The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-04
blood flows hot and fast through the

blood flows hot and fast through the
veins of 49,
/ Sholto, who knew nothing of these
happenings, had just finished exercising
his men on the smooth green in front
OF the castle of Crichton, and had dis
missed them, when a gaberlunzie, or
privileged beggar, a long, lank rascal
with mat of tangled hair, and clad in
a cast-off leathern suit which erstwhile
knight had worn under his mail,
Ieaped suddenly from the side of a
hedge. Instinctively Sholto laid his
hand on his dagger. Nay" snuffled
the fellow, Il come pcaceably. AS you
love your lord hasten TO give him this
letter And above all let not the erich
ton see you'll"
He placed a small square scrap of
parchment in his hand. 1t was sealed
in black wax with a serpent's head,
and from the condition of the outside
had evidently been in places both
greasy and grimy. Sholto put it in his
leathern pouch wherein he was used to
keep the hone for sharpening his ar
rows, and bestowed a silver groat upon
the beggar.
Thy masters life is surely worth
more than a groatl" SAID the man.
Il warrant you have been well enough
paid already" said Sholto; that is, if
shilling. On your head be it, if you are
playing with Sholto MacKimr
So saying, the captain of the guard
STROBE within. He had already acquired
the carriage and consequence of vet
eran old in the wars.
His master was still packing up and
down the courtyard, deep in meditation
Sholto saluted the young earl, and
asked permission to speak a word with
him.
Speak on, ShoIto-welI do you know
that at all times you may say what you
will to mel
But this I desire to keep from prying
eyes. My lord, there is a letter in my
wallet which was given me even now by
gaberlunZie man. He declares that it
concerns your life. pray you take out
my hone stone as if to look at it, and
with it the letter."
The earl nodded as if Sholto had been
making report to him. Then he went
nearer and began TO finger his squire's
accoutrements, finally opening his belt
pouch and taking out the stone, that
was therein.
Where got you this homer" he said.
1t looks not the right blue for a Wa
ter-of-Ayr stone"
Sholto answered that it came from
the Parton Hills, and as the earl re-
placed it, he possessed himself of the
square letter and thrust it into the
bosom of his doublet.
AS soon as William Douglas was
alone, he broke the seal and tore open
the parchment. 1t was written in a
delicate foreign script, the characters
fine and small. MY lord, do not, 1 be-
seech you, come to Edinburgh or think
of me more. Last night mine uncle
spied upon us and this morning he hath
carried me off. Wherever you are
when you receive this, turn instantly
and ride with all speed to one of your
strong castles. AS you love me, goi
We can never hope to see one another
again. Forget an unfortunate girl who
can never forget your
There was no signature, saving the
Impression of the serpent's head, which
ne remembered as the signet of the
ring he had found and given back to
her on the day of the turnament.
I will never give her up. will see
her" cried the Earl of Douglas, land
this very day. Aye, though 1 were to
die for it on the morrowr'