The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-25
CHAPTER xxx.
Copyright, 1898, by S. R. Crockett.)

Copyright 1898, by S. R. Crockett.)
THE GIFT OF THE COUNTESS.
1t was the countess of Douglas who
commanded that night in the castle of
Thrieve. Sholto wished to start at once
upon the search for the lost naidens,
but the lady forbade him.
There are a thousand searchers who,
during the night. viii do all that you
could do-and better. Tomorrow we
shall surely want you. You have been
three nights without sleep. Take your
rest. order you, in your masters
name"
And OF the bare stone outside Maud
Lindesay's empty room, Sholto threw
himself down and slept as sleep the
dead.
But that night, save about the cham
Der where abode the mother of the
Douglases, the hum Of life never ceased
in the great castle of Thrieve. Whether
she slept or no, God knows. For the
door was closed and there was silence
within
Sholto awoke smiling in the early
dawn. He had been dreaming that he
and Maud Lindsay were walking on
the shore together. It was q lonely
shore with great driftwood logs, where
on they sat and rested ere t1iey took
hands again and walked on their way
In his dreams, Maud was kind, her
teasing, disdainful mood quite gone. So
Sholto aWoke smiling, but in q moment
he wished that he had slept on.
He lay a space, becoming conscious
of a pain in his heart-the overnight
pain of a great disaster not yet re-
allied. For little, he knew not what
it was. Then he saw himself lying at
Maud's open door. and he remembered
first the death of his masters. Then
the loss Of the little maid and of Maud,
his winsome sweetheart Maud. In an
ether moment he had leaped to his
feet, buckled his swordbelt tighter,
slung his cloak into a corner and run
downstairs.
The house guard which had ridden to
Crichton and Edinburgh had been re-
placed from the younger yeomen of the
Kelton and Balmaghie levieS, even as
the earl had arranged before his de-
parture But of these only a score re-
manned on duty. All who could be
spared had gone to join the march on
Edinburgh, for Galloway was set on
having vengeance on the chancellor and
had sworn to lay the capital itself in
ashes in revenge for the black dinner
of the castle banqueting hall.
The rest Of the guards were out
searching for the bonny maids of
Thrieve, IS throughout all the country
side Margaret Douglas and Maud
Lindsay were named.
Eager as Sholto was to accompany
the searchers. and though he knew well
that no foe was south of the Forth to
assault SUCH a strong place as Thrieve
he did not leave the castle till he had
set all in order so far as he could. He
appointed andre the penman and his
brother John officers Of the garrison
during his absence.
Then, having seen to his accoutre-
me s and providing, for he did not
mean to return till he had found the
maids, he went lastly to the chamber
door Of the Lady Of Douglas to ask her
leave to depart.
At the first knock he heard a foot
come slowly across the floor. 1t was
my lady, who opened the latch herself
and stood before Sholto in the habit
she had worn the night before. Her
couch was impressed. Her window
stood open toward the south. A candle
still glimmered upon little altar in an