The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-25

one of US will break bread, speak word,
hold intimacy or converse with you.
As far as in us lies we will renounce
you as our father. We will not, because
OF the commandment, rise in rebellion
against you. You are earl of Douglas,
and while you live, must rule your
own. But for me and my brothers we
VII. neither be your children to honor,
your sons to succor, nor your hegemen
to fight for you. We go to offer our
services to our cousin Margaret, the
little maid of Galloway. We will keep
her province with our swords as the
last stronghold of the true Douglases
of the Black. 1 have spoken. Fare you
we'll, my lord"
During his sons speech, the counte-
nance of the newly-made Earl of Doug
las grew white and notified, tallOwy
white and dull red, like the flesh of a
drained OK. He rose unsteadily to his
feet, moving one hand beseechingly be-
fore him, like a helpless man unex-
pectedly stricken. His neither lip quiv-
cred pendulously and piteOusly, and
for a moment he strove in vain with
his utterance.
His eye fell abashed from the cold
sternness of his eldest sons glance,
and he seemed to sean the counte-
nances of the younger four for any tok-
en- of milder mood.
James" he said, we hear William.
Surely We do not hold with him? Re
member, 1 am your father, and was
aye particular fond o you, Jamie,
mind when We used to sit astride my
shoulders. And ye used to like that
finer
There were tears in the eyes of the
weak, cunning, Observation-Disclosures
man. The lips of James Douglas quiv-
cred O little and his voice failed him as
he strove to answer his father. What
he would have said, none knows, but
ere he could voice word, the eyes Of
his brother, stern as the law given to
Moses on the mount, were bent upon
him. He Strengthened himself up and,
with look carefully averted from the
palsied man before him, he said in a
steady tone, What my brother Will
liam says, say"
His father looked at him again, as if
still hoping against hope for some
kinder word. Then he turned to his
younger sons.
Archie, Hugh, little Jocl1ie, We wilma
take part against your ain fatherH-
1--WE hold with our brothers, said
the three, speaking at once.
At this moment there came running
in at the door of the tent q. lad of 10
Henry, the youngest of the Avondale
brothers. He stopped short in the
midst, glancing wonderingly from one
to the other His little sword, with
which he had been playing, dropped
from his hand. James the Gross looked
at him.
Harry" he said, 'thy brothers are
a. for leavin' me. Will We gang wi
them or bide wi your father"
Father" said the boy, II will go
with you if you will let me help to kin
Livingston and the chancellor"
Come. laddie," said the earl; Eye
understand not these matters. I will
explain to you when we gang back to
the Draw things in Edinbra' toon"
NO, no." cried the boy, STOPPING to
pick up his sword, Il will bide with my
brothers and help kill the murderers of
my cousins. What William says I say"
Then the. five young men went out and
called for their horses, their youngest
brother following them. And as the flap
of the tent fell and he was left alone
James the Gross sank his head between
his soft moist palms and sobbed aloud.
| For he was a weak, shifty, unstable
man, loving approval and a, burden to
himself in soul and body when left
alone to bear the consequences Of his
acts.
20. my bairns,'' he cried over and over
aloud, why was / born? I am not suffi-
cfent for these thingsp'
And even as he sObbed and mourned
the heefS- of his sons horses rang down
the wind as they rode through the
camp towards Galloway. And little
Henry rode betwixt William and James.