THE O31AHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , JANUA11Y 1. 181)9. )
Dy b. RXrockett
" "
.
.
4jtMna < v "r * A.rMn *
of Preceding Chapters.
"William , sixth earl of Douguis , the most
powerful man In nil Scotland , falls In
love with the Lady Bybllla , the niece of the
French ambassador , Marshal de Hetz ,
who chances to bo crossing the Douglas
estates. On the day following their meet
ing begins the great review of 10,000 retain
ers. Sholto MacKIm , son of the Douglas *
armorer , distinguishes himself In archery
and IB made captain of the castle guard
* nd later Is knighted for brave conduct In
In * tournament.
James , earl of Avondale , Sir Alexander
Livingston , guardian of the klnp'H person ,
Sir \yllllam Crlchton , chancellor of the
tealm , and Marshal do Retz begin to plot
against the earl of Douglas : Lady Sybllla
akrecb to become their tool nnd to lure
William Into their power. Earl Douglas
Tliltfl Cuetle Crlchton nnd falls deeper In
Jove with Sybllla. She contests her love
, for him , repents her agreement with Ms
y ne/ml ji , and then urges him to return
home with all speed. Marshal de Hetz
Jnke SybllU to Edinburgh and William ac-
jj.ceptB the Invitation of the young king
icf Scotland to visit the court. At the
* ancuet a. huge boar's head Is brought
f.ln. a sign of treachery. The earl'nnd ' his
' brother , charged with treason , are arrested
and Imprisoned
Thu . night Sholto escapes and goes for
' . , V Early the next morning the
. .u Aglaies are brought before the king s
court , charged with high treason nnd
entenced to be executed at once.
, Bybllla declares her love before the court
and the two brothers go fotth to their
death , the death of a fifthful brother nnd
of "tho truest lover In whom God ever put
tnenrt of grace to live courteously and dlo
greatly. "
Sholto stirs up the countrymen and In
three days every man of the. southland Is
on his way to Edinburgh to avenge the death
of the young.earl. At the gate of Castle
Thrleve the throe MacKlms meet , tell the
Lady Douglas of the loss of her sons and
learn In turn from her that Maud Llndesay
nd little Margaret are not to be found.
The Lady Douglas gives Sholto a prlce-
ItM'oult o ? armor , blesses htm as her non
nd starts him out to search for the two
girls. Around Edinburgh the Douglases
Me gathering1. The sons of James , the new
arl , refuse to support their father's cause
and swear to avenge their cousin William's
fleath.
( CHAPTER XLII.
_
\
( The She Wo Astarte.
In a dark wainscoted room overlooking
that branch of the Seine which divides the
northern part of Paris from the Isle of the
city allies de Retz , lately chamberlain of
the king of France , at writing. The hotel
bad recently been redecorated after the ao-
Joutn .of the English. Wooden pavements
bad again been placed In the rooms , w'ire '
the barbarians had strewed their rushes and
trampled upon their fishbones. Noble furni
ture from the lathes of Poitiers , decorated
with the royal ermines of Brittany , stood
bout the many alcoves. The table Itself ,
whereon the great uolcller wrote , was closed
In with drawers and shelves which descended
to the floor and seemed to shut the occupant
In as In a cell.
Before De Retz stood a curious Inkstand ,
tnade by some cunning jcwefcr out of the
upper half of a human skull of small size ,
cut across at the eyeholes , Inverted , and set
, In silver with a rim of large rubles. This
was half fitted with Ink of a startling ver-
tnllllon color. !
The document which Gllles de Retz was'
busy transcribing upon sheets of noble
vellum In this strange Ink was of the most
mysterious character. The upper part had
the appearance.of a charter engrossed by
the hand of some deft regal scribe , but the
words which followed were as startling as
the vehicleIn which they were made to stand
out from the vellum.
, "UNTO BARRAN-SATHANAB ; LORD
MOST GLORIOUS AND PUISSANT IN
HELL BENEATH AND IN THE EARTH
ABOVE , I , HIS UNWORTHY SERVITOR ,
OILLEB DE RETZ. MAKE MY VOWS.
HEREBY FOREVER RENOUNCING GOD
> ND CHRIST AND THE BLESSED
BAINTS. "
To this appalling Introduction succeeded
many lines of close and deHcato script , In-
tenoersed with curious cabalistic signs , In
which the sign of the cross reversed could
frequently be detected. Qlllls de Retz wrote
rapidly , rising only at Intervals to throw a
fresh Tog of wood across the vast Iron dogs
on either side of the wide fireplace , as the
rain from the northwest beat more and more
fiercely upon the small glazed pones of the
window and howled among the Innumerable
gargoyles and twisted roof-stacks of the
Hotel de Pornle.
Within the chamber Itself , in the Intervara
of the storm , a low continuous growling
'made Itself evident. At first It was disre
garded by the writer , but presently by Its
beer pertinacity the eound BO irritated him
that ho rose from his seat , and striding tea
a narrow door covered with a heavy curtain ,
be threw it wide to the wall. Then through
the black oblong so made a huge and shaggy
be wolf paced sfowly Into the room.
The marshal kicked the brute Impatiently
with his slippered foot as she entered , and
trange to relate , the she wolf slunk past
blm with the cowed air of a dog conscious
f havng | deserved punishment.
"Astarte , vilest beast , " ho cried "have I
not a thousand times warned you to be.silent
nd wait outside when I was at work In my
chamber ! "
The she wolf eyed her master as he went
back toward bis tabfe. Then , seeing him lift
bla pen with a sigh of content , she dropped
down upon the warm hearthstone , lying with
her haunches toward the blazing logs and
with her brlitllbg bead couched upon her
paws.
allies de Retz wrote on , smiling to himself
fts he added line after line to his manuscript.
His beard shone with a trucufcnt blue-black
luster. For the moment the aged look had
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quite gone out of his face. Hla check ap
peared flushed with the hues of youth and
hope , yet withal a youth without Innocenci
or charm. Rather It seemed as If fresh blood
bad been Injected into the velna of some
aged demon , moribund and cruel , giving in
stead of health or graco. only a new lease ol
cruelty and lust.
Presently another door opened , the main
entrance of the apartment this time , not
the mall private portal through which
Astarte , the wolf , bad been admitted. A
girl came In , thrusting aside the curtain
and for the space of a moment holding It
outstretched with an arm gowned In white
before dropping it with a rustle of heavy
silken fabric upon the ground.
The Marshal de Retz wrote on without
appearing to too conscious of any new
presence in bis private chamber. The girl
stood regarding him , < wlth eyes that blazed
with an Intent eo deadly and a hate so
all-posspsslng that the yellow treachery In
these of Astarte , the she wolf , appeared
kind and affectionate by contrast.
At the girl's entrance that shaggy beast
had half raised herself upon her forepaws
and given vent to a low growl , half of
distrust and half of warning , which at
once reached the ears of the busy worker ,
allies de Retz looked up quickly , and
catching eight of the Lady Sybllla , with a
sweep of hla hand ho thrust his manuscript
Into an open drawer of the escritoire.
"Ah , Sybllla , " he said , leaning back In
his chair with easy familiarity , "you are
more eparlng of your visits to mo than of
yore. To what do I ewe the pleasure and
honor of this one ? "
The girl eyed him long before answering.
She stood fitatue-fitlll by the curtain at
the entrance of the apartment. Ignoring
the chair which the marshal had offered her
with a bow and a courteous wave of his
hand.
"I have come , " she made answer at last ,
In the even deep tones which she bad used
before the council of the traitors at Stir
ling , "to demand from you , Messlre allies
de Retz , what you mean to do with the
llttlo Margaret Douglas and her companion ,
whom you wickedly kidnapped from their
own country and have brought with you to
France ? "
"I have satisfaction In informing you , "
replied the marshal , suavely , "that It Is
my purpose to dispose of both these
agreeable young ladles entirely according
to my own pleasure. "
The girl caught at her breast with her
hand , as if to stay a sudden pain.
"Not at Tlffauges" she gasped , "not at
Chnmptoce ? "
The marshal leane * back , enjoying her
terror , as one tastes in slow elps a rare
brand ofwine. . Ho found the flavor of her
fears delicious. *
"No , Sybllla. " ho replied at last , "neither
at Champtoce , nor yet at Tlffauges for the
present that Is , unless some of your Scottish
friends come over to rescue them out of
my hands. "
"How , then , do you intend to dispose ol
them ? " she urged.
"I shall send them to your puking sister
and her child , hiding their heads and sew
ing their samplers at Pouzauges. What
more can you oak ? Surely , they are safe
In such worthy society , even If they may
chance to find it a little dull. "
"How con I believe him , or know that for
once he will forego his purposes of hell ? "
Sybllla spoke halt to herself.
The Marshal de Retz smiled , if , indeed ,
the contraction of muscles which revealed
a line of white teeth can be Called by that
name. In the sense In which Astarte might
have smiled upon a defenseless sheepfold ,
so Ollles do Retz might have been said to
smile.
"You may believe me , sweet Lady Sybllla , "
said the marshal , "because there Is one vice
which It is needless for me to practice
in your presence , .that . of uncandor. I give
you my word that unless your friends come
worrying me from the land of Scots , the
maids shall not die. Perhaps It were better
to warn any visitors that even at Macbecoul
wo are accustomed to deal ! with such cases.
Is It not so , Astarte ? "
At the sound of her name the huge wolf
rose slowly , and walking to her master's
knee she nosed upon him like a favorite
hound.
"And If your Intent Is not that which
causes fear to haunt 'the ' precincts of your
palaces like a night-devouring beast , and
makes your name an execration throughout
Brittany and the Vandec , why have you car
ried the little child and the other pretty
fool forth from their country ? Was'It not
enough that you should slay the brothers ?
Wherefore was It necessary utterly to cut
oft the race of the Douglases ? "
"Sybllla , dear sister of my sainted Cathe
rine , " purred 'the ' marshal , "It Is your privi
lege that you should speak freely. When
It Is pleasing to me I may even answer you.
It ploasea me now. Listen , you know of
my devotion to science. You are not Ig
norant at what cost , at what vast sacrifice
I have In secret pushed my researches be
yond the very confines of knowledge. The
powers of the underworlds are revealing
themselves to me , and to me alone. Evil
and good shall be mine. I alone will pluck
the blossom of fire and tear from hell and
bell's master their cherished mystery. "
Ho paused as it mentally to recount his
triumphs , and then continued :
"But at the moment of success I am
crossed by a prejudice. The Ignorant peopTe
clamor against my life canaille I regard
them not. But nevertheless their foolish
prejudices reach other ears. Hearken ! "
And like a showman be beckoned Sybllla
to the window. A low roar of human voices ,
fltful yet sustained , made Itself distinctly
audible above the shriller booting of the
tempest
"Open the window ! " ho commanded ,
standing himself behind the curtain.
The girl unhaspcd the brazen book and
looked out. Beneath her a llttlo crowd of
poor people had collected about a woman
who was beatlnc upon the shut door of tne
Hotel de Pornle.
"Justice ! Justice ! " cried the woman , her
hands clasped and her long black hair
streaming down her shoulders , "give me my
child , my little Pierre. Yestereve he was
enticed Into the monster's den by his
sen-ant , Poltou , and I shall never see him
more ! Give me my son , murderer ! Restore
>
mo my son ! "
And the answering roar of the people's
voices rose through the open window to the
cars of tbo marshal. "Glvo the woman' her
' '
son.'Gllles'de Retz ! "
At that moment the woman caught sight
of Sybllla. Instantly she changed her tone
from entreaty to fierce denunciation.
"Behold the witch , friends , let us tear
her to pieces. She Is kept young and
beautiful by drinking the blood of children.
Throw thyself down , Jezebel , that the dogi
may eat thee In the streets ! "
And a shout went up from the populace
as Sybllla shut the window , shuddering at
the horrors which surrounded her.
The Marshal de Retz bed not moved ,
watching her face without regarding the
oolie outside , Now to went back to bis
chair , and bending hU slender white fingers
together ho looked up at her.
Sybllla went to the door and stood again
by the curtain.
"Then you iwe r by your own Oed that
you will let no evil befalf the Scottish
maids ? " she cald.
"I have told you already let that suffice ! "
he replied , with sudden coldness. "You
know that , flke the master whom I serve , I
can keep my word. I will not harm them ,
BO long as their Scottish kinsfolk come not
hither meddling with my purpose. I have
enough of meddlers In France , without add-
Ing.outlandere thereto. I cannot keep a now
and permanent danger at grass within my
gates. "
The Lady Sybllla passed out of the portal
by which she had entered without adieu or
feavo-taklng of any kind , allies de Retz
rose as soon as the curtain had fallen and
shook himself with a yawn , like one who
had got through a troublesome necessary
duty. Then he walked to the window and
looked out. The woman had come back and
was kneeling before the Hotel de Porntc.
At sight of htm she cried with sudden
shrllraess : "My lord , my great lord , give
mo back my child my little Pierre. He Is
all my heart's heart. My lord , he never did
you any harm In all his Innocent life ! "
The Marshel de Retz shut the window
with a shrug of protest against the vulgarity
of prejudice. He did not notice four men in
the garb of pilgrims who stood In the dark
of a doorway opposite.
"This Is both unnecessary and excessively
discomposing , " ho muttered. "I fear Poltou
has not been judicious enough In bis selec
tions. " >
He turned toward the private door , and as
he did BO Astarte , the she-waif , rose and
silently followed him with her head drooped
forward. He went along a dark passage and
pushed open a Uttle Iron door. A bright
light , as of a furnace , burned before him , and
the heat was overpowering as It rushed like
a tide race against his face.
"Well , Poltou , doei It go better ? " he said ,
cheerfully , "or must we try them of the
other sex and somewhat younger , as I at
The youths accepted the proposal of tbctr
leader with alacrity.
"Let us have the blessing of the holy palm
ers , " they cried , "and eke the contents of
their pockets. "
So , with a gay shout , and In an evil hour
for themselves , they bore down upoa the
four Soots.
"OooJ four evangelists , " cried the youth
who had spoken first a tall , ill-favored
and sallow young man , In a cloak of blue
lined with scarlet , swaggering It with long
strides before them , "tell ua which of you
four Is MessJro Matthew , for , being a tax
gatherer , he will assuredly have money of
bis own , and besides , since the sad death
of your worthy friend Judos , ho must have
succeeded him as your treasurer. "
"This la the keeper of our bumble store ,
noble sir , " answered the Lord James Doug
las quietly , indicating the giant Mallso
with his left hand , "but spare htm and us ,
I pray you courteously ! "
"Ha , so , " mocked the tall youth , turning
to Mallac , "then the gentleman of the re
ceipt of tbo custom bath grown strangely
about the chest since he went a-wanderlng
from Oalllee ! "
And ho reached forward his hand to pull
away the cloak which bung round the great
frame of the master armorer.
Malls ? MacKtm understood nothing of his
words nor of bis Intent , but without lookIng -
Ing at his tormentor or any of the company ,
he asked of James Douglas In a voice llko
the first distant mutterlngs of a thunder
storm. "Shall I clout blm ? "
"Nay , be patient , Mallso. I bid you. This
Is an 111 town In which to get rid of a
quarrel on&o begun. Be patient ! " com
manded James Douglas under bis breath.
Seeing the four men apparently Intimi
dated and without means of defense , the
ten youths advanced boldly , some with
swords In their right hands and torches In
their left , the rest with swords and dag
gers. The Scots stood silent and firm.
Not a hand showed from beneith a , cloak.
"Down on your kneoa ! " cried the leader
of the young roysterers , and with his left
country , thcro to attempt In succession the
marshal's great castles of Machccoul , TIN
fanges , Pornle , Chnmptoce , In rome ono of
which he was sure that the stolen malda
muet bo Immured.
Hut James Oouglns and Suolto earnestly
dissuaded him from the adventure. How
did they know , they reminded him , in which
to look ? They wcro all fortresses of largo
extent , well garrisoned , and it was as Ukoly
as not that they might spend their whole
tlmo fruitlessly upon ono without gaining
either knowledge or advantage.
Breldcs , they argued , it was not likely
that nny harm would befall them eo long
as their captor remained In Paris that Is ,
none which had not already overtaken them
on their long journey as prisoners on board
the marshal's ships.
So tbo Hotel do Pornle and its inhabitants
remained under the strict espionage of
Sholto and Lord James , while up In the
garret In tbo Rue des Urscllncs Laurcnco
nursed his brother clerk and Mallse nursed
nurscvl his brother clerk and Mallso sat
gloomily polished and repollsucd the
weapons and secret armor of the party.
It v > o.3 the evening of the third day before
the "clout" showed signs of healing. Its
recipient bad been conscious on the second
day , but , finding himself a prisoner in the
hands of the enemy , he had been naturally
Inclined to be a llttlo sulky and suspicious.
But the bright carelessness of Laurence ,
who dashed at any speech In Idiomatic but
ungrammatlcnl outlandor's French , gradually
won upon htm , as also the fact that Lau
ren oo was clerk-learned , and could sing nnd
play upon the viol with surprising skill for
ono BO young.
The prisoner never tired -watching the
sunny curls about the brow of Laurence
MacKIm , as ho wandered about trying the
benches , the chairs , and even the floor In
a hundred attitudes in search of a comfort
able position.
"Ah , " ho said , at last , ono afternoon , as
the sallow youth lay on his pallet , "you
should bo ono of the choristers of my mas-
tor's chapel. You can sing llko an angel ! "
KJATCHINO SIOHT OF LADY SYBILLA-THRUST HIS MANUSCRIPT INTO AN OPEN DRAWEK. *
first proposed ? "
lie let the door slip back , and the action
of the powerful spring shut out Astarte.
Whereat she eat down on her haunches In
the dark of tbo passage and showed her
gleaming teeth In a' grin , as , with cocked
ears , she listened to the sounds from
within the secret workroom of Uie Marshal
d Retz.
CHAPTBR XLIII.
Hallie Fetcbea a Clout.
The four men whom the Messlre allies
did not see standing In the doorway op
posite the Hotel de Pornlc were attired In
the habit of pilgrims to the shrine of St.
James of Compostella. Upon their heads
they wore brood corded hats of brown.
Long , brown robes covered them from head
to foot. Their heads were tonsured , and
as they went along they fumbled at their
beads and gave their benediction to the
people that passed by , whether they re
turned them an alms or not. This they
did by spreading abroad the nngers of both
hands and inclining their heads , at the
same time muttering to themselves in a
tongue which , If not Latin , was at least
unknown to the good folk of Paris.
"It is the house , " said the tallest of the
four. "Stand well back within the shade ! "
"Nay , Sholto , what need ? " grumbled an
other , a very thickset palmer he , "if the
maids be within , let uj burst the gates and
go and take them out ! "
"Be silent. Mallse , " put In th * third pil
grim , whose dress of richer stuff than that
of his companions , added to an air of nat
ural command , betrayed the man of supe
rior rank , "remember , great Jolterhead , that
we are not at the gates of Edinburgh with
all the south country at our backs. "
The fourth , a slender youth and fresh of
countenance , stood somewhat behind the
first three , without speaking , with an air
of profound meditation and abstraction.
It Is not difficult to Identify three out of
the four. Sholto's quest for his sweetheart
was a thing fixed and settled. That his
father and his brother Laurence should ac
company him was also to be expected. But
the other one , moro richly attired , was some
what less easy to be certified. He It was who
spoke French with Idiomatic use and easy
accentuation of a native , albeit of those cen
tral provinces which bad longest owned the
sway of the king of France. The brothers
MacKIm also spoke the language of the
country after a fashion. For many French
men had come over from Galloway in the
trains of the first two dukes of Touralne , eo
that the Gallic speech was a common accom
plishment among the youths who sighed to
adventure where so many poor Scots had won
fortune , in tbo armies of the king of France.
*
Paris was Paris in the reign of Charles
VII. Indeed Paris cannot be other than
Paris. Her populace , gay , fickle , brave , bad
just cast off the yoke of the English , and
were now venting their freedom from stern
Saxon policing according to their own fash-
Ion. Not the king of France , but the lord
of misrule held the scepter In the capital of
the merry kingdom.
It was not long therefore before a band
of roysterers swung round a corner , arm In
arm , taking the whole breadth of the narrow
causeway with them. It chanced that their
loader espied the four Scots standing In the
wide doorway of the house opposite the Hotel
de Porntc.
"Hey , game lads , " he cried , in that roys-
terlng shriek which then passed for dash
ing hardihood among the youth of Paris ,
"hero be some holy men , pilgrims to the
shrine of good St. Denis , I warrant I , too ,
am a clerk of a sort , for Henrlet tonsured
me on Wednesday s'enlgbt. Let us see if
these men of good works carry any of the de
ceitful vanities of earth about with them in
their purses. Sometimes these are not in
hand he thrust a blazing torch Into the
groy beard of Mallse.
There was a quick snort of anger. Then
with a burst of relief and pleasure came
the words , "By , I'll clout him now ! "
The sound of a mighty buffet succeeded ,
something cracked like a broken egg and
the cleveMongued young clerk went down
on the paving stones with a. clatter as his
torch extinguished itself In the gutter and
bis sword flew ringing across tbo street.
"Come on , lads they have struck the first
blow. We arc safe from the law. Kill
them every one ! " cried his companions ,
advancing to the attack with a confidence
born of numbers and the consciousness 'of
fighting on their own ground.
But ere they reached the four men who
had stood so quietly the Scots bad gathered
their clooks about their left arms In the
fashion of shields , and a blade , long and
stout , gleamed In every hand. Still no
armor was to bo seen , and though some
what disconcerted , the assailants were by oo
means dismayed.
"Come on let us revenge De Sllle ! " they
cried.
"Lord , Lord , this is gaun to be a salr
waste o' guld steel , " grumbled Mallse ;
"would that I had in my flst a stlove oaken
staff out o' Halmyro wood. I could crack
their pulr bit wlndlestaes o1 swords , with
out doing them muckle hurt ! Laddies ,
laddies , be warned and gang decently name
to your mlthers before a worse befall.
James , tell them to gang awa * harde to their
naked beds ! "
For having vented his anger in 'the first
buffet Mallso was remorseful. There was
no honor In such fighting. But all unwarned
the youthful roysterers of' Paris advanced.
This was a nightly business -with them , and
indeed on such street robberies of strangers
and shopkeepers the means of continuing
their carousings depended.
It chanced that at the first brunt of the
attack Sholto , who was at the otfier end of
the line from his father , had to meet three
opponents at once. He kept them at bay for
a minute by the quickness of bis defense ,
but being compelled to give back he was
parrying a couple of t'.ielr blades in front
when the third got in a thrust beneath bis
arm. It was as If the hostile sword had
stricken a stone wall. The Cheap and
treacherous blodo went to flinders and Uie
would-be robber was left storing at the
guard suddenly grown light in bis band.
With a quick backward step Sbolto slashed
hia lost assailant across the upper arm ,
effectually disabling him. Then catching
Ills heel against a step he fell backward , nnd
It would have gone 111 with him but for the
action of his father. The Brawny one was
profoundly disgusted with having to waste
his strength and science upon such a rabble ,
and now at tbo moment of his son's fall no
suddenly dropped his sword and seized a
couple of torches which had fallen upon the
pavement. With these primitive weapons
he fell llko a whirlwind upon the foe , tak
ing them In flank. A sweep of bis mighty
arms right and left sent two of the assail
ants down , one with the whole side of bis
face sacrificed from brow to jaw and the
other with his mouth at once widened by
the blow and 'hermetically ' closed by the
blazing tar.
Next Sholto's pair of assailants received
each a mighty buffet and went down with
crocked sconces. The rest see-Ing this re
volving and decimating fire still rushing
down upon them as Mallse waved the
torches round bis bead turned tall and fled
incontinently Into the narrow alleys which
radiated In all directions from the Hotel do
Pornlc.
CHAPTER XLIV.
Laurence Tnke * New Service.
Every day James Douglas and Sbolto
haunted the precincts of the Holer do Pornlc
and mode certain that Us terrible master
bad not departed. Mallse wished to leave
f rU and proceed At oncq to ( lie De Retz
"Well , " laughed Laurence In reply , "I
would be well content , If he be a good
master , and If In bis house It snowed where
withal to eat and drink. But tell me , what
un fortunate may have the masterage of BO
profitless a. servant as yourself ? "
"I am the poor gentleman allies de Sllle
of the household of the Marshal de Retz ! "
answered the swarthy youth , readily.
"De Silly , Indeed , to btd with such *
master ! " quoth Laurence with his usual
prompt hcedlcssness of consequences.
The sallow youth -with the bandaged head
Instantly reared himself on his elbow and
darted a look at Laurence from under brows
BO lowering and searching that Laurence
fell back in mock terror.
"Nay , " ho cried , shaking at the knees and
letting his hands swing ludicrously by his
Bides , "do not affright a poor clerk ! If
you look at mo llko that I will call the cook
from yonder eating stoll to protect me with
his basting ladle. I wet If he fetches you
one on the other side of your cracked sconce
you will never take service again -with
Marshal do Rotz. "
"What know you of my master ? " re
iterated Gllles de Sllle , glowering at his
mercurial jailer , without heeding his persi
flage.
"Why , nothing at all , " said Laurence
truthfully , "except that while we stood
listening to tbo singing of the choir within
his hotel a poor woman came crying for
her son , whom ( so she declored ) the marshal
had kidnapped , whereat came forth the guard
from within and thrust her away. Then
arrived you and your varlets and got your
heads broken for your Impudence ! That
Is all I know or want to know of your
master , "
Cllles do Slllo lay "back " on his pallet with
a sigh , still , lion-over , ppntlnutng to watch
the lad's ' coupfenancj. i
'
"You should iudbad'take service with the
marshal. Ho is the most lavish and generous -
orous master alive. Ho thinks no more
of giving a handful pt gold pieces to a
youth who takes him than of throwing a
crust to a beggar at the gate. He owns the
finest province in all the west from side to
elde. Ho Ijas castles , well nigh a dozen ,
finer and stronger than any In France. He
bos a college of priests and tbo service at
his chapel Is moro nobly Intoned than that
In the private chapel of the Holy Father
himself. When ho goes in procession ho has
a thurlfcr carried before him by the pope's
special permission. And I tell you , you are
Just the lad to take his fancy. That I can
see at a glance. I warrant you , Master
Launoe , if you will come with me , tne
marshal will make your fortune. "
"Did the other young fellow make his
fortune ? " said Laurence. Gllles do Stile
glared as If ho could have slain blm.
"What other ? " ho growled truculently.
"Why , the son of the poor woman who
cried beneath your kind master's window
the night before ycstereen ! "
The lank , swarthy youth ground bis
teeth.
" 'Tin 111 speaking against dignities , " bo
replied presently , with a certain mellow
dignity. "I dare say the young fellow took
service with the marshal to escape from
homo , and Is In hiding at Tlffauges , or may
hap Macheconl. Or ho may well have bc n
listening at some lattice of tbo Hotel de
Pornlc itself to the idiot clamor of his
mother and of the Ignorant rabble of
Paris ! " i
"Your master loves the society of the
young ? " queried Laurence , mending care
fully a string of his viol and keeping tbo
end of the catgut In his mouth as he spoke.
"He dotes on all young people , " answered
allies do Slllo , eagerly , the flicker of a
smile running about his mouth like wild
fire over u swamp. "Why , w hen a youth of
parts once takes service with my master he
never leaves it for any other , not even the
klDK'S. "
Which , in Ita way , was a true enough
statement.
"Well , " auotb Master Laurence , vfcen
Absolute purity is the
chief ornament of this
farne-crovvned beer.
VAL.BLATZ BREWING Co.
MILWAUKEE , U.S.A.
For Sale by Foley Brofc , Wholeiale
Dealer * , M12 DougUs Street Omaha ,
Tol. tOBI
Of Unapprooched Value for the Home , Class-room , Offkc , or Study.
Journal ofEduratlon , lloston ! "TliU If n treasure. No onocniiconceive the wraith
of Information , the convenience-for referi-nce , the elimination of non-rventlMs which
make this book worth much more than tbo prlco to any student , teucher , or writer. "
The Students' ' Standard Dictionary
Abridged from the Funk tfc Wannalh Standard Dictionary by
a large corns of experienced texicoaraplicrs tinder direction
of JAMES c. XERNALD and F. A. iiAiidn , LL.D. . . .
Xcw from cover to cover with rtumcrous exclusive features , besides being the most ample ,
comprehensive , nccurntc. nnd nuthoritativo ncndcmla dictionary in existence. It is the
work throughout of specialists , the nim having been to produce a modern mid ronvunient
handbook of dictionary information covering all departments of human knowledge. Its
vocabulary and appendix feature- * have never been upproached by any similar work.
Type , paper , and binding are of the highest quality.
REASONS WHY IT IS THE MOST PERFECT OF ACADEMIC DICTIONARIES.
EXCLUSIVE MERITS OF THIS BOOK. A FEW OF ITS SUPERIOR MERITS.
Found In no othir Acadtntlo Dictionary , Superior to ti'ory fthtr Acadomla Dictionary ,
EXCLUSIVELY capitalizes only such words ai SUPERIOR Vocnbulnry (02.M4 ( tcrm ) of uner-
require capitals. A SURE QUICK TO CAIITAL- cvlloil hews , RICHNESS , and CONVENIENT in-
trtTION ,
EXCLUSIVELY supplies Prepositions ( over SUPERIOR Definitions ; prepared by EMINENT
1,000) and Illustrates their correct use. KPItCIAl.tsTH AMI FUU , , EXACT , AND CLEAR.
EXCLUSIVELY gives Antonyms (2,000) ( or op- SUPERIOR Pronunciation Hj stein Indicating
poslts WOrdi ; ai iNPISPENSAnLE AS SYNONYMS. prommelutlonB WITH KA K AM > MMPIJCITV.
SUPERIOR Kt > mologles tiaeed buck In direct
EXCLUSIVELY Indicates the difference bo-
line ; no guefc cs OH I.NCL'HBIO.NS INTO COONATB
tweeu COMPOUND wonos and BIIOHEN WOKDS.
EXCLUSIVELY contalnn thousand * of NEW
wonoa and APPENDIX rEATCnts of great value. TIFUL , TASTlIFfL , AND Or U10U PKFI.NITUE VALUE.
VAI II ADI P APPPMRIY The Appendix embraces : Proper Names In
VHUUMULC. HrrtllUIA iiiofrrnphy. Fiction , History , -oraphy ( , etc. }
Foreign Words and Phrases In KuKllsh Literature ; Faulty Ilctlon , Disputed Pronunci
ation ; Cheiiilcal'Elementn , Title * nnd Degrees : Weights anil Measurpp , Historical Datat
Arbitrary Blgus and Symbol * ; Common and Metric 8) stems , ate. , ate.
PERFECT FROM EVERY STANDPOINT.
Sunday-School Xlmtt , Philadelphia : "TnkluR It all fognditr , the Student * ' Edition of the
Standard Dlctldtmry , because of the peculiar en re Elven to Us telectlons , and bccaixn of Its com-
pr hen tvenes9. Its ooncleeneM , lt bncklufr of scholarly condemns , Its readability and portability ,
and Its moderate prlca. Riven pronil o of n larpo Held of iihefiilnefti , not only among studcutg , but
lo editorial rooms , on the desks of literary workers , and In home libraries. "
Richard M. Jones , XI..n. , ITrad Master Freslilnnt I ) . II. Cochrno , 1'olytechmlo
William 1'onn Charter School , Kouudvd Institute , llrookljn , N. Y , : "It In tlin most
1689 , 1'lilladelphla , 1'a. : "I am convinced that reliable , comprehensive , and conrcnlcnt dic
there la no academic d'ctlonary published in tills tionary for the toachcr'8 desk yet offured lo
country that approaches It. " us. "
llonton TTeraldi "It Is to be preferred to all other dictionaries meant for office or desk nsa
and for scholars I n high schools and academies. Quite sufllclen t for the needs of nine readon In ten. "
Ijurffft Rvo , 015 pp. , cloth , leather hack , S2.no net. Hound In full leiithar.
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Sold by Booksellers , or sent postpaid on receipt of prlco by
WARD & GOW TAncnln ItutliUn a.
UNION New York City ,
lie had tied his string and finished cocking
his ear and twlngle-twangllng it to his
satisfaction , "you speak well. And I am not
sura but what I may think of It. I am
tired both of working for my father without
pay , and of singing psalms In a monastery
to please my Lord Abbot. Moreover , In this
city of Paris , I have to tell every jack with
n holbcrt that I nin not the son of the king
of England , and after all , as like as not , bo
marches me to the bilboes. "
"Of what nationality are you ? " asked Da
Sllle.
"Och , I'm all of a rank Irelander , and my
name Is Laurence O'Halloran , at your serv
ice , " quote the rogue without a blush. For
among other accomplishments which , ho had
learned at the abbey of'Dulco Cor was that
of lying with the serene countenance of on
angel. Indeed , as we have seen , be had the
rudiments of the art in blm bcforo setting
out from the tourneying field at Qlenlochar
on his way. to holy orders.
"Then you will come with me tomorrow ? "
said Gllles , smiling.
Laurcnco listened to make sure that
neither his father nor Sholto were approach
ing the garret.
"I will go with you on two conditions , "
he sold , "you must not mention my going
to the others. And when we escape you
must' put a bandage over your eyes till
we are half a dozen streets away. "
"Why , done with you after all , you are
a right gamesome cock , my Irelander ! " cried
Gllles , whom the conditions pleased even
better 'than ' Laurence's promise to accom
pany him.
Then lending the prisoner his viol where
with to amuse himself , and locking the door ,
Laurence made an excuse to go to the
kitchen , where ho laughed low to himself ,
chuckling in his Joy as bo deftly handled
the saucepans.
"Aha , Master Sholto , you are tbo captain
of tbo guard and a knight , forsooth , and I
am but poor clerk Laurence , as you have
outlines reminded me. But I will show
yuo a shift worth two of watching outside
tbo door of the marshal' ' for tidings of the
maids. I will go where the marshal goes
and see all bo sees. And then , when the
time comes , why , I will rescue them ulnglt.
hnaded , and thereafter make up my mind
which I shall marry , whether Sholto's bweet-
heart or the fair maid of Galloway. "
Thus headlong Laurencu communed with
himself , not knowing what be said n > r to
what terrible adventure he waa committing
himself.
Out Gllles de Blllo of the house of the
Marshal de Retz , being left to himself in
the half-darkness of the garret , took up the
viol and sang a curlous'alr , like that with
which the charmer wiles his snakes to b'm ,
and at the end of every verse he also
laughed low to himself.
( To be Continued. ) -
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THE BEST SALVE in the world for Cuts ,
Bruises , Sores , Ulcers , Salt Rheutn , Fever
Sores , Tetter , Chapped Hands , Chilblains ,
Corns and all Skin Eruptions , and positively
cures Piles , or no pay required. It Is gnat-
ontccd to give perfect satisfaction or money
refunded. Price 25 cents per box. Tor ale
by Kuhn & Co.
IIIIITII OI < * THE NEW YI3AR.
Who posseth by , so weird and desolate ,
Hem low with erlef and pallid with de-
With hoary locks and brow disconsolate
That seem to mark
his loss beyond re-
Beheld the winding linen-how immacu
late
That drapes the frigid burden ho doth
bear.
Wo murmur , aa he passeth , how unfor
tunate
That death should have the heart to
tarry there.
No kinsmen follow In the empty wake. '
Of this venerable and deeply stricken
sire.
No sons nor daughters share In his heart
ache ,
Nor stand with him about the funeral
pyre ;
For each. In turn , the parent did forsake ,
AB each offspring In turn wan called up
higher.
Till now , the latest born the bond doth
break.
To tuko hla place In the celestial choir.
Alone , in matchless grief , the sire hears
> , The crackling1 of the boughs upon the
pyro.
Old Father Time for It Is he In tears
Doth stand alone a poor despairing slro ;
When , lo , an anthem breaks upon his ears ,
Transfixed with Joy ho hears above the
tli
The oft-repeated music of the spheres
Proclaiming that he hath another heir.
WATSON AUSTIN.
Omaha , December 29 , JS98.
Ex-Governor Flower recently sent $100 to
the Salvation Army. When Jokingly asked
If he meant to enroll under General Booth's
banner Mr. Flower bluntly replied : "No ,
sir ; but I do belong to the great Christian
army and I don't care what flag they march
under BO loog aa they are bound to tbo
cross. "
ALWAYS USE
COCOA
PURE ! HEALTHFUL ! !
Strong Drink is Death
DR. CHARCOT'S TONIC TABLETS
are the only positively guaranteed remedy for the
prink Habit , Nervouineis and Melancholy caused
bj strong drink.
WK ttUAKAKTKB VOUIl IIOXKM
M cure any caie TIItha positive wrl 11 en ffuar.
ante * or relunil the money , and to denroj in *
ppetlto lor Intoxicating liquors.
THE TABLETS CAN BH GIVEN WITHOUT
KNOWLEDGE OP THE PATIENT ?
STRONG DRINK :
oilio 00 e will mall ou four [ 4 ] boxeg and poff
UT written Rimrnntc * lo
cure or ritund
fonrinom-T. lncl < I > IM S3 i
Meyer * , Dillon Draff Co. , Solo Agentl
10th and Fnriinni , Omaha , Neb.
Patronize
Home Industries
By Purclumlnir flood * Made at the Fol
lowing Ncbrimka Factories i
COHNIOEI wonics.
a. F. KPISM2THR ,
KAGLC COJlMCn WORKS.
Manufacturer of Galvanized Iron Cornices
Galvanized Iron Skylights. Tin , Iron and
Slate Hoofing. Agent for Klnnear'u Steel
Celling. 108-10-12 North Eleventh street.
FLOUH MILLS.
H. F. JHMAN.
Flour , Meal , Feed. liran , 1013-15-17 North
17th street , Omaha , Net ) . C. E. Black ,
Manager. Telephone 692.
IKON WORKS.
DAVIS A COW < ; ilI , , IKON AVOIUCS.
Iron and Ilraim Founder * .
Manufacturers and Jobbers of Machinery.
General repairing a epeclalty. 1501 , 1EOS
and 1C05 Jackson street , Omaha , Nob.
LINSEED OIL.
WOODMAN LIVMISKD Oil , WOHKfi.
Manufacturers old process raw linseed
oil , kettle boiled linseed oil , old process
ground linseed cakes , ground and screened
flaxseed for druggists. OMAHA. NEU.
BREWERIES.
OMAHA miEWIXO ASSOCIATION.
Carload shipments made in our own re.
frlgerator cars. Blue Ribbon , JSIIto Export ,
Vienna Export and Family Export doltv
cred to all parti of the city.
BOILBRH.
OMAHA I1OILF.H 1VOIIK9.
JOHN it , IOWnEV. I'rop ,
BoU r , Taut * and Sheet Iron