Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-18

kissed sac oft and Oft. o, waes me-waes
me! What will l do without my bonny
laddies!"
It was with the sound Of his mothers
lament still in his ears that Sholto rode
sadly away over the hill to Thrieve. The
way is short and easy and It was not long
before the captain Of the guard looked down
upon the lightA Of the castle cleaning
through the gathering gloom.
He was pauslns It the bridge head to
welt the lowering Of the draw chain when
out Of the covert above him there dashed a
desperate horseman. who stayed neither for
bridge nor ford. but dashed straight at the
eastern castle pool, where 1t was deepest.
To the stirrup chung another figure strange
and terrible, seen in the uncertain light
from the gate house and the beams Of the
rising moon.
The drawbridge clattersd down, and, send
ing his spurs home into the TANKS Of HIS
tired steed, In . moment more Sholto was
hard upon the track Of the first headlone
horseman. Scarce q length separated them
as they reached the outer guard of the
castle. Abreast they refined their horses in
the quadrangle and in a moment Sholto had
recognized in the rider his brother Lau.
renee, pale as death, and in the figure that
had chung to the stirrup as the horse took
the water his father, Mslise MacKim.
Thus in one moment came the three Mao.
Kims to the doorstep Of Thrieve.
The chatter and cry Of their arrival
brought a pour OF torches from every side
Of the isle and out from within the castle
keep.
"Have you found them-where are they?"
came from every aide. But Laurence
seemed neither to hear nor see.
where Is my lady!' he cried. in . hoarse
mans voice. and again. II must see my
lady"
Sholto stood aside, for he knew we'll that
these two brought later news than he.
Presently he went over to his father. who
leaned, painting, upon q stone post, and
asked him what was the news. But Malise
thrust him aside, apparently without
recognizing him.
my lady" he gaspsd, II would see my
lady!"
Then through the torches clustered upon
the steps d the castle came the tall. erect
figure OF the earl's mother, the countess Of
Douglas. She stood. with her head erect,
looking down upon the MAoKims and the
heaving shouldsrs Of their horses. Allows
and around the torches fared. and their
ISth Dl0W tuWdIbWTS0 SCTObS Luo strange
scene.
~ am here" she said. speaking clearly
and naturally. What would ye with the
lady of Douglas?"
Thrice Laurence essayed TO speak, but
his tongu availed him not. He caught at
his horses bride to steady him. and turned
weakly TO his father.
do you speak to my LADY, cannot!' he
gasped.
A terrible figure was Maliss MacKim, the
strong man Of Galloway. as he came for
ward. Stained with the black peat Of the
morasses, his armor cast on that he might
run easier. his under apparel torn almost
from his great body. his hair matted with
the blood which still oozed from an un-
washed wound above his brow.
"My lady" he said hoarsely, his words
whistling In his throat, II have strange
things to tell. Can you bear to hear them?"
"If you have found my daughter dead or
dying, speak and fear mott"
II have things more terrible than the
death of many daughters to tell you!"
Speak and fear not--an' 1t touch the
lives Of my sons, the mother Of the Doug
lases has learned the Douglas lesson"
Then" said Malise. sinking his head
upon his breast, God help you. lady--your
two sons are dead"
"Is David dead. also?' said the lady Of
Douglas.
He is dead" replied Malise.
The lady tottered a little as she stood on
the topmost step OF the ascent to Thrieve.
One or two Of the torch bearers ran to sup
her. But she commanded herself and
them aside.
"God-he Is the God!" she said. "In
one day he hath made me q woman solitary
and without children. Sons and daughter
He has taken from me. But he shall not
break my heart. No, not even he. Stand
up. Mslise MacKim. and tell me how these
things came TO pass"
And there In the blown reek OF torches
and the hush OF the courtyard OF Thrieve
Mslise told all the tale Of the black dinner
and the fatal morning, Of the short shrift
and tho matchless death, while around him
strong men sobbed and lifted up right |
hands to swear the vengeance.
But alone and erect as a banner stan stood