The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-11

ly! I have made up my mind 1 vii
not escape from the castle of Edin
burgh TINS night
But Malise answered not a word
only pulled more desperately on tn,
ripe, till the sound OF his laborIns
breath and grasping palms could b.
heard from side to side of the cham
! Der.
The earl leaned out.
''Malise,' he said, calm and clear
you see this knife. I would not have
/ your blood on my hands. GU have beer
a good and faithful servant to oul
house. But, by the oath Of Douglas
! if you come one foot further, 1 will GU
the rope, and you shall be dashed IL
| pieces beneath"
! The master-armorer stoDDed-not
with fear of death upon him, but lest
! a stroke of his masters dirk should de-
| stroy their Wel-arranged mode of es-
! cape.
20, William, my lord. hear mel" he
said, in a gasping voice, still hanging
Deriously between earth and heaven
IF i have indeed been a faithful ser
want, beseech you come with me, fo1
the sake o. the house of Douglas and
OF your mother, a widow and alone
Go down, Malise AlacKim, said the
earl, more gently, and L viii speak
with you at the ropes foot"
So, very unwillingly, Malise went
back.
Now" said the earl. 'harken-this
will I do, and no other. 1 will ABIDE
| here and abide that which shall be1all
me, as IS the will of God. am bound
/ by a, tie that 1 cannot break What life
is to another, honor and his word must
be to a Douglas. But l send your son
Sholto to you. l bid him ride fast to
Galloway and bring all that are faith
full there to NEE with speed here in Ed
inburgh. Do you go into DouglasdaIe
and tell my cousin. William OF Avon
dale-and if he is too late to save, I
know well he will avenge me-"
"Oh, William Douglas, if, inded, We
will neither fleech, nor drive, 1 pray
you for the sake of theg reat house, to
send your brother David, that the
Douglases OF the black be not cut of,
root and branch. Remember, your
mother is sore set on the lad"
Il will not co. cried David, as he
heard this; by the saints, l will stand
by my brothers shoulders, though I be
but boy. I will not go SO much as a
step, and if ye stir me 1 will cry out
for the guard.
By this time young David was lean
ing half out of the window, and almost
crying his words down to the unseen
Douglases beneath.
Go, .Sholto,' said the earl, setting
his hand on his squire's shoulder. You
alone can ride to Galloway without
drawing rein. Go swiftly and bring
back every true lad that can whang a
bow or gar sWord-iron whistle The
Douglas must drive the Douglas weird.
[ would have made you a great man.
Sir Sholto, but if you get a new mas
ter, he Will surely do that which l had
not time to perform.
Come, Sholto,' said his father.
there is a horse at he outer port. /
fear the CrichtOn's men are warned. As
1t is, we will have to fight for it
Sholto still hestitated, between obed-
fence and grief
''Shclto MacKim,'' said the earl, 'if
indeed, you owe me aught of love or
service, go and do that thing which [
have laid UPON you. Bear a courteous
greeting from me to your sweetheart.
Maud. and a kiss to our sweet maid.
Margaret. And now haste yon and be-
gomez
Sholto bent a moment on his knee and
kissed the hand of his young master.
His voice was choked with sobs. The
earl patted him on the shoulder. Din
ma greet, laddie," he said in the kindly
country speech which comes so melt
ingly to all Galloway folk in times of
distress, gentle and simple alike, din
ma greet. If one Douglas fall in the
breach, there stands a better behind
him."
But mover one like you, my lord!"
said Sholto.
The earl raised him gently, led him
to the window and himself steadied
the rope by which his squire was to
descend.
Co." he said; honor keeps the Doug
las here, and his brother bides with
him-since not otherwise it may be. But
the honor of obedience sends Sholto
MacKim to the work that is given
hini
Then after the captain of his guard