Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-18
RW:JR5'sss{k'& &,
: Wy@3:z:S!:s:: y
= ~ r~or ~ w6A~&aN
~hS0 - I'VE asoass.
.~~S0S s>pNm(~ q.


biting his lips and glooming upon Sholto, as
though the young man had been q prisoner
waiting sentence Of pit or gallows for evil
doing.
II must see James concerning this Ill
news" he said, when Sholto finished telling
him OF the black bulls head on the chancel-
lor's banquet toble.
He turned to go within.
my lord" said Sholto, will you give me
another horse and let Darnaway rest in
your stables? I must ride south again to
raise Galloway"
"Order out all the horses which are ready
caparisoned." commanded William Of Avon
dale. land do you, Captain sholto, take your
! choice Of them"
He went within forthwith and there ensued
a pause filled with the snorting and pranc-
ing Of steeds, as. filled with oats and hay.
they issued from their stalls, or, with the
grass yet dewy about their noses, they we're
led in from the field. Darnaway took his
leave OF Sholto with a backward neigh OF
regret, as II to say that he was not yet tired
Of riding on his masters service.
Then presently on the terrace above ap-
peared lazy Lord James, busily buckling the
straps Of his body armor and talking holly
the while with William.
II care not whether our father" he cried
aloud. ere. with q restraining hand upon his
wrist, his elder brother could succeed in
stopping him.
Hush, James," he said, "at least be
mindful Of those that stand around"
II care not, I tell you, William" cried the
headstrong youth, squaring his shoulders a.
he was wont to do before a fight; II tell
you that you and l are no traitors to our
name and whose NEEDLES with our coz Will
Of Thrieve hath us to reckon with"
William Of Avondale said nothing, but
held out his hand with a slow, Discriminate
gesture. Said he: AN It were the father
that begat us!" Whereat, with all the i'm
petuousness of his race and nature, James
dashed his palm into that Of his brother.
"Whiles, William" he cried. I'VE appear
olerkish and overcautious, and I break out
and miscall We for no Douglas, when ye will
not spend your siller like . man and are
afraid Of the honest pint stoup. But at the
hearts heart ye are aye a D~ouglas-and,
though the silly gaping commons like 70
not so we'll as they like me. you are the
best O us a.. for all that!"
So 1t came to pass that within the space
Of half an hour the young Avondale Doug
Eases had sent mon to the four ARTS, young
Hugh Douglas himself riding west, while
James stirred the folk Of Avondale and
Strathaven, and in all tho courtyards and
streets Of the little feudal town there began
the hum and buzz Of war assembly.
Lord William went with Sholto to see
staunch D%arnaway duly stabbed. and to ap-
| prove the horse which was to bear the
messenger to the south without halt. now
that his mission was accomplished in the
west. When they came out Sholto's riding
harness had been transferred to q noble gray
steed large enough to carry the burly James.
let alone the slim captain Of the guard Of
Thrieve.
In the court, ranked and ready. bride
to bride, were ranged the knights and
r~,quires In waiting about the castle of
Avondale, while out on a level green spot
on the edge Of the moor gathered the denser
array of the townsfolk with spears and
partizans.
The Avondale Douglases were ready
enough to ride to the assistance Of their
cousins. Alas. that Earl william would
take no advice, for had these and others
gone in with him to the fatal town there
would have been no black bulls head on
the chancellor's dinner table In the banquet
ing hall Of Edinburgh castle.