knew you whither I had gone
yesteroven ? For , Indeed , I knew not my-
iclf when I sot out. And , In any event , was
It a thing well done for my foster-father
to spy upon me , who am also his lord ? "
The anger was mostly gone now out of the
frank face ot the earl , and only humiliation
and resentment , with a touch of boyish
curiosity remained.
"Indeexl. " answered the smith , "I watched
you not save under my liand as you rode
away upon Black Darnaway , and then I
filmed rae to the scat by the wall to listen
Lo the questionings of Dame Barbara , the
bumming of the bees and the other comfort
able and composing sounds ot nature. "
"How. then , did you come to follow me In
the undesirable company of my uncle , the
abbot ? "
"For that you are In debt of my son Sholto ,
who. seeing a woman wait for you in the
crcenwood. climbed a tree , and there from
among the branches ho was a witness of
vour encounter. "
"So " said the Douglas , "It Is to Master
Sholto that I owe somewhat"
"Aye , " said his father , "do not forget him.
For ho is a good fad and a bold , as Indeed
he proved to the hilt yestreen ! "
"In what consisted his boldness ? " asked
the carl.
"In that he dared to como home to me
with a cock-and-bull story of a witch lady ,
who appeared suddenly where none bad
been a moment before , and who had Imme
diately bewitched my lord earl. Wcllnlgh
did I twist his neck , but ho stuck to It.
Then came riding by my Lord Abbott , and
I Judged that the matter , as one of witch-
crafi , was more his affair than mine. "
"Now , barken , " cried the carl , in tones
of high anger , "let there be no moro such
folly , or on your life be it The lady was
traveling with her companion through Gal
loway from France. She Invited me to
sup with her and dared mo to adventure
to Edinburgh in her company. Wherein
was Uho witchcraft of that , saving the witch
ery natural to all fair women ? "
"Did Bbo not prophesy to you that today
you would be duke of Touralno and receive
the ambassadors of tbe king ot France ? "
"Well , " said the earl , "where Is your wit
that you give car to such babblings ? Did
she not ! como here from that country , as I
tell you , and who should hear the latest
news more readily than she ? "
Tbo smith looked a llttlo nonplussed , but
stuck to it stoutly that none bat a witch-
woman would ride alone at night-fall upon
a Galloway moor , or unless by enchantment ,
set up a pavilion of silk and strange device
under tbo pines of Loch Koan.
"Well. " said Earl William , feeling his advantage -
vantage , and making the most of It , "I see
that In all my tittle love affairs I needs must
take my master-armorer with me to decide
whether or no the woman bo a witch. H
shall resolve for mo all spiritual questions
with his forehammer. Mallse MacKlm a
witch pricker ! Ha this Is a change In
deed. Mallse. the smith , the censor of his
lord's love affairs , after what certain com
rades of his have told me of his own love-
makings. Will ho deign to come to the wea
pon-showing today , nnd Instead of examin
ing the swords and halberts , the French ar-
halasts and German fusil's demit that pnrl
of his office to Nlnlan the Hlghlandman and
KO peering Into women's eyes for sorceries
and scanning their upper lips for the signs
of the devil , which lurk In the dltnplea ol
their chins. In this he will flnd much cm-
Dloyment and that of a congenial sortl"
Mallse was vanquished , less by the ear-
nnsm of tbe earl than by the fear that per
haps the Hlghlandman might Indeed have
his place of honor as chief expert at hli
master's right hand at the examination ol
weapons that day on the green helms o !
Balmaghle.
"I may have been overhasty , my lord , "
"UK PUT HIS THUMBS KNOWINGLY II
THE SASH. "
he said , "but Etlll do I think that tbo womai
was far from canny ! "
Tbo earf laughed , and , turning him abou
bv the shoulders , gave him a push down thi
Btalr , crying out : 0 , Malise , MalUe , havi
vou lived so long In tbe world without flnd
Ing out that a fair woman Is always un
canny ! "
Tbe levy that day of men owning fcalt :
to the Douglas was no hasty local one. 1
was not. Indeed , a "rUIng of the country' '
Bide , " such as took place when the Engllsl
were over tbe border and the beacon flrei
wore thrown west from Crltfel to Screel
from Screcl to Cairnharrow , and then toesec
11 northward by the three Calrnsmulra and top
I moet Merrlck far over tbe uplands of Kyle
on the sullen brow of Brown Carrlcl
the bale fire set tbe town drum of Ajr beat'
i Ins ita alarming note. Still , It wau a da ]
I on which overr Douglas vassal must ride Ir
mall , with all bis spears behind blm , or bldi
t at home and take tbe consequences.
) j All the night from distant parishes ant
' oiillvlnv vallevs mon-at-nrm * bail t * n rM.
Ing , clothed in complete panoply ot mall.
These were the knights barons , freeholder *
owning allegiance and duty to tlio house of
Douglas. Kach lord was followed by ap
pointed tall of eaqtilres nnd men-at-arms ;
behind these dense clusters of heavily
armed spearmen marched steadily along the
easiest paths by the waterside and over the
lower hill passes. Light running footmen
slung their swords over their backs by
catheru bandoliers and pricked It briskly
over tbo bent BO browu , Archora thcro
were from the border toward tlio Sol'
way sldo , lithe men accustomed to leap from
tussock to tuft of shaking grass , whose long
strides aud odd spasmodic sldo nn tlons be *
rayed , on tbe plain and unyielding heather ,
the place ot their amphibious nativity.
"Tho Jack herons of Lochar , " these were
named by the men ot Galloway. But there
was no Jeering to their faces , for not onu of
hcao Maxwells , Sims , Patersona and Dick-
ions who would have thought twice of leapIng -
Ing behind a tree stump to wing a cloth-
yard Into a scoffer's ribs at thirty yards ,
aklng his chance of the dulo tree and the
hempen cord thereafter for the honor ot
Lochar.
ClIAl'TKIl VIII.
Tlip CromthiK of the Knril.
It was Bill ) early morning of the great
day when Sholto and Laurence MacKlm ,
leaving their mother In the kitchen , their
young sister Mngdalon trying a yco prettier
tie to her kerchief , took their -way by the
fords of Glen Lochar to an eminence then
denominated plainly the Whinny Knowe ,
the same which afterwards gained nnd has
kept to this day the moro fatal designation
it Knock Cannon. The lads were dressed as
became the sons of so prosperous a crafts
man and master armorer to boot as Mallso
MacKlm of the Cnrllnwark.
Laurence , the younger , were his archcr'a
Jack over the suit ot purple velvet , with
boots of yellow leather and withal a dainty
cap set far back on his head , from which
sprouted the wing of a blackcock In ns close
Imitation us Master Laurence dared com
pass of the Earl Douglas himself. Ills bow
was slung at hi ! ) back , all ready for the in
spection , A sash of orange silk was twitted
about his waist , und In this lie would act
'his thumb knowingly and stare boldly as
often as the pair of brothers overtook a
pretty girl. For Master Laurence loved
beauty and thought not lightly of his own.
Sholto , though ns we shall soon POP , de
spised not love , had eyes more for thu
knights and men-at-arms , nnd considered
that ibis heaven would be fully attained as
soon as ho should ride ono of those great
prancing horses and carry a lance with the
pennon of Douglas upon It.
Meantime lie were the steel cap , the
ringed-neck mall , the close-flttlug doublcl
of blue , dotted over with red Douglas hearts
and having the white cross of St. Andrew
transversely upon It. About bis waist wa <
a peaked brace ot shining plate armor
damascened In gold by MalUo himself , and
filling out his almost girlish waist to man
lier proportions. From this depended a rev
of tags of soft .leather. . Close chaln-mal
covered his legs , to which at the knees wen
added caps of triple plate. A sheaf ot rr-
rows lu a blue and gold quiver on his rlgh' '
side , a sword of mettle on his left and i
short Scottish bow In bis hand completed
the attire of a fully equipped and fully cflV
clent archer of thu carl's guard.
The lads were soon at the fords of Lochnr
where In the dry summers the stonci
show all the way across , one In the
midst being named the Black Doug ,
las , in the place where , as tradition af
firms , Archibald the Grim used to pause ti
look at his new fortress of Thrlove , rlsln *
on Its impregnable island above the rid
water meadows.
'Now ' neither Sholto nor Laurence wlshec
to wet their leg array before the work ant
pageant of the day began. This was ape' '
clally the dcslro of Laurence , because o
tbo maids who would assemble on the
Boreland braes , and of Sholto , Inasmuch at
ho hoped to win tbe prize for the best ac <
coutrement and the most point-device
attiring among all the archers of the
carl's guard. . The young men bad askec
crusty Simon Conchle , the' boatman at thi
ferry croft , to set them over , offering bin
a great for his pains. But he was far toi
busy to > pay any attention to them on sucl
an occasion , only pausing long enough ti
cry to them that they must e'en cross n
the fords , as many of tholr betters wouli
do that day.
There was nothing for It , therefore , bu
either to strip to the waist or wait thi
chances of the traffic. Both Sholto am
Laurence were extremely loth to take thi
former course. They had not , however
long to wait , for a train of sumpter mule
belonging to the Lord Herrfes of Terreglea
whose father had been with Archibald th
Tlneman In France , came up laden with th
choicest products of the border country
which ho designed to offer as part of thi
"servlce-kane" to his over lord , the earl o
Douglas.
Now mules are all snorting , tll-condt
tloned brutes and are over ready to rui
away upon tbe least excuse or even with
out any. So as Boon as they caught thi
glint of Sholto's blue baldric and shlnlni
steel girdle-brace suddenly appeared fron
behind a knoll , they Incontinently boltei
every way with noses to the ground , neat
terlng packs and brandishing heels Ilk
young colts turned to grass. U chancei
that one ot the largest mules made dlrectl :
toward the fords of Lochar , aud the youth
catching the flying bridle at cither side , ap
plied a sort of brake which sufficient ! ;
slowed tbe beast's movements to onabl
such aglla skipjacks as Sholto and Laurenc
to mount. But as they were concerned mor
with their leaping from the ground thai
with what was already upon tbo animal'
back , their heads met In the midst wltb i
crash in which collision the superior weigh
of tbe younger had very naturally the bet
ter of the encounter.
Sholto dropped Instantly back to tin
ground. Ho was somewhat stunned by tin
blow , but the sight of his brother trl <
umphantly splashing through the shallowi
aroused him. He arose , and seizing the firs
stone that came to hand , hurled it aftei
him , swearing fraternally that he wouk
smite him in the brisket with a dirk ni
soon as ho caught him for that dastard blow
The first stone flow wide , though the splasl
caused the mule to shy Into deeper watei
to the damping of hla rider's legs. But the
second , being better aimed , took the ani
mal fairly on the rump , and bringing up era
a fly-galled spot , sent It with flying bag ?
and loud squeals into the woods of Glei
Lochar , which come down close to the ford !
on every Bide , where presently Laurence
found himself , like Absolorn , caught In tbe
branches of a beech and left hanging be
tween heaven and earth.
A rider In complete plato of black
caught him down still holding on to hla
bow , and placing him across the saddle ,
brought down the flat of hh mailed hand
upon a spot of his person , hlch , being un
covered by mall , responded with a resound
ing smack. Then , amid the boisterous
laughter of the men-at-arms , he let
Laurence slip to the ground.
But the younger * on of Brawny Kim ,
master armorer of Carllnwark , was not the
lad to take such an Insult meekly , oven
from a man-at-arms riding on horseback ,
Ho threw his bow Into a convenient thlckut ,
' and , seizing tbe most convenient ammuni
tion , which chanced to be In great plenty
I that day upon the braes of Balmaghle , bo
pursued bis insulter along the glade with
euch excellent aim and good effect that ths
black unadorned armor of the horseman
showed disks of defilement all over , Ilka a
tree trunk covered with toad-stool
growths.
| "Shoot down the intolerable jountc rascal !
Shall bo thus beard my lord Maxwell ? " cried
1 a vnlra frnm Iba troon who witnessed thn
chase. And more thnn one bow was bonl
nnd several hand fusils leveled from thct
company which followed behind ,
But the knlRht throw up his visor. x
"Hold , there ! " ho cried ; "tho boy Is right.
It was Iho Insulted him , and he did right !
to bo revenged , though the rogue's nlin I *
moro to be admired thnn his choice ot
weapon , Como hither , lad. Tell m who
thou art , and what Is thy father's quality ? "
"I am Laurence MacKlm , an nrcher of tny
ortl's guard nnd the younger eon of Mnllno
MacKlm , master armorer to the Dnuglasl"
Laurence , being still angry , rang out hit
lltlcs as If they hud been Inscribed lu th
book of the llon-klng-nt-arms.
"Saints save us ! " cried the knight In
swart armor , "nil that ! "
Then seeing the boy ready to answer still
more fiercely , he continued with a courteoiu
wave of the hand :
"I humbly nsk your pardon , Master Lau
rence I nm Klad the son of Brawny Kim
linth no small part ot his father's vplrlt.
Will you take service nnd bo my esquire , ns
becomes well a lad of spirit , \\ho desires to
win his way to n knighthood. "
The heart of Laurence MacKlm beat
quickly a horeo to ride an rsqulre pcrhapa
If ho bad luck and much fighting , a knlfihi-
liood. Nevertheless he answered with a
bold , straight look out of his black eyes.
"I am an archer of my Lord UouglaV
outer guard , I can have no promotion sava
from him or those of hla house not even ,
from the king himself ! "
"Well said ! " cried the knight , "small won-
drr that the Douglas Is the greatest man In
Scotland. 1 will speak to Earl William thli
day concerning you ! "
Lord Maxwell rode at the bead of his com
pany with a courteous salutation which not a
few behind him who had heard the colloquy
Imitated. Laurence stood there with his
heart working like yeast within him , aud
his color coming and going to think what ho
had been offered and what ho had refused.
"God's truth. " ho said to himself , " 1
might have been a gloat man If I had chosen
while Sholto , that old sober sides , was left
lagging behind. "
And r-o looked about for his bow nnd went
swaggering along as If ho were already Sir
Laurence and the leader of nn army.
But Nemesis wa upon him , and that In
the fashion which his pride would feel th
most.
"Take that , beast of n Laurence ! " cried t
voice behind him.
And 'thn ' lad received a Jolt from behind
which loosened his teeth In their sockets ,
and discomposed the dignified stride with
which ho was commanding the armies ol
the carl of Douglas.
( To bo Continued. )
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