Evening star., 1898-12-24
AO0t-os o. TIE aaoceS-
Trs SrSHcr .1ss'9rce y-e os-c, ..ar,.,
coeecnT ,eas r s.Res6.rerS

may prove more dangerous than you imag-
Inc. Go and put ii on"
Sholto kneeled down and kissed the hand
of his liege lazy. Then when he had risen
she save him down the armor piece by
piece, busting each with her kerchief with
Il sort of reverent action. as one might
touch the face of the dead In Sholto's
hands it proved indeed light almost as
woven cloth of homespun from Dame Bar
para loom, and flexible as the spun silk
of Lyons which the great wear next their
bodies.
With it there went a light undersuit of
hhest and softest leather, that the skin
should not he chafed by the cunning links
as they worked smoothly over each other
at each movement of the body within.
Shoito buckled his lady's gift with a
swelling heart. 1t was his dead masters
Ana as piece by piece fitted him a glove
fits the hand, the spirit of William Douglas
seemed to enter more and more into the
lad
Then Sholto covered this most valuable
ght with his own clothing, which he had
brought from the house of Carlinwark and
presently emerged, well-looking but still
slim squire of decent family
Then the countess belted on him the
sword of price which went herewith,
blade of matchless Ferrarean steel but COW
cred with plain scabbard of black pig
skin.
Draw and thrust,' commanded the lady,
pointing at the rough stone of the wall at
the end OF the passage.
SholtO looked ruefully at the glitter,ne
blade which he held in his hand, flashing
blue from point to double guard.
Thrust and fear not!'' said the Countess
OF Douglas, the second time.
Sholto lunged out at the stone with all his
might. Fire flew from the smitten blue
whlnstone where the point with all the
weight of his young body behind it, i'm
pinged on the wall. A tinglng shock of
acutest agony ran up the strikers wrist to
the shoulder blade. The sword dropped
ringing on the pavement, and Sholtos arm
tell numb and useless to his side.
Lift the sword and look" commanded
the Lady Douglas.
Sholto did as he was bidden with his left
hand, and To- the point which had bent like
a hoop was sharp and bright as if just from
Can you strike with your left hand?"
asked the lady
AS with my right" answered the son of
Malise the Brawny.
Ihere was bar at a window in the wall
bending outward in shape like the letter L.
linen strike cutting stroke with your
left hand
short-sighted policy that on the hour of his
departure on periious quest he should dis
able himself in bO h arms. But ShOlto Mac
Kim Wa5 not the youth to question an or
der lie lifted the sword in his left hand
and with strong, ungraceful motion struck
with all mis- might.
At first he thought that he had missed al
together. There vas no tingling in his arm
no jar when the blade should have encount-
red the iron. But the countess was exam
inlns the center of the iron hoop.
Il have missed" said Sholto.
turning round.
And when he looked, To- the thick iron
had been cut through almost without bend
ms The edges Of The break were fresh and
bright and true.
Now look the edge of your sword"
she said.
There was no. the slightest dent any
where upon it, SO that Sholto armorer's
son as he was. turned ahou. the blade to
see if by any chance he could have smitten
with the reverse.
Failing in this. he could only kneel to his
lady and say, This is great gift-I am
not worthy"
For in such time of peril jewels and lands
were as nothing to the value of such suit
of armor which kings and princes might
have made war to obtain.
The faintest disenbodied ghost of smile
passed over the face of the Countess of
Douglas.
1T is the best can do with 1t now" she
shall ever possess it,
After the Lady Douglas had armed the
Young knight and laid upon him his quest
Sholto departed over the bridge, where the
surly custodian still grumbed at the
horses feet trampling his clean wooden
flooring The young man rode a Spanish
iennet of good stock but plain beast t"
look upon, neither likely to attract atten-
ion nor stir cupidty.
His father and Laurence were already on
their way. Shol.o had arranged that
whether they found any trace of the lost
ones or no, they were all to meet on the
bird day at the little town Of Kirkcud-
bright. for Sholto. warned by the Lady
Syblla. already had his idea which from
the very horror of it he had as yet COM
municated to no one.
1t CHANGED that the youth rode south
ward along the banks Of the Dee, glancing
his way and that for traces of the missing
m only ha tran lodi
by hundred feet and the boats In the
stream dragging every pool with grapnels
and ropes, two hOrsemen on rough ponies
ambled along some distance in front Of him
BY their long robes of decent brown they
seemed merchants on a journey. portly of
figure and consequential of bearing.
AS sholto rapidly made up to them. with
his better horse and lighter weight, he per-
ceived that the travellers were those two
admirable and noteworthy magistrates of
Dumfries Robert Semple and his own
uncle. Ninian Halliburton Of the Vennel.
Hearing the clatter of the jennet's hoofs,
they turned about suddenly with mighty
serious cOuntenances. For In such times
when the wayfarer heard steps behind him.
whether Of man or beast, IT repaid him to
give immediate attention thereto.
So at the sound Of hoofs Ninian and his
friend set their hands to their thighs and
looked over their shoulders more quickly
than seemed possible to men of their build.
"Ha nephew Shoto, lad!' cried Ninian
nightly relieved; blythe am to see YOU
lad! You will tel! us the truth Of this iii
news that has upturned all the aud prov
ince By your gloomy face I see that the
major part is over true. The earl Is dead
and he awes me for twenty-four peck of
wheaton meal, forby ten frlots Of malt
and other sundries whilk siller. if the hum
cry Avondale Douglases come into posses
sion. am little likely ever to see Surely
have more cause to mourn him-a fine
lad and free with his havings. II ys gat
not settlement this day. why, then ye gat
il the neist, with never a word Of draw
back nor craving for batement"
Siiolto told them briefly concerning the
tragedy Of Edinburgh, for he had no will
for any waste of words and as briefly of
the loss of the little maid and her com
panion.
The haiIle of Dumfries lifted up his hands
in consterna tion.
rts surely a plot O. thae Anomalies.
StraVe folk are never to lippen to. They
hae made d clean sweep. No a Gallowa'
Daugas left, If they hae speerfted ava the
hoDny bit lass. Man, Robert, she was heir
general TO the province, bath the lordship
o GalioWa' and the earldom O. Wigton for
thae t"a can gang 70 lassie But as soon
as the twa laddies were DOT O. the road
tet Jamie o Ayondale cam into the yerl-
dom o Douglas AID a. the Douglasdale es-
tates, forbye the Borders and the lar in