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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1898)
TTTH T ATT/1T flTIVT > AV. 1ft. IHOR. r Dougi * lr V ; * * & R.Crocketb 9 At/tW * o i.WU Si Bra pil * of Prueedlns ; Chapter * , 'William , sixth earl of Douglas , the most powerful man In all Scotland , falls In love with the Lady Sybllla , the niece of the French ambassador , Marshal de Htz , who ohanocs to bo crossing the Douglas estates. On the day following tholr meet * Ing and sudden separation by the Douglas' friends , who fear the woman nn a witch , occurs the great review of 10,000 retain ers and hundred * of knights and squires. Bholto MncKIm , ion of the Douglas1 armorer , distinguishes himself In nrcnery and Is mailo captain of the castle guard. Ho falls In love with Maude Llndesay , maid of honor to the earl's sister. On the third day of the tournament the three Douglas cousins enter the lists , aa also the French ambassador , who foully cast * his spear at Karl William nnd wound * him. In the combat Bholto shows such bravery that ha Is knighted. Lady Bybllla win * a promise from the young Douglas to go to Edinburgh , where Is his enemies' stronghold. James , earl of Avondale , Blr Alexander Livingston , guardian of the king's person : Blr William Crlchton , chancellor of the realm , and Marshal de Ret * began to plot against the earl of Douglas ; Lady Sybllla nireea to become their tool and to lure William Into their power. In eplto of warnings , Earl Douglas , with a small fol lowing , including the faithful Sholto , visits Castle Crlchton , where his enemies nMrtaln him royally. The young earl falls deeper Into love with Bybllla and nho , In turn , overcome by his sincerity and com plete confidence In her , confesses her love for him and then urges him to return home with all speed. Marshal de Retz takes Sybllla to Edinburgh and William no copts the invitation of the young king of Scotland to visit the court In the hope of meeting his lady love. The king and the two Douglas brothers become great friends , but even the king cannot ward oft the calamity about to fall on the Douglases. At a banquet a huge boar's head Is brought In , a sign of treachery , and in spite of the brave attempts of Bholto to protect his master , the carl and I his brother , charged with treason , are arrcsUd and Imoriaoned , Sholto accompanies his master. That night th * Douglas archers shoot an arrow . attached to a cord Into the window and the prisoners draw up a stout rope. Wil liam hears the Lady Sybllla. crying In the castle'and ' refuses to cscupe. David , a true Douglas , refuses to leave his brother , but the two persuade Sholto to go and seek help. Early the next morning the Douglas * * are brought before the king's court , charged with high treason and sentenced to b executed at once , Sybllla declares her love bcforo the court and the two brothers go forth to their death , the death of a filthful brother and of the truest lover In whom Qed ever put heart of grac * to live courteously and die CHAPTER XXXVI. The nlilnc of the Douglases. The aun shone fair on the battlements of Douglas castle aa Sbolto rode up to the level mead , whereon a little company of men was exercising. He could hear the words of command cried gruffly in the broad Oalloway speech. Landless Jock was drilling his spearmen , and as the shining triple line of points dropped to the "ready to receive , " the old knight and former captain of tbo earl's guard came forward a little way to welcome his successor with what little grace was at his command. "Eh , slrce , and what has brocht slo a braw young knight and grand frequenter o' courts eao far aa Douglas castle ? Could no even let I'pulr auld Landless Jock bae the tilt yalrd here to exercise his handfu * in , and keep his auld banes a wee while frae the rust and the green mowld ? " But even aa the crusty old soldier spoke theio words the white ' anxiety > ln Sholto's face struck through bis haft-humorous com plaint , and the words died en his lips in a perturbed "What is 't what la 't ava' , lad die ? " Sholto told him in the fewest words. "The yerl and Davvld In the power o' their hooso'a enemies ! Blessed Sant Anthony , and here was I fllghterln' and ragln' aboot my naothlngsl Here , lads , blaw the horn and cry the slogan ! Fetch the horse frao the stall and stand ready In your war gear within ten minutes by the knock. Aye , faith will we raise Douglasdnle ! Gang your ways to Oallowa' there shall not a man bide at hame this day. Certea we wull that. Ca' ' In the by-gaun at Lanark aye , lad , and gin the rascals are no willing or no ready , we wlR bang the provost and magistrates at ( their aln doorcheeks to learn them to bide hide frae the cried assembly o' their liege lordI" Sholto had done enough in Douglasdale. He turned north again on a yet more Impor tant errand. It was forenoon , full and broad , when be halted before the little town of Btrathaven , upon which the castle of Avon- dare looks down. It seemed of the grcatesl moment that the Avondale Douglases sboulc know that which had befallen their cousin . For no suspicion of treachery within the house and name of Douglas touched with a . shade of shadow the mind of Sbolto MacKIm He thundered at the townward port of the castle to which a steep accent led up - where presently the outer guard soon crowded about him , listening to his story and already fingering bowstring and ex amtnlng roue-matches , preparatory to thi expected march upon Edinburgh. "I have not time to waste , comrades. ' . must see my lords , " said Sholto. "I mus see them Instantly. " And even as he spoke there on the stepi appeared the dark handsome face and tal hut slightly stooping figure of 'William Douglas of Avondale. He stood with hi hands clasped behind his back and ils erlous thought-weighted face bent upon th concourse about Sbolto. With a push of his elbows this way am that the young captain of the earl's guan opened a way through tbo prces. In short , emphatic sentences he told hi , tale and at the name of prlsonment an A treachery the countenance of William Doug - las grew stern and hard. His face twltchec a * if the new * came very near to him He did not answer for a moment , but stoo j Annual 8i s ev rOOO ) OOO BOMS LLS FOB BILIOUS AHD HEBVOUB DISOBDER3 such as Wind and Pain In the Btomneh , Giddiness , Fulness after meals , Head * ache. Dizziness , Drowsiness. Flushings of Heat , Loss of Appetite , Contlvouess. Blotches on the Bkln , Cold Chills , Dis turbed Bleep. Frightful Dreams and All Nervous and Trembling Sensations. THE FIRST DOSE WILL GIVE BELIEF IN TWENTY MINUTES. Every sufferer will acknowledge them to be A WONDERFUL MEDICINE. EECHAM'8 PILLS , taken aa direct- d. will Quickly restore Females to com * plota health. They promptly remove obstructions or Irre-sularltles of the sys tem aaU cure lck Hedache. Fora Weak Stomach Impaired Digestion Disordered Liver IN MIN , WOMEN OR OHILDKIN oh m' Pills are Without a Rival Aid h the LARGEST SALE fur Patent Medicine in MS W rM . < 8&a at all Oriwc 8tors > biting bis lips and glooming upon Sholto , u though the young man had been a prUoner waiting sentence of pit or gallows for evil- doing. "I mu t Me James concerning this 111 news , " be suit ) , when Sholto finished telling him of the black bull's head on the chancel lor's banquet toble. Ho turned to go within. "My lord , " said Sholto , "will you give me another horse and let Darnaway rest In your stables ? I must ride south again to raise Oalloway ! " "Order out all the horses which are ready caparisoned , " commanded William of Avondale - dale , "and do you , Captain Sbolto , take your choice of them. " He went within forthwith and there ensued a pause filled with the snorting and pranc ing of steeds , as , filled with oats and hay , they Issued from their stalls , or , with the grass yet dewy about their noses , they were led In from tbs field. Darnaway took his leave of Sholto with a backward neigh of regret , as If to say that he was not yet tired of riding on his master's service. Then presently on the terrace above ap peared lazy Lord James , busily buckling the straps of his body armor and talking hotly the while with William. "I care not whether our father " he cried loud , ere , with a restraining hand upon his wrist , his elder brother could succeed in topping him. "Hush , James , " he said , "at least b mindful of those that stand around. " I care not , I tell you , William , " cried the leadstrong youth , squaring bis shoulders a * be was wont to do before a fight ; "I tell you that you and I are no traitors to our name and whoso meddles with our cox Will of Thrleve hath us to reckon with. " William of Avondale eatd nothing , but held out his hand with a slow , determinate gesture. Said he : "An * It were the father , hat begat us ! " Whereat , with all the lm > petuousness of his race and nature , James dashed his palm into that of hi * 'brother. "Whiles , William , " he cried , "ye appear olerklsh and overcautious , and I break out and miscall ye for no Douglas , when ye will not spend your siller like a man and are afraid of the honest pint stoup. But at the jeart's heart ye are aye a Douglas and , though the silly gaping commons like ye not so well as they like me , you are the beet o' us a' , for all that ! " So It came to pass that within the space of half an hour the young Avondale Doug- asea had sent men to the four alrts , young Hugh Douglas himself riding west , while James stirred the folk of Avondale and Strathaven , and In all the courtyards and streets of the little feudal town there began the hum and buzz of war assembly. Lord William went with Sholto to see staunch Darnaway duly stabled , and to ap prove the horse which was to bear the messenger to the south without halt , now that bis mission was accomplished In the west. When they came out Sholto's riding harness had been transferred to a noble gray steed large enough to carry the burly James , let alone the slim captain of the guard of Thrleve. In the court , ranked and ready , bridle to bridle , were ranged the knights and uflulres In waiting about the castle ol Avondale , while out on a level green spot on the edge of the moor gathered the denser array of the townsfolk with spears and partlzans. The Avondale Douglases were ready enough to ride to the assistance of their cousins. Alas , that Earl William would take no advice , for had these and others gone In with him to tbo fatal town there would have been no black bull's bead on the chancellor's dinner table In the banquetIng - Ing hall of Edinburgh castle. CHAPTER XXXVII. A Strange Meeting. It was approaching the evening of the third day after riding forth upon bis mis sion when Sholto , sleepless , yet quite un conscious of weariness , approached the loon of Carllnwark and the cottage of Brawny rKim. . West and south he had raised the Douglas country as It had never been raised before. And now behind htm every armlgei and squire , every spearman and llgbtfoo arrher was hastening Edlnburghward , cage ; to be first to succor the young and head strong chief of this great bouse , Sholto had ridden and cried the slogan SB waj his duty , without allowing his mind to dwell too much upon whether all mlgh not come too late. And ever as he rode ou Pof village or across the desolate moors from castle or fortified farmhouse It seemed tha not he but aome other was upon this quest Something sterner nnd harder stirred in his breast. Light-heart Sholto MacKIm , th careless lad of the Jousting day , the proui young captain of the earl's guard , was deai with alf hla vanity , and In his place a man rode southward grim and determined , with vengeful angers a-emoulder In his bosom hunger , thirst , love , the Joy of living and th fear of death all being swallowed up b ; deadly hatred of those who bad betrayed hi master. ( Maud Llndesay was doubtless within a few miles of Shofto , yet he scarcely gave even hi sweetheart a thought as be urged his wear gray over the purple Parton moors towar the loch of Carllnwark and the little bamle nestling along Its western side under th great ancient thorn trees of the Carlln' ' nln- Ho rode down over the green Crossmlcbae braes , on which the broom pod * were crack ling In the afternoon sunshine , through hoi lows where the corn lingered as though un willing to have done with such a scene o beauty and Hand itself mewed in dust barns , ground In mills , or close-pressed I thatched rick. He breasted the long smoot rlso and entered the woods which encircled the bright fake of Carllnwark , the pearl o all the southland Scottish lochs. With a itrange sense of detachment h looked down upon the greensward between him and his mother's gable end , upon which as child be had wandered. Then it was nearl as large as the world , and the grass wa most comfortable to smalf bare feet. Ther were children playing upon It now , even a there had been of old among them his ow little sister , Magdalen , whose hair was spu gold , and whose eyes blue a * the forget-me not In the marshes of the Isle Wood. Th children were dressed In white , five Mttl girls In all , a * for a festal day , and tbel voices came upward to Sholto's ear througl the arches of the great beeches whlcl studded th * turf , even as bf had done t that of William Dougla * In ths sprtagtlme o the year. The minor note , the dying fall of the In nocent voices , tugged at his heart strings He could bear little Magdalen leading th chorus : Margaret Doug-las , fresh and fair , A bunch of roate sbo shall wear ; Qold and ilKer by her side , I know who's .her bride , It was at "Fair Maid" they were playing the mystic dance of southland maidenhood at whose vestal rites no male of any ag was ever permitted to be present. Tb words broke in upon the gloom which op pressed holte's heart. MomtnUritr for got lil" master , and saw Maud Ltndenr * lt& the little Margaret Douglas , ef whom th * children sang , again gathering th gowans on the braosldes of Thrlove , or perilously reaching for the purpU Irises athwart ths ditches of tht Isl . Tak uer by tha lily-white hand , Le d her o' r th watif Give her klssts , on * , two. thr * . For she's a lady's daughter. Aa Sholto MacKIm listened to the quaint and moving lullaby suddenly there earns Into the field of his vision that which stiffened him Into a statue of breathing marble. For without clatter or accoutermsnt or tramp of hoof , without companion or attend ant , o , white palfrey had appeared through the green arches of the woodlands. A girl was seated upon the saddle , swaying with gentle movement to the motion of her steed. At the sight of her face as she came nearer a low cry of horror and amazement fcrok * from Sholto's lips. U was the Lady Sybllla. Yet he knew that ho had left her behind him In Edinburgh , the siren temptress of Earl Douglas , she who had led hU mas ter Into the power of the enemy , she for whose sake he had refused the certainty f freedom and life. Anger against this railing enchantress suddenly surged up In holto's heart "Halt there on your life ! " he cried , and rged his wearied steed forward. Like a Then afaln th * low even voles Wpllsd * ut of the * xprMilenl s * face. "Ar , your rtastsr is well ! " "Ah , thank Od , " burst forth Sholto , "be Is allvl" Tb * Lady Sybllla ovd her hand this way and that with the gesture of * blind man groping. "Hush , " she said. "I only said that be was well. And he Is well. As I am already In ths plac * of torment I know that there Is a heaven for those who dlo as William Douglas died ! " "Dead dead Earl 'William dead my master dead I" He dropped the palfrey's rein , which till now he had herd. His sword fell unheeded j on the turf and he flung himself down In an agony of boyish grief. But from her white palfrey , sitting still where she was , the maldsn watched the paroxysms of his ser row. She was dry-eyed now and her face was like * mask cut In snow. Then as suddenly recalling himself Sholto leaped from ground , snatched up hl § sword and again passlonattly advanced upon the Lady Sybltta. "You It was who betrayed him , " ho cried , pointing the blade at her breast , "answer If It was not ? " "U Is true I betrayed him ! " she answered calmly. "You whom he loved God knows how un worthily " Think no more of your master. L t the dead tlury their dend. Rldo to Thrleve And lose not sight of her whom you call your sweet heart , nor yet of her charge , Margaret Douglas , the maid of Galloway , till the snows fall and winter comes upon the land. " CHAPTKIl XXXVIII , The MncKIm * Come to ThrleT * . Sholto MacKIm stood watching awhile ss the white paMrey disappeared with Its rider Into the purple twilight of the woods which barred the way to the sea. Then , with a violent effort of will , ho recalled himself and looked about for hla horso. The tired ani mal was gently cropping the lush dewy herbage on the green slope which led down ward to his native cottage. Sholto took the gray by the bridle and walked toward his mother's door , pondering on the last words of the Lady Bybllla. A voice at once stren uous and familiar broke upon his car. "Shoo wl' you , Impldent randies that ye are , shoo ! Saw I over the like aboot ony decent hoose ? Jhoe hens will drlvo me oot o' my mind ! Sholto , lad , what's wrang ? Is't your falther ? Dlnna tell me It's your falther. " "H Is worse than that , mlther mine. " "No the earl surely no the early him self the laddie that I hao nursed , the laddie that was to Barbara Halliburton as bar aln son ! " "Mother , It is the earl and David too. They are dead , betrayed Into the hands of vnn wTOTBAVBn H tit TO HIH DRATH. WHV THBN SHOULD i NOT KII > T , vntr ? " winter wind among dried leav * * the children were dispersed every way by the gust of his angry shout. But the maiden on the palfrey either heeded not or did not hear. Whereupon Shoito rod * furiously to inter cept tier. H * would learn what had be fallen his master. At lea t he would avenge him upon one the chlefest and subtlest of his enemies. But not till he had come within ten pace * did the Lady Sybllla turn upon him her regard. Th n he saw her fac * . It broke upon htm sudden as the im minent sight of hell to one sure of salva tion. H * had expected to find there grati fied ambition , * ai d lust , exultant pride , cruel vngeane * . He saw Instead as it had been th * faoe of aa angel cast out of heaven , of a martyr who had passed through the torture chamber on her way to the place of bmrnlng. The sight stopped Sholto , stricken and wavering. His anger fell from him like a garment. The Lady Sybllla'a face showed of no earthly paleness. Marble white It was , the eyes heavy wltlh weeping , purple rings be neath accentuating the horror that dwelt in them. The lips that had been a * the bow of Apollo were parted u though they had been singing the dirge of one beloved , and even as she rode the tears ran down her cheeks and fell on her white robe , and upon her palfey's mane. She looked at Sbolto when he came near , but not a * one who sees or recognizes. Rather as if dumb , drunken , besotted with grl f looked forth the soul of the Lady Sybllla upon the captain of the Douglas guard. She heeded not his angry shout , for another voice rang ever la her ear * , speak Ing the knlghtllest words ever uttered by a man about to die. Sholto's sword was threateningly in his hand , but Sybllla saw only another sword gleam bright In the morning sun ere it fell to rl e again dim med and red. Therefore she checked nether her steed , nor turned aside , till Sholto laid hU hand upon her bridle rein and leaped qulokly to the ground with his sword in hi * hand , leaving his own beast to wander where It would. "What do you here ? " he cried. "Where It my master ? What have they done to HroT I bid you tell me on your lif * . " Sholto' * voice had no chivalrous courtesy in it now. The time for that bad gone by. He lowered bis aword point , and there was Iron In the muscles of bis arm. He was ready to kill the temptrtss as be would a beautiful viper. The Lady Sybllla looked upon him and In a dazed fashion , like ono who rest * between the turns of the rack. In a little while she appeared to recognize him. She noted the sword In his hand , the death in his eye andi for the first1 time since the scene In the courtyard of Edinburgh caitle she smiled. Then the fury In Sholto's heart broke sud denlforth. . "Woman , " he cried , "show me caui * why I should not slay you. For by Ood. I will , If aught of barm hath overtaken my master , Speak , I bid you , if you have any wish to live ! " But the Lady Sybllla continued to smile the same dreadful , mocking smile , and some how Sholto , with his weapon bare and his arm nrved to the thrust , frit himself grow weak and helpless under the stillness and utter pltlfulnea * of her look. "You would kill me kill me , you * ay " the words came low and thrilling forth from tips which were as those of the dead whose chin has not yet been bound about with napkin , "ah , would that you could. But you cannot. Steel will not slay , poison will not destroy , cor water drown Bybllla de Tbouar * till her work is done ! " Sholto escaped from the power of her eye. "My master " be gasped , "my master , Is he well ? I pray you tell me ? " Was H a laugh that be heard In answer ? Rather a sound not of human mirth , but of a condemned spirit laughing underground. 'Ood knows , " * be said , simply and calmly. "You betrayed him to his death. Why then should not I kill you ? " Again she emlled upon him that disarm ing , hopeless , dreadful smile. "Because you cannot kill me. Because It were too crowning a mercy to kill me. Be cause for three Inches of that blade In my heart I would bless you through the eterni ties. Because I must do the work that re mains " "And that work Is ? " "VENGEANCE ! " Sbolto was silent , trying to think. He found It hard to think. He was but a boy , and experience eo strange as that of the Lady Sybllla was outside him. Yet vaguely he felt that her emotion was rear more real , perhaps , than his own instinct of crude slaying the Instinct of the wasp , whoso nest has been harried to sting the first comer. This woman's hatred was something dead lier , surer , more persistent "Vengeance " he said at last , scarce knowing what he said , " \ fiy should you who betrayed him speak * of avenging him ? " "Because. " said the Lady SyblUa. "I loved him as I never thought to love man born of woman. Because when the fiends of the pit tie me limb to limb , lip to lip with Judas , who sold his master with a kiss- when they burn me In the seventh hell , I shall remember and rejoice because to the last he loved me , believed in me. gloried in his love for me. And Oed , who has bocn cruel to me in all else , will yet do this thing for me. He will not let William Douglas know that I deceived him or that he trusted me in vain. " "But the vengeance that you spoke of what of that ? " said Sholto , dwelling upon that which was uppermost In his own thought. "Aye , " said the Lady Sybllla , , "that alone can be compassed by me. For I am bound by a chain , the snapping of which Is my death. To him who , In a fair land , devised all these things , to the man who plotted the fall of the Douglas house , to Gllles de Retz , marshal of France , I am bound. But I shall not die even you cannot kill me. till I have brought the bead that Is so high to the hempen cord , and delivered the foul fiend's body to the fires of earth and hell. " "And the Chancellor Crichton and the tutor Livingstone what of them ? " urged Sholto , thinking like a Scot of hla native traitors. The Lady Bybllla waved A contemptuous hand. "These are but lesser rascals they had been nothing without him. You of the Douglas house must settle with them. " "And why have you returned to this coun try of Galloway ? " said Sholto ; "and why are you thus alone ? " "I am alone , " said the Lady Sybllla , "be cause none can harm me with my work un done. I travel alone because It suits my mood to be alone ; because my master bade me join him at ypur town of Kirkcudbright , whence he takes ship for his own country of Brittany. " "And why do you , If as you say you bate him so , continue to follow him ? " "Ah , you are simple , " she cald. "I follow him because It Is my fate , and who can es cape his doom ? Also because , as I have said , my work Is not yet done ! " She relapsed Into her former listless , forth- looking , unconscious regard fooklng through him as If the young man had no existence. He dropped the rein and the point of his sword with one movement. The white pal frey started forward with the reins loose on bis neck. And as she went the eyes of the Lady Sybllla were fixed on the low hills which hid the sea. Bo leaving Sholto standing by the lake- tide with bowed bead and abased sword the trange woman went her way to work out her appointed work. But ere the Lady Sybllla disappeared among the tret * she turned and spoke. 'I have hut one- counter , sir knight. their enemies ; cruelly and treacherously slain ! " Then the keening cry smote the air as Barbara MacKIm sank on her knees and lifted up her hands to heaven. " 0 , the bonny laddies the two bonny , bonny laddies ! M lr than my aln bairns I loved them. When their aln mother wasna able for mortal weakness to rear him , Wil liam Douglas drew his life frae me. What for , Sbolto , are yo standln * there to tell the tale ? What for couldna ye bae died wl' htm ? Ao mlther's milk slockened ye balth. The same arms credled ye. I bade ye keep your lord safe wl' your body and your soul. And there ye daur to stand , skin-hale and bane unbroken before your mlther. Get hence ye are nne 6on o' Barbara MacKIm. Let me never look on your face again , gin ye brlngna back the pride o' the warld , thi gladness o' the auld withered heart o' her ye ca' your mither ! " "Mother , " said Sholto , "my lord was not dead when I left him he sent me to raise the country to his rescue. " "And what for are ye standln' there claverlng , and your lord In danger among his foes ? " cried bis mother , angrily. "Dear mother , I have something more to tell ye " "Aye , I ken , ye needna break the news. It Is that Ballse my man Is dead that Laurence wha ran frae the Abbey to gang wl' him to the wars Is nae malr. Aweel , they are worthily spent , since they died for their chief ! Ye say that ye were cent to ralso the clan then what seek ye at tbe , Carllnwark ? To Thrleve , man , to Thrleve , as hard as ye can ride ! " "Mother , " said Shorto , still more gently , "hearken but a moment. Thirty thousand men are on their way to Edinburgh. Three days and nights have I ridden without sleep. Douglasdalo Is awake. The Upper Ward Is already at the gates of the city. To a man , Galloway IB on the march. The border la all aflame. But U is air too late , I have had DOWB of the end. Before ever a man could reach within miles the fatal ax had fallen , and my lords , for whom each one of ua wouM gladly have died with smiles upon our facee , lay headless In the courtyard of Edin burgh castle. " "And if the laddies were alive when ye rode awa' , wha brocht the new * afore my Sholto could rld toll mo that ? " "I came not dtr ctry to Galloway , mothsr. First I raised the west from Strathaven to Ayr. Then I carried the news to Dumfries and the borderslde. But today I have seen the Lady Sybllla on her way to take ship for France. From her I beard the news tha * alt I had done was too late. " "That forelgneerln' randy I Wad ye be- Ilevo the like o' her ? Yon woman that they named queen o' beauty at th * tournay by the Fords o' Lachar Certes , I wadnn be lieve her on oath , no If she swore on the blessed banes o' Sanct Andre blmsel' . To the caetle , man , or I'll kilt my coats and be there afore ye to shame ye ! " "I go , mother , " said Sbolto , trying vainly to stem the torrent of denunciation which poured upon him. "I came only to eco that air was well with you. " "And what for ihould a * be weel wl' me ? What can be 111 wl' mo If It be not to gang on leevln' when the noblest young men In the warld he lads that was suckred at my bosom lies cauld in the clay. Awa' wl' yo Sholto MacKIm , and come na back till ye hao rowed every traitor In the eame bloody wlndin * sheet ! " The foster mother of the Douelases sank on the ground In tbo dusk , leaning against the wall of her bouse. She held her face In her hands and sobbed aloud. " 0 , Willie , Willie Douglas , malr than ony o' my aln I loed ye. Bonny were ye as a bairn. Bonnie were ye as a laddie. Bonny abune a' as a noble young man and tbo desire o' maiden's o'en. But none o' them a * lood ye like poor auld Barbara , that wad bae glen her life to pleasure ye. And nee she canna even steek thae black black e'en , nor wind the corps- clalth aboot you comely limbs sao straight and bonny ap they were. I hae stratklt and Bankers' Union of the World. Dr. B. C. Snlnncy of this city , supreme prrsldont of the Bnnkx rs' Union of tlio World , 1ms received u clutrtur from the state of Ne braska , nud Is writing n Inrgo volume of business for Ills new company , Olio deputy wrote 1U3 iippllcntlons In olio week , nnd th business nt the Supreme olllce 1ms become so Inrjje already tliot three extra clerks have been called for to write out the policies. Dr. Spinney hns nrratiKcd for nn liicreaso In his Omnhti foivt' , nml buslnofw will go on with a bound. He hns u most excellent plan nnd we expect In due time to pee him have one of the largnpt frn- teriwl associations In our commonwealth. HeIs the most Indom itable worker In life Insurance ranks In the middle wust , and a luaiiitgGr of unexcelled ability. The officers of the Hankers' Union nro as follows : Supreme President- , E. O. Spinney , formerly manager of the United States Llfo Insurance Company of New York for Nebraska and lown , who Is also secretary nud manager of the Home Harlnjjs aud Trust Company , with n , capital stock of $10,000,000 ; Supreme N'lce President , N. B. Kalrdcn ; Supreme Secretary , M. S. W. Ilrtmk : Supreme premo Banker , H. II. Harder , soorotary of the Kldullty Trust Com pany of Omaha ; Supreme Physician , Dr. llobort S. Ancltn ; Su preme Attorney , Thomas Hyau of Lincoln ; Superlntemlcnt of Depu ties , Judfion W. Harris ; Supreme Director , J. B. Flynn. director nnd treasurer of the Home Savings nud Trust Company. The deposi tory of the Union Is the First National Bank of Omaha. The Bankers' Union will operate on the lodge system , and col lects a sufficient premium to set aside n proper reserve for futurn emorgonclei. It will be operated on the broad principles of fra ternal government The states of our commonwealth will bo en tered for business as rapidly as may be consistent with conserva tive management. In future Issues we will have more to say about this new organization. . . . . ; - , * + + + + + ) ) ) * 4444444444444444444444444444 * \ HORRIBLE CURED.- * * RHEUMATISM BY HOT-OIL A 15e , TRIAL BOTTLE IMMEDIATELY RELIEVES , Doctors nay : "Hot treatment possesses super human influence over pains ami inflammation. " CBOW. : That is one reason why " HOT-OIL " always NtURAiC cures because it in applied hot. It actually SCIATICA. B teams the pain away. It goes straight to the SHAINJ. bone , soothing and strengthening. IAMIN153. SWEUNCJ : WHY DO YOU SUFFER ? TONJIUnS. Have you not confidence cnougli to invest SOBITHIOAT. I Bo. FOR A TRIAL BOTTLE COIDOMUW ) which almost instantly will relieve your sufferings. * COWH8 OR COLD8- ONE BOTTLE TELLS THE STORY < t Faln or tlffbtnel * In Che t A I Bo. b ttle relieves. ir "HOT-OIL" A BOo. bottle will euro. * lwr * cures. Unguaran BOIVOIti" Is no w on sale at your Druggist , or will teed to cure pneumonia , , be ent direct , Ifyou scndiiOr.for trlnlbottlidrSOc.tar when not toofaradvanced , large bottle to Hsucui.r.AN HOT OIL Co. , ELtmu , N. Y. FOR SALE BY SHERMAN A AIcCONNELb DRUG CO. kissed sae oft and Oft. O , waes me wacs met What will I do wlthoot my bonny adtles ! " It was with the sound of his mother's ament still in his ears that Sholto rode adly away over the hill to Thrleve. The way is short and easy and it was not long before the oaptaln of the guard looked down upon the lights , of the castle gleaming hrougb the gathering gloom. He was pausing at tha bridge head to wait the lowering of the draw chain when out of the covert above him there dashed a desperate horseman , who stayed neither for bridge nor ford , but dashed straight at the eastern castle pool , where it wa * deepest. To the stirrup clung another figure strange and terrible , seen in the uncertain light from the gate house and the beams of the rising moon. The drawbridge clattersd down , and , BendIng - Ing his spurs home into the flanks of his tired steed , In a moment more Sholto was bard upon the track of the first headlong horseman. Scarce a length separated them as they reached the outer guard of the castle. Abreast they reined their horses In the quadrangle and in a moment Sholto had recognized in the rider his brother Lau rence , pale aa death , and in the figure that had clung to the stirrup as the horse took the water his father , Malls * MacKIm. Thus in one moment came the three Mao- Kims to the doorstep of Thrleve. The clatter and cry of their arrival brought a pour of torches from every sldr of the Isle and out from within the castle keep. "Have found them where " you ar * they ? came from every aldo. But Laurence seemed neither to hear nor see. "Whero la my lady ? ' he cried , in a hoarse man' * volco , and again , "I must se my lady. " Sholto stood aside , for he knew well that thos * two brought later news than be. Pr B ntly he went over to his father , who leaned , panting , upon a stone post , and asked him what was the news. But Mallse thrust him aside , apparently without recognizing him. "My lady , " he gasped , "I would see my lady ! " Then through the torches clustered upon the steps of the castle earn * the tall , erect figure of the earl's mother , the countess ol Douglas. She stood , with her head erect , looking down upon th * M&oKIms and the heaving shouldr * of their horses. Abova and around tile torches flared , and their r ek blew thwartwhe across the strange scene. "I am here , " * h Mid , apeaklng clearly and naturally. "What would ye with the lady of Douglas ? " Thrice Laurence essayed to speak , but his tongue availed him not. He caught at his horse's bridle to steady him , and turned weakly to his father. 'Do you speak to my lady I cinnotl" he gasped. A terrible figure wai Mallse MaoKIm , the strong man of Oalloway , aa be came for ward. Stained with th * black peat of the morasses , his armor east off that be might run easier , his under apparel torn almost from bis great body , his hair matted with the blood which still oozed from an un washed wound above his brow. "My lady , " he said hoarsely , his words whistling la his throat , "I have strange things to Mil. Can you bear to bear them ? " "It you have found my daughter d ad or dying , speak and fear not ! " "I have things more terrible than , the death of many daughters to tell you ! " "Speak and fear not aa' it touch the lives of my sous , the mother of the Doug- Uses has learned tbo Douglas lesson. " "Then , " said Malice , linking his head upon his breast , "Qod help you , lady your iwo sons are dead ! " "Is David dead , also ? " said the lady * f Douglas. "He la dead , " replied Mtllse. The lady itottered a llttlo as she stood on the topmost step of the accent to Thrleve. One or two of Ihe torch bearers ran to sup port hor. But she commanded herself and waved them aside , "God bo la the God ! " she said. "In ono day ho bath made me a woman solitary and without children. Sons and daughter " H"a"has taken from me. But be shall not briak my heart. No , not even he. Stand up , Mallso MacKIm , and tell me bow these things came to pass. " And there in the blown reek of torches and the hush of the courtyard of Tbrlevo Maltso told all the tale of Iho black dinner and the fatal morning , of the short shrift and the matchless death , while around him strong men sobbed and llft d up right ianda to swear the vengeance. But atone and erect as a banner stag stood connt/r' DOCTORS Bearlea & Searlei. PECIALISTS. maraatea tm care peedllr and raU ally mil NEHVOUB , CHRONIC AND miVATB < HM * * S of men an * woaaea WEAK MEN SYPHILIS BEXUALLY. cured for life. Night Emission * , Lost Manhood , Hjr irocele , Verlcocrl * . donorrhta , Oleet , Syph * ill * . Stricture , Flit * , Fistula and Rla | VloM , Diabetes , Bright' * DIsrase cure * . CONSULTATION FREE. Stricture Gleet Cured * nd nt Hoflm new method without pain * r eutt : .11 en or address with stamp. TrtmDi mall. i mm c o aK : BLOOD POISON A SPECIALTY Cured in 15 to 35 Days. You can be treated at home for same price under cam * guaranty. If you prefer to come here we wfll contract lo pay railroad fare and hotel bill * , an no charge if w * fall to oure. j IF YOU HAVE taken mercury , lodld * notanh and ittll have ache * and pains , Mucous Patch * * la aioufh. Sore Throat , Pimple * , Cop per Colored Snots , Ulcer * on any part of the body. Hair or Eyebrow * falling out. It I * this secondary Wt&uarantattoUurt W * lollclt the most obstinate aa and challenge th * world for a cace w * cannot cure. Thl * disease ha * alwaya baffled the skill of th * most eminent physicians. ffttO.OOO capital behind our uncondi tional guaranty. Absolute proof * sent tale * on application. 100 pag * book Addrci * COOK REMEDY CO. , 1401 Maoal * T npU , Chicago , 111. the mother of the dead. Her eyes were dry her lips compressed , her noutrlls a little dli- tended like those of a warhorao that sniff the battle from afar. Outside the wall th news spread swiftly , and somewhuro In thai darkness a. volco set up the Certlo keen. "Bid that woman hold her peace. I will hear the ncns and then wo will cry the slo. gan. Say on , Mallse ! " Then the smith told how his horse had broken down time and again , bow bo had pressed on , running and resting , stripped alt most naked that he might keep up with hi * won , because that no ordinary charger couM carry bin great weight. Then when ho had finished the lady of Thrlove turned to Sholto : "And you , cap. tain of tlio guard , what have you done , and wherefore left your master In his hour ot need ? " Then , succinctly and to the point , Sholto spoke , hU father and Laurence assenting and confirming as ho told of the carl's com * mission and of how ho had nccotnpllabool tlioao things that were laid upon him , "It In weir , " cald the lady calmly. "No * I also -will tell you something that you do not kno'.v. My llttlo daughter , whom ye call the Fair Maid of Galtoway , with her com- panlon , Mlstrctm Maud Llndeaaywent moro than twevo hours agono to the holt by the ford to gather hazel nuts , and no eye oi man or woman hath seen them sin erf And as film spoke there paused1 a quick * strange- pang through the heart of Slioltb , Ho remembered the warning of the Lady Bybllla , Had ho once more come too latet i ( To bf Continued. ) J