Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-04
{ + ": JR5!sSa9|i<'' R!S9|<i''
: ygV~ e :s!ssz:s: :: :: ...'':.,
6R SrSasr y oSNsc
~ y0.R.CrockeH.


The color in her cheek came and went.
The vermeil Of her lip flushed and paied
alternate from the pink Of the wild roseleaf
to the red Of the autumnal berry.
But presently, at a glance from her kins-
man, she seemd to recall herself with diff
Guilty from a land Of dreams and with an
obvious effort began 10 talk to William
Douglas.
Whom have you brought to see me-" she
said.
"Only few men-at-arms, save Sholto, my
squire and my brother, David" he made
answer. ~ did not wait for more. But
let me bring the lad to you. Sholto you
did not like when he was a plain archer Of
the guard, and I fear that he will not have
risen in your grace since l dubbed him
knight"
David Douglas willingly obeyed the sum-
mons Of his brother and came forward to
kiss the hand Of the Lady Sybilla.
Here, Sholto, cried his lord, come
hither. man. It will do your pride good to
see woman who says conceit hath eaten
you up" Sholto came at the word and
bowed before the woman as he was COM
manded, meekly enough, to all outward as
pect But in his heart he was saying over
and over to himself words that consoled him
nightly. "a murrain on her. The cozen-
ing madam; she will never be worth nam
ing on the same day as Maud Lindesay.''
May" cried the Lady syblla. laughing,
"indeed, said not that dsliked this your
squire. What woman thinks the worse OF
n lad OF mettle that he does not walk with
his head between his feet. But It's pity
that there is no fair, cruel maid to bind his
heart in chains and make him fetch and
carry to break his pride. He thinks over
l.. rlol, ulrt
"He must 90 to France for that!" said
the earl gayly, "or else mayhap some day
a maid may come from France to break his
heart for him. The like hath been and
may be again."
II would that had known there were
such gallant blades as you three, my lords
OF Douglas and their knights, signing to
have your hearts broke for the good Of your
souls. had then brought with me tierce
Of damsels. fair as cruel, who had done At
in the flashing Of a swallows wing. But
'tis contract too great for one poor maid!"
yet you ventured all alone .nto this realm
Of forlorn and desperate men?" answered the
earl scarcely recking what he said. nor
caring, so that her dark eyes should con-
tinue to rest on him alone with the look he
had seen in them at his first coming.
"All alone-yes, much, much alone!" she
answered. with strange glance about her.
my uncle loves not womankind, and neither
in his castles nor yet In his company does
he permit any OF the sex long to abide!'
The men now mounted again and the three
rode back in the midst Of that cavalcade Of
Douglas spears, the chancellor talking as
freely and confidently to the earl as II he
had been his friend for years. while the
earl Of Douglas kept up the converse right
willingly so long as, looking at the chancel-
lor, his eyes rested also for a moment on
the delicately poised head and graceful form
Of the Lady Sybilla.
And behind them a horses length the
Marshal de Retz rode, smiling in the depths
of his blue black beard and looking at them
out OF the corners Of his triangular eyes.
Presently the towers Of the castle Of Crich-
ton rose before them on its green jutting
spur The Tyne valley sank beneath into
the level meads and rich pastures. while
behind the Moorfoots spread brown and
bare. without prominent peaks or distin-
guished glens, but nevertheless with large
vagueness and solemnity peculiarly their
own.
The fetes with which the chancellor well
coined his guests were many and splendid.
But in one respect they differed from those
which have been described at castle Thrieve.
lueTe was uO military pump VI any hiuu
connected with them. The chancellor studi-
ously avoided all pretense Of any other dis.
tinction than that Of a plain man whom
circumstances had raised against his will
to position Of responsibility.
The thirty spears Of the earl's guard in
deed constituted the whole military force
within or about the castle Of Crichton.
II am a lawyer. my lord. plain law
yer" he said; "all Scots lawyers are plain.
And must ask you to garrison my bit peel
tower Of Crchton in a manner more be-
fitting your own greatness and the honor
due to the ambassador Of France than a
humble knight is able to do!'
So Sholto was put into command OF the
| court and battlements Of the castle. and
posted and changed guard as though he had
been at Thrieve while the chancellor bustleo
about, affecting more the style Of rich
| and comfortable burgess than that OF a
! feudal baron.
! "This is snug bit hoose," he would say.
dropping into the countryside speech.
there's nocht fine within it from cellar to
| roof tree. save only the provend and the
| jolly Malmsey. And though be but poor
eater myself, love that my betters, who
do me the honor OF sojourning within my
gates should have the wherewithal to be
merry"
And II was even as he said, for the tables
were weighted with delicacies such as were
never seen upon the boards Of Thrisye o.
castle Douglas.