TTTR BATLT BEE : SUNDAY , .TANTTAKY : 22 , ison.
ftf&RXrockett
* 4U/THO * or "me HMonru *
x. wfl
Mornnonr , ! 'V
ulM of I'roeeilliiK rimnlor * .
William , sixth curl of Douglas , falls In
love with the niece of Marshal dp Hutz.
Kholto MncKltn , son of the DotiKlas
.irrnorV dl nKulshes himself In archery
nnil ! H mmle rnpt.-i n of the. cnstlc guard
nnd later U Is knighted for brnve conduct
an th tournament. Through thn plots of
) IH ! enemies anil the. lie p of Lady Hy b a
William Is lured to Cnstlc Crlchton. Sybllln
jcprnts of her oKrcemcnt nnd urges tlio
carl to return home with nil
Speed Marshal do lU-tz take * Sybllla to
J dlnlmrKh and William ucoep s the invltt-
tlon of the yomiK King of Scotland to visit '
boar's
the court At u banquet a IIUBC
liMil s brought In-ii sign of treachery.
Tin earl and hla brother are arrested and
IniprNoiKd. The brothers are sentenced
to bo executed at once. Sybllla dc-
HnrcM her love before the court and
forth to their
Douglases go
the two
Jleath Sholto stirs up the countrymen
i nd In three d.ij-H every man of the South-
nnl H on his way to Edinburgh to aveng *
I , yoimB earr/death. At ' ' !
K ar S-holJo PrtSKM Ii
and starts
r , blesses him as her son
t Ti rl1 mid tlipn to BrittnTij' ' *
i Tt > tf n
Mrc'vlm ' enters into service with
J.auroi ce
with
Po It.tr . The search.partybattlcs %
thn
or holli comes , tnr > main m j ;
Maud Umlesay wilt bo murdered.
CIIAI'TRH I.II.
The TnmitliiK "f ' " MefTmye.
It was In the White tower of Mache
coul that the Scottish maidens were held
at the mercy of the cruel lord of Retz. At
their first arrival in the country they had
Ibccn taken to tbe quiet chateau of Pouz-
nugcs , the birthplace of Poltou , the mar
shal's most cruel and remorseless confidant.
Here , as tbo marshal truly Informed tbo
Lady Sybllla , they had been under the care
with th-3 neglected
of , or rather fellow prisoners
lected wife of Gllles de Retz , and had spent
eoiiio days of comparative poico nnd se
curity in tbo society of her dausbtor.
But at the flret breath of the coming of
the three strangers to the district they
had been seized nnd secretly oonvevoa to
Machecoul Itself , there to bo Interned behind
the vast walls and triple bastions of that
fortress prison.
"I wonder , Maudlc , " said Margaret Doug
las , as they sat on the Hat roof of the White
iowcr of Macbecoul and looked over the
battlements upon the green pine glades and
wldo eoaward landes , "I wonder whether
ever wo shall see the water of the Dee and
our mother and Sholto MacKIm ? "
H is to bo feared that the last part of
' -the problem exceeded In Interest all others
in the eyes of Maud Llndesay.
"H seemed as it w'o never could again
( behold any ono we loved or wished to see
hero In this horrlblo place , " sighed Maud
Llndcsay. "If ever I get back to the dear
land and sco Solway side I will bo a differ
ent sirl. "
"Hut , Maud , " said the little maid re-
inoachfully , "you wcro always good and
llnd : It Is not well done of you to speak
ngalrst jourfelf In that fashion. "
Maud Llndesay shook her pretty head
ninumfully.
Hut the eyes of the little maid of Gallo-
way v.ere now fixed upon something In the
preen courtyard below.
"Maud Maud , como hither quickly ! " ' she
whispered ; "If jomler he not Laurence Mac
KIm talking to the singing lads and dressed
llko them why then , I do not know Laur-
euco MacKIm ! "
JIaud came quickly enough now. Her fac <
nnd neck blmhed suddenly crimson will
the springing of hope In her heart.
She looked down and there far below them
but yet distinct enough , they saw Laurenci
daring Blalso Renouf to single combat ane
vaunting his Irish prowess , as wo have aV
ready seen him do. Maud Llndcsay caugh
lier companion's hand as she looked.
"They have found us , " she whispered , "a
least , they are seeking for us. If Laurenci
is hero I warrant Sholto cannot be ver :
far away. O , Margaret , am I looking ver ;
ill ? Will ho think I am as ( she paused to
n word ) as comely as ho thought mo be
fore In Scotland. Or have I grown old am
ugly with being shut up ? "
Hut the maid of Galloway heard her nol
She was pondering on the meaning o
Laurence's presence In the castle of Macho
coul.
"Perhaps William hath sent Laurence t
ppy us out and Is even now coming from hi
duchy with an array. Ho Is a far greate
man than the marshal nnd will make hit
plvo us up as soon as ho finds where w
nre. Shall I call down to Laurlo to let hli
know that wo are here ? "
Maud put her hand hastily over her com
jmnlon's nioutli.
"Hush ! " she said , "we must not appear t
Itnow him , or they will surely kill hlm-
nnd perhaps the others , too. If Laurent
Is hero I wet well that other help Is n <
far nway. Let us be patient and abld
Como back from the wall and sit by n
as If nothing had happened. "
But nil tbo same she kept her own pla <
in a spot whence eho could command tt
plcasaunco below , and looked to sco Sholi
follow his brother across the green sward.
* * * *
"Sweet and fair Is the air of the evening
purred behind them a low voice. , that of tl
woman who was called IA Meffraye. "
brings the color to the checks of the youn
But I am old and wise , and I would advli
that two maids so fair should not look dow
on the sports ot the youths , lest they hei
\
\\'o have a fresh stock of Hilton's No.
Order of ua SUURMAN & id'CONNLI ]
V'o CO. , Omaha. Neb ,
and see more than te fitting for such In
nocent eyesl"
The girls turned nway without looking at
their custodian , who stood leaning upon her
little hand crutch and smiling upon them
her terrible soft imllo.
"Ah , " sbo said , "proud are you ? 'TIs an
111 place to 'bring ' pride to this castle of
Machecoul. You would not deign to speak
a word to a poor Old woman now. But the
day te not far distant when I shall have
my pretty spitfire clinging about these old
trembling knees nnd beseeching me , whom
you despise as a woman , either to save you
or kill you you will not care which. As a
woman ha ha how long Is It since La
Mcffraye was a woman. Was she over
rocked In ft cradle ? ? Did she play about any
cottage door and fashion daisy chains , as
I have seen you do , my pretties , long ro
you cam * to Machecoul or heard of the
Slcur de Hetz. Hath L * Meffraye ever lain
In any man's bosom M.TO s tto tlgreaa
crouches upon her prey ? "
She paused , and smiled stlH more bitterly
and malevolently than , before upon the two
maldeni.
"Did you chance to be awake yestercven ? "
she went on. "Aye , I know that you were
awake. La Meffrayo saw right carefully to
that. And you heard the crying that rang
out of yonder high window , from which the
red light streamed all through the night.
Walt wait , my pretties , till It Is your turn
to bo sent thither , -when the shining knife
la sharpened and the red fire kindled. You
will not despise La Meffraye then. You will
grovel and weep , nnd then will La Moffrayo
spurn you with her foot , till the noise of
your crying bo borne out over the forest , and
for very gladness tte wolves shall howl In
the darkness. "
The little maid of Galloway was moved
to answer and her lips quivered. But Maud
Llndeaay sat pale and motionless , looking
toward the north , from which she hoped for
help to come.
"Our brother , the earl of Douglas , will
bring an army from his dukedom of Tou-
ratno and sweep you and yr/ur castle from
the fact of the earth If your master dares
to lay so much as a finger upon us. "
La Meffrayo laughed a low chuckling
laugh and In the act showed the four long
eyeteeth which were the sole remaining den
tal equipment of her mouth.
"O , great Barran , " she chuckled , "listen
to the pretty fool ! 'Our brother will do
this , ' 'our brother will do that. 'Our brothel
will lick the country of Rotz clean as a dot
licks a platter. Know you not , silly fool ,
that both your brothers are long sine * dead
and under the sod In the castle of youi
city of Edinburgh. I toll you my mastei
sot his little finger upon 'them ' and crushet
them like flies on a summer chamber wall ! '
Maud Llndcsay rose to her feet as In
Meffraye spoke these words.
"It Js not true , " she cried ; "you lie to us
as you have done from the first. The ear !
of Douglas Is not dead ! "
It was now little Margaret wlho showct
itho spirit of tier race and put out her han (
to clasp that of her elder comrade.
"Do not let her even know she has powe ;
to hurt us with her words , " she whisper *
to Maud Llndesay.
But a new voice broke in upon tbe rnlllni
of the hideous woman-fiend.
"Out , fool hag ! Get to your own place ! '
It said , strong and commanding.
And the affrighted and heart-sick girl
turned them about to sea the Lady Syblll
stand fair and pale at the head of the tur
ret etalr , which opened out upon tbe roc
of the White tower.
At this Interruption the eyes of L
Mcffraye seemed to burn with a freshe
fury and the green light in them shone a
shines emerald stone held up to the sun.
The hag shrank , however , fron ) the out
stretched finger of Sybllla de Thouars.
"Ah. fair lady , " she whispered , "be nc
angry and tell not my lord. I beseech yoi
I did but jest ! "
"Hence ! " the finger was still outatretcbei
and in obedience to the threatening geatui
the ban shrank away. But as she passe
through the portal down the steps of th
turret she flung : back certain words with
defiant leer.
"Ah , you are young , my lady , and f <
the present for the present your power
greater than mine. But wait ! Your beaul
will wither and grow old. But La Meffraj
can never grow older , and when once U
secret is discovered and my lord is your
again La Meffrayo le the one who with hi
shall bloom with immortal youth , while yo
proud lady , lie cold In the belly of tl
worml"
CHAPTER 1,111.
Sylillla' * VenKennce.
There stands a solitary rock in whli
is n cave , on the seashore of La Vende
Dehlnd stretch tbe marshes and the place
shut in and desolate. Blrde cry there. Tl
herons nest upon the pine trees near by t
the stale scent of them comes down tbe wli
from afar. Oscroys fish In the waters
the shallow lakes behind and the scales
their prey flash In the sun of morning
they rise dripping from the div ? .
In this place Sholto , Mallso and the Lo
James Douglas were presently abiding.
It was but a tiny cell originally form
by two portions of marly rock fallen t
gcthcr In Eomo ancient convulsion
dropped upon caoh other from a floating le
berg. In some former age the cleft h ;
been a lair of wild beasts or the much
some hairy savage hammering flint arroi
heads for the chase , and drawing with sha
ir point upon polished bone the yet halrl
mammoth bo hunted. But this sollta
lodging in tbo wilderness had been c
largcd In more recent times until now t
interior was about eight feet square and
the height of a man of stature when
stands erect.
The hearts of the three present cav
dwellers were sick and Bad , and of them i
the bitterest was the heart of Sholto M
Kim , It seemed to tols eager lover's spl
as ho climbed to the top of the sand dun
and gazed toward the massive towers
Machecoul rising above the green woodlani
that hitherto they had but wandered a
done nothing. The sorcerer had enclrcl
them with his evil. They had lost Lauren
utterly , nnd for the rest they toad not cv
touched tbo outer defenses of their ar
enemy.
Thrice they had tried to enter tbe cast
The first time they had taken by force t'
wagons of fuel from the men who went I
ward Macbocoul , leaving the woodmen I
hind In the forest , bound and helpless. E
nt the first goto of the outer hall the mi
shal's guard bad stopped them and ( '
mantled that they should wait till the ct
were unloaded and returned to them , i
having received the money , the Scots i
turned as they were to tbe men whom th
bad left In the forest.
After this repulse rtiey had gone rou
and round the vast walls of Machecoul , ( tec
Ing a place vulnerable , but finding noi
The ramparts rose u It had been to heavi
and the flanking towers were crowded nit
and day with men on the watch. Round 1
malls ( or tbe tpace ot a bowshot evrr
there rnn a green space fair nnd open to the
vUnv , but In reality full of pitfalls and secret
engines. From the battlemenia began the
arrow bill , so soon as any attempted to approach
preach the castle along any other way thun
by tlio thrlcu-dcfcndud road to tlio main
' "
Bate'
The wolvea howled in the forests by night ,
and more than once came so near that ono of
tbo three men had to take It In turns to keep
watch In the cave's mouth. But for a reason
not clear to them at thu time they were no
more attacked by the wild beasts of the
woods.
The third time they had tried to enter the
castle In their pilgrim's garb , and the outer
picket courteously received them. But when
they were come to the Inner curtain ono
Hobln Komulart , the olllcer of tlio guard , a
stout fellow , suddenly called to his men to
bind and gag them In which enterprise , but
for the great strength of Mallse , they might
have succeeded. For the outer gates had
been shut with a clang , and they could hear
the soldiers of the garrison hastening from
all nldcs In answer to Robin's summons.
But Mnllso snatched up the bar where
with the winding cogs of the gate were
turned , and , having broken more than one
man's head with it , ho forced the massive
doors apart by main force , so that they were
nblo all unharmed to reach the shelter of the
woods. So near capture had they been , bow-
ever , that they heard over and over again
the shouting of the search parties who
scoured the woods In search of them.
It was the worst feature of their situation
that the Marshal de Retz certainly knew
of their presence In his territories , and that
he would easily be ableto guess their er
rand and take measures to prevent Its suc
ceeding.
Their last and moat fatal failure bad hap
pened several days before , nnd the first
eager burst of the search for them had
passed. But the Scots knew that the enemy
was thoroughly alarmed and that it be
hooved them to abide very .closely within
their hiding place.
The Lord James took worst of nil with the
uncertainty and confinement. Any restraint
was unsulted to his jovial temper and open-
air life. But for the present , at least , till
I shall yet docelvo him In more deadly
faahton ,
Sholto could restrain hlnmelf no longer.
"Enouch. " ho said , roughly ; "tell us
whether the maidens are alive and if they
are abiding In ttila castle of Mnchecoul ? "
The Lady Sybllla did not remove her eyes
from the red west.
"Thus far they arc safe , " said she , In the
same calm monotone. "I have como from
the white tower In which they are confined.
But ho whom I serve swears by an oath that
If you or other rescuers are heard of again
In his country do will destroy them both. "
She shuddered as sbo spoke with a strong
revulsion of feeling.
"Therefore bo careful with a great care
fulness. Give up all thought of rescuing
them directly. Remember how little you
have accomplished and that your slightest
actions will bring upon those you love a
fate of which you llttlo dream. "
"After what wo remember of Crlchton
castle , bow can wo trust you , lady ? " eald
Mallso , sternly. "Do you speak the truth
with your mouth ? "
"You have , Indeed , email cause to think
so , " she answered , without offense ; "yet
having no choice , you must o'en trust mo. "
She turned sharply upon Sholto with n
strip of paper In her outstretched band ,
"I think , joung sir , that you have some
reason to know from wbom that comes. "
Sbolto grasped at itlio writing with a new
and wonderful bopo In his heart. Ho know
Instinctively before ho touched It that none
but Maud Llndesay could have written that
script , small , clear and distinct as a motto
cut on a gem.
"To our friends ID France and Scotland , "
so It ran , "wo are still snfe this eve of the
blessed St. Michael. Trust her who brings
this letter. She Is our savior and our only
hope In a dark and evil place. She Is sorry
for that which by her hath been done. As
you hope for forgiveness , forgive her. And
for God's dear sake , do immediately the
thing she bids you. This conies from Mar
garet do Douglas nnd Maud Llndcsay. It Is
written by the hand ot M. L. "
The wax at the bottom was sealed In
double with the boar's head of Llndcsay and
t'ho ' heart of Margaret of Douglas.
country to rise In rebellion. Then they will
overturn ell the caattee of Do llctz and { ho
hidden thing * shall como to light , This do
and for this tlmo depart from Mnchecoul
and Intrust me ( as indeed > ou must ) with
tbo honor and the lives of those you lovr ,
I will keep them with mine own until de
struction pass upon him who Is outcast from
God nnd whom now bis own fiend from hell
hath deserted. "
Then having sworn to do her bidding , the
three Scots conducted the Lady Sybllla with
honor and observance to her white pal troy ,
nnd like a spirit she vanished Into the sea
mists which had sifted up from the weet ,
going back to the drear castle of Machecoul ,
bearing with her the burden of her ro-
vcngc.
CHAl'TIMl MV.
Tlio CroiN Under tinApron. .
The face ot Glllcs de Laval , lord of Intz ,
had shone all day with an unholy luster like
that of iron In which the red heat yet strug-
Kles with the black. In the castle of Mache
coul his familiars went about wcar'ng ' ex
pressions upon their countenances In which
disgust nnd expectation wcro minded with'
an overwhelming fear of tbe terrible baron.
The usual signs of approaching high
saturnalia at Machecoul had not been want-
Ing.
Uarly In tbo morning La Mcffraye had
been seen hdvorlng Hko an unclean t > lrd of
prey about the playing grounds of the vil
lage children at St , Benolt , on the ed es
of the forest. At 9 the frightened villagers
heard the howl of a day-hunting wolf , and
ono Louis Verger , a woodman who was
cutting bark 'for ' tanneries In tbe ralley ,
saw a great Bray wolf rush out and iclzo
his little eon , Jean , n 1x > y of 5 years old ,
who came bringing his father's breakfast.
With a great cry ho hurried back to alarm
the village , ibut .when men gathered with
scythes nnd rude 'weapons ' of the chase the
benat's track was lost In the depth of the
forest.
Llttlo Jean Verger of St. Benolt was never
seen again , unless U were he who , half
hidden under the long , black cloak of
Lo Meffraye , was brought at noon by the
"THB DAY IS NOT PAR DISTANT , SPITFIRE. WHEN YOU'LL BE CLINGING AROUND LA MEFFRAYE CRYING FOR
MERCY. "
ley could gain some further information as
o the whereabouts of the maidens , it was
bvlous ttmt they could do no better than
emain in their seaside shelter.
Their latest plan 'was ' to abide In the cave
till the marshal set out again upon one of
Is frequent Journeys. Then It would bo
comparatively easy to ascertain by an am-
ush whether ho was taking the captives
with him , or. If ho had lett them behind.
f the maids were of his traveling company
s ae three rescuers would be guided by clr-
umstances and the strength of the escort
s to whether or not they should venture to
make an attack.
'
But if by an unhoped-for chance Margaret
nd Maud were left behind at Machecoul It
would at least bo a more feasible enterprise
o attack the fortress during the absence of
. ts master and his men.
It chanced that for several minutes no
0
„ sound was heard except these connected
with their labor , the low whistle with which
ho Lord James accompanied his polishing ,
ho wisp-wisp of Jlallso's arms as bo sewed
he double thread back and forth through a
rent In his leathern jacket , and the rasp of
Sholto's file as ho carved out the finals of
he bow , the notched grooves wherein the
string was to llo so easily and yet eo
firmly.
Thus they continued to work , absorbed
each ot them in the sadness of his own
thought , till suddenly u shadow seemed to
strike between them and the red light of
the sunset sky. They loolted up , and before
them , as It wcro ascending out of the very
Blow of the sunset , they paw a woman on
a white palfrey approaching them by the way
of the sea.
So suddenly did she nppear that the Lord
James gave a low cry of wonder and sprang
to his feet , while Mallse , the practical ,
reached for his sword. But Sholto had seen
this vision twice already and knew their
visitor for the Lady Sybllla.
"Hold there ! " he said in an undertone.
"Remember It is as I said. This woman
though wo have no cause to love her , is now
our only hope. Her words brought us here.
o They wcro true words , and I bellevo she
or comes as our friend. I will stake my life
fl on it. "
flirt
irt "Or , If she comes as an enemy , we ore
ot no worse off , " grumbled skeptical Mallse.
v- "Wo can at least encourage her and then
vrp
rp hold her as an hostage. "
or The three Scots were standing to receive
ry their guest when the Lady Sybllla rode up.
nlio Her face had lost none of the pale sadness
lie which marked It when Sholto last saw her ,
of and , though the look of utter agony had
ho passed away , the despair of a soul In pain
had only become more deeply printed
° upon it.
*
The girl , having acknowledged their salu-
tatlons with a stately and well-accustomed
motion of tbo head , reached a hand for
g
Sholto to lift her from her palfrey.
of
Is Then , still without words , she silently
Isni seated herself on a gray llchened rock rudely
niei shaped in the semblance ot a chair , on which
eiCO Mallso had been sitting at his mending
en The strange maiden looked long nt the blue
ch of the sea deepening in the notches ot the
eand dunes beneath them. The three men
le stood before her , waiting for her to speak.
le.VO . Each of them knew well that lives dearer
,0- and more precious than their own hung upon
what she might have to say.
lu At lafit she spolio In a voice low as the
tr wind when it blows Its lightest among the
ie- trees.
irs "You have small cause to trust me or to
count mo your friend , " she said , "but we
e- have that which binds closer than friend-
eey
ey tlilp , n common enemy and a common cause
of hatred. It wore bettor therefore that we
nd should understand ono another. I have
k never lost sight of you since you came to
30 , this fatal land of Retz. I have been near
sn you when you knew It not. To accomplish
this I have deceived the man wdo is my
task master , swearing to him that In the
ltch crv Lu4 I have taeu you depart. And
Sholto having read the missive silently ,
mssed It to the Lord James that he might
> rove the seals , for it was his only learning
o be skilled In heraldry.
"It is true , " he said , "I myself gave the
ittle maid that ring. See it hath a piece
broken from the peak of the device ! "
"My lady , " said Sholto , "that which you
> rlng is more than enough. Wo kiss your
land nnd wo will sacredly do all your bid
ding , were it unto the death or the trial by
Ore. "
Then , as was the custom to do to ladles
vhom knights would honor , the Lord James
nnd Sholto kneeled down and kissed the
land of Sibylla de Thouars. But Mallse , not
> eing a knight , took it only and sot it upon
> I great grizzled head , where It lay for n
moment , lightly as upon some gray nnd an
cient tower lies a flake of snow before It
melts.
"I thank you for your overmuch cour-
: esy , " the girl sold , casting her eyes on
[ he ground with a new-born shyness most
like that of a modest maid. "I thank you ,
Indeed. You do mo. honor far above my
desert. Still , after all , wo work for ono
end. You have , It Is true , the nobler mo-
tlvo the lives of these you love. But I the
deadlier , the death of one I hate ! Harken ! "
She paused as If to igathor strength for
thnt which she had to reveal , and then
reaching her hands out she motioned the
three men to gather more closely about her ,
as If the Wue Atlantic waves or the red
holes of the plnet trees might carry the
matter.
"Listen , " she eald ; "the end comes fast ,
faster than any know , save I , to whom for
my slrus the gift of second sight hath been
Klven. I , who speak to you am of Brittany
and of the house of De Thouars. To ono of
us In each generation descends this
abhorred gift of second sight. And I , be
cause as n child , It was my lot to meet ono
wholly given over to evil , have seen more
and clearer than all that have gone before
mo. But now I do foresee the end of the
wlckod st and most devilish soul every
prisoned within the body of man. "
As she spoke the heads of the three Scots
bent lower and closed to catch every word ,
for the volco of the Lady Sybllla was moro
like the cooing of a mating turtle dove as it
answers Its comrade than that of a woman
betrayed , denouncing vengeance and death
upon him whom her soul hateth.
"Be of good heart then and depart as 1
shall bid you. None can help nor hinder
here at Machecoul , but I alone. Be euro
that at the worst tbo unnameablo shall not
happen the maids. For In tno there Is the
power to slay the evil-doer. But slay I will
not unless it bo to keep the lives ot the
inalJs. For I desire for Gllles de Rotz a
fate greater , moro terrible , moro befitting
iniquity such as the world hath never heard
spoken of elnco It arose from the abyss. "
"And this la it given to mo to bring-
upon him whom my soul hateth , " she went
on , "I have seen the hempen cord by which
ho shall hang , I have seen the fire through
which bis soul shall pass to Its own plac * .
Through mo this fate shall come upon him
suddenly In ono night. "
Her face lighted up with an inner Hchl
nnd shone translucent In the darkening of
the day and the dusk of trees ns'lf tbe fair
veil wavered and changed about tbo venge
ful soul within.
"And now. " she went on after a pause ,
"I bid you , gentlemen of tbo house of Doug
las , depart to John , duke of Brittany , ani !
having found him , to lay this paper before
him. It contains the number and tbo
names of those who have died In the castles
of De Retz. It shows in what hidden places
the bones of the slaughtered innocents maybe
bo found. Clamor in bis ear for justice in
the name of the king of France , nnd if he
will not hear , then In the name of the folk
of Brittany. And if because of his kinship ho
will not listen , EO to the bishop ot Nantes
who hates Gllles de Retz. Better than any
he knows how to stir the people and be
u-lll > and with you Lriutr man to cinao tha
private postern of the baron Into the castle
of Machecoul.
So the men of St. Benolt iwcnt not back
to their work , but abode together all that
lay , sullen anger iburnlng In their 'hearts '
And ono calling himself the servant of the
slshop of Nantea went about among them
and his words were as knives , eharp am
blttor beyond belief. And ever as he spoke
the men turned thorn about till they faced
Machecoul. Their lips moved Hko thos
of a Moslomito who says his prayers to
wards Mecca. And the words they uttered
were Indeed prayers of the solemnest 1m
port.
Oilles do Retz , as ho sat under the lat
blooming rcscs In the afternoon sunshln
of the autumn of western Franco , appeared
to the casual eye ono of the most nabl
seigneurs and tbo most enlightened In th
world. Ho affected a costume already semi
ecclesiastic as a token of his ultimate lnt.cn
tlon to seek holy orders. It seemed already
as if the great soldier who had ridden into
Orleans with Dunols and the maid had begun
gun to lay asldo 'his earthly glorlco and
seek the heavenly.
There , upon a chair placed within the
cloisters , In a plnco which the sunshine
touched most lovingly and where it lin
gered longest , ho sat , nodding his head
to the sound ot the sweet singing and bow
ing low at each mention of the name of
Jesus ( as the custom Is ) , a still , medita
tive , almost saintly man. Upon the lap of
his furred robe ( for after all it was a sun-
shlno with a certain shrewd wlntrlncss in
it ) lay an illumined copy of the holy gos
pels. And sometimes as he listened to the
choir boys singing ho glanced therein and
read of the little children to whom belongs
the kingdom. Ho lifted the book also nnd
looked with pleasure at the pictured cherubs
who cheered the way of the Master Jerusa-
lomwards with strewn palm leaves nnd
shouted hosannas.
And over sweeter anfl sweeter fell the
music upon his car , till suddenly , llko the
sllcnco after a thunderclap , the organ ceased
to roll , the cliolr was silent and out of the
quiet rose a single volco tint of Laurence
the Scot , singing in a tenor of Infinite sweet
ness the words of blessing :
Suffer little children to come unto me ,
And forbid them not ,
For such Is the kingdom of heaven.
And as the boy's clear volco welled out ,
clear and thrilling as the eong of an upward
pulsing lark , the tears ran down the face
ot Gllles do Retz.
God knows why perhaps it was some
glint of bis own Innocent childhood , some
half-dimmed memory of his happily dead
mother. 1'erhmps but enough , Gllles do
Laval do Itetz.went up the turret stair to
find Poitou and Gllles de Slllo on guard on
either side of the portal which closed hlu
chamber.
"Is nil ready ? " he said , though the tears
were scarcely dry on his cheeks.
They bowed before him to the ground.
"Al Is ready , lord and master ! " they salt ]
as with one voice.
"And Prolatl ? "
"He Is In waiting ! "
"And La Meffraye " he went on , "has
she arrived ? ' "
"La Meffrayo has arrived ! " they said ,
"All goes fortunately. "
"Good ! " said Gllles do Retz , and shed
ding his furred monkish cloak careless ) ;
from off his shoulders , ho went within.
1'oltou and Gllles do SIHe both reached tr
catch the roantlo ere it fell. As they did
so their bands met ami touched. And ai
the touch of each other's fleeh they boll
startol nnd drew apart. Their eyes mei
and were Instantly withdrawn. Then hav
ing hung up the clcak , with pallid coun
tenances and llpa white and drawn , thej
slowly followed the marshal within.
( To Bo Continual. )
If you want a strictly pure champagne tha
Is extra dry , get Cook's Imperial , Natural ! ;
Efforts of
\
PHYSICIANS
Crowned With Success.
Rich , and Poor Alike Can Now Use the
New Treatment.
su-
GREAT REDUCTION IN DEATH RATE PREDICTED
Nothing has over occurred In the history
if medicine which has brought so much Joy
o the medical profession as thu unnounce-
nent that the new euro for diseases of the
respiratory organs would be placed on the.
market In auoh a manner as to enable the
loorest suffering to r.'celvp the benefits
which arc to be derived from this wonderful
.reatment. Ever since the discovery of
his now ffermlolde , and especially slncu
: hey have found It a positive cure for Ca
tarrh , nronchltls and Consumption , physi
cians have , used every effort to persuade
he manufacturers of Hyomei to bring
heir remedy within the reach of all , but
mvlng given nway over two million sample
jollies of llyomsl free , treated over seven
lundrctl thousand sufferers with less th.in
ono hundred fnllures nnd returned the
money to all UIOMO who had not been
cured , the H. T. Uooth company felt thnt
.hey had done enough to prove to any sen
sible person the. true value of their new
discovery and refused to make any further
concessions. Strong pressure was brought
to bear upon them by tlu medical profes
sion without results , unttl the proofs were
furnlhc/l that the methods of Introduction
employed by them had been used for years
by quacks to Inveigle nuffersrs to their
otflccs , wherfe they frightened them Into
nirchnsliiRtholr treatment or medicine In
"act , so often have the people been deceived
t Is now almost Impossible to persuade
hem to Invest one- dollar until they know
that the remedy will benefit them , To be
euro over seven hundred thousand did pur
chase Hyomei In 1SSS , yet an the physi
cians expressed It , this number was but a
drop In the bucket when compared with the.
vast army of people who are suffering from
THB STOHY OF HYOMICI freu for the asking. IIYOMBI DYHPT5PSIA CURE
complete (3 ( different treatments ) , 60 cents. No ono tablet can embrace all th ; Ingredi
ents necessary for the cure of the various forms of dyspepsia. With Hyomei w glva
three different treatments covering all the various forms nnd adapted to nny casa. If
your drUKKlst does not hn.vo It w will se d It to you by mall on receipt of price , EOc.
fiend for folder and Story of Hyomei.
THU K. T. BOOTH CO. , Auditorium Building. Chicago.
444444444444444
aoup.1
NtURAlC :
SCIATICA.
SPRAINS. ,
SWCU.INCS
UMCNtSS.
TOH5IUTIS.
SORtTMMT ,
COLD ONIUNCS
Ml Ml *
INTUMMAlWtfT
COUGHS OR COLDS
P In or tightness In Chest
"HOT-OIL"
alw jr curei. It la guaran
teed to cnro pneumonia ,
whea Dot toe far d rtnccd ,
4444444444444 44444444444444 *
HORRIBLE CURE "
BY
RHEUMATISM
A 15c , TRIAL BOTTLE IMMEDIATELY RELIEVES ,
Doctors say : " Hot treatment possesses super
human influence over pains anil Inflammation. "
That Is ono reason why " HOT-OIL " always
cures because it is applied hot. It e6tualiy
steams the pain away. It goes straight to the
bone , soothing and strengthening.
WHY DO YOU SUFFER ?
Have you not confidence enough to invest
I6o. FOR A TRIAL BOTTLE
which almost instantly will relieve you > ' sufferings.
ONE BOTTLE TELLS THE STORY
A I5c. bottle relieves.
A COc. bottle will curt } . *
"HOT-OII.'Ms now on sale at your Drugg-tat , or will i §
be Kut direct , if you sctidttOv. lor trial bottlcorSOc. for . *
lurge bottle to IlF.ncui.EAN HOT OIL Co. , EUIIBA. N. Y. A
FOH SALE nY SHERMAN & M oCO.\NFII , DRUG CO. , OMAHA.
Of Unapproached Value for the Home , Class-room , Office , or Study.
Journal o/Education , Boston : "This ln treasure. No onocnn conceive the vealth
of Information , the convenience for reference , tlio elimination of non-cwntlalfl which
make this book worth much mort > than the price to any student , teacher , or writer. "
The Students' ' Standard
Abridged from the Fttnk it War/nails Standard Dictionary by
a large corps of experienced lexicographers under direction
of JAMES C. &ERNALD and F. A , MAJtCIf , LL.I ) . . . .
New from coverto cover with numerous exclusive fcaturr1 ? , besides boinj ; the most ample ,
comprehensive , accurate , nnd authoritative academic dictionary in cxintcncc. It U the
work throughout of specialists , tlio aim Imyincliccn to prod lire u modern and convenient
handbook of dictionary information covering all departments of human knowledge. Its
vocabulary and appendix features hayo never been approached by any similar work ,
Type , paper , and binding nro of tlio highest quality.
RtASONS WHY IT IS THE MOST PERFECT OF ACADEMIC DICTIONARIES.
EXCLUSIVE MERITS OF THIS BOOK. A FEW OF ITS SUPERIOR MERITS.
Fount In no other Academic Dictionary. Superior to every ether Acadcmle Dictionary.
EXCLUSIVELY capitalize only euch words as 5UPCRIOR Vocabulary ( C3.3S4 term * ) of unex
require capitals. A BUUE OUIDE TO CAVITAL- celled bcon , HIGHNESS , and CONVENIENT AH-
UATIOH. .
EXCLUSIVELY supplies Prepositions ( over SUPERIOR Ocflnltlnns ; prepared by
1,000) oad Illustrates their correct use. ftpRcur.iDTfl AKII rnu. , RTAOT , AMD CLIAR.
EXCLUSIVELY fe'IrcB Antonyms (2,00i1) ( ) or op SUPEKIOK rrontmclatlon Hyslcni Indicating
posite words ; as rxniBPENtfAnLE AS SV.NONVSIS. Tironunclntlom WITH EA K AND siuei.ioirY.
SUPERIOR ntj inologieB traced back In direct
EXCLUSIVELY Indicates the * difference bet -
Hue ; no guesses on INCURBIOXB INTO COGNATE
tenu coupoLT n wonpt and DITOKEN WORDS. . .
i.AxmT/mr.
EXCLUSIVELY oontnlnn thoiiKands of NKW SUPERIOR Illustrations ( over 1,225) ) being PLEH.
WORDS and iPpENbn FEATURES of great Talue. TIFUt , TAS1EFUL , AND OF HIOIIDECINITITE TALUK.
VAI IIARI F APPFNIIIY The Appendix : embraces : Proper Names In
VALUABLE. MrrtnUIA uioirrnpfiy , Fiction. History , 0 eography , etc. :
Foreign Words and Phrases in Engllali Literature ; Faulty Dlclloii , uutcd 1'roniiiiul-
Btlou ; Ch inlcal-EleinrntB , Titles and D gn > es ; Weights nnd Measures , Historical Catai
Arbitrary Blgos and Symbols ; Common and Metric Systems , etc. , etc.
PERFECT FROM EVERY STANDPOINT.
Times , rhlladelplifa : "Taking It all ( ocother , thn RtudenU' Edition of the
fitiuiiUrd Dlctlonarj , because of tbe peculiar cnro xlrt-n to Its Kdecllons. atid b cau n of Its com-
pre hnnBlvpiiesR , Its conciseness. Its liackltiK of hcholnrly conscious , Its I capability and porlabllliy ,
nndllsiiioileratBprlce.glvfKproniNoof alargB field of usfulness , not only among utudeute , but
lu editorial rooms , ou tbe desks of literary workf rs , nnd In homo libraries. "
TUclmrd ] r. Jnneii , IX.T ) . , llrntl Master Trmlilrnt I ) . II. Cochron , Polrtrohnlo
William IVnn Charter bclionl , Koumlrd Iimtltiitr , llrooklyn , N. Y. : "It li tli * most
IBS'J , Philadelphia , 1'a. : "I am convinced that rellnlilf , coinprehetislve. nnd convenlcut dic
t here M no academic il'ctlnnary ' published In this tionary . for the teacher' ! desk yet offered to
country that approaches it. " .u It
Herald "It U to bn to all cither dictionaries
2Soiton i preferred meant for ofllco or dftk u e
nd for scholars In high schools and academies. Quito sufllclent for thn needs of ulno readersm ten , "
Idtrgn 8vo , 015 pp. , rlnth , lenther liark , IS2.RO net. llinind In full leather.
S4.OO net. Ciirrlugn i > rcpitld. I'ateiit Thumb Index , Cl ( cent * extra.
Sold by Booksellers , or sent postpaid on rocolpt of price by
\A7 A "R n fiOTAT" ivur.tsiiKits , u r < , in niidt g ,
VVtt.rV.lJ OCJJ W UNION hfJUAUK , New Yorfc City.
MUMJNS
A cold li danger ,
mis. Don't let U
Ki-t the mart of you * .
A few doses of my
Cold Cure will
break up uny form
of cold In a few
hours and prevent
grippe. dlphtlurla
and ptieumnnln , It
should lie In every
homo and every vest
pocket. It Is better
than a Ufa Insur
ance policy ,
MUNTON.
At all drut-Rlsts , Kc. a ilal. RnMe to Health
an.1 . Htjli-al mlvrn | frcp. 1M1 irrh itjnilU.
COLD CURE'
CklcfcMUr1 * CrcUth Dlo o 4 Dmt.
ENNYROYAL PILLS
JrlgtHRt and Only Otnulce.
tt , alvtTi rtiltbu. L itft tik .
tiiufiltt ( br CHUIuiiir i FnMiit Hit
. _ _ .nen.I r < 4li > it4 1 C > U ntu'llc .
Cwvjk iri iii < 4 wliii tint rtlKi. Take
. At lrOtiti ) , r ltl .
U map * fcf iMrtlealtri , i itlno1k ] | cA
' ' U.rjfl.r t iU.t."MI u . l ; r l r.
10.00
thos ? diseases. You must remember , eald
one , that there has never been a curs for
theto HcourKcs licfuru and HIH use of d -
Kti'ous Kpniyx , douchci nnd atomlzern hns
only ntiKiiv nted the number of nufferers ,
until today over two hundred thounand
mt-'ti and women die annually from these
dtseasoH In this country alone. Something
out of the ordinary mutt bo done to rMich
tlio people. They have lort coursso
through their bitter expoitcnce with nrlver-
tlslng specialists. They will not trunt frco
treatments for It means to thorn another
Fclicmo to Rt't tholr moiipy. You must
adopt Home other method. The II , T. Booth'
Co. have followed their advice and today
sufferers from Catatrh , JlronchltlB , Con
sumption , Asthma or any diseases of the
respiratory organs can obtain A COM-
I'LKTK THIAI , Ol'TKIT. comprising an
aluminum Inhaler , dropper , RIIUZO nnd eulll-
elt'iil Ilyomol to last two weeks for 25o.
Of course , H Is eheap'T to buy the $1.00
slzj , nH It contnJns lx times the quantity ,
but the smaller ones will undoubtedly In-
dtico thousands to test the now cure and
accomplish the object for which the medf-
cnl profession are striving the universal
nso of Hyomei by tlu public. When this
has been done there will bo no further
reason for fearing these diseases.
HYOMKI CIMIHS BY INHALATION.
Your money Is returned If It falls to euro.
Sold by all druggists or sent by mall.
Trlnl OiilfltN , Complete - - - f35
Iti-uular Oullttn , Complete - - - l.OO
Hyomei Halm ( it ivuiulcrfal
lienler ) . . . . _ _ .25
. 1
ALWAYS USE
COCOA
PURE ! HEALTHFUL ! !
A safe and powerful remedy for functional
troubles , delay , pain , and irregularities , it
- rtMcrl
iifulljrtMcrl
Utj. rrlce8i.oonrs4cap ( ul i.
lfiieiin.or I'ctl fiee. 1' . O. Ilex c8 , N. Y.