The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-30

casual incidents Of the morning. Two
bright, fresh colored youths emerged
from their thicket, Immediately clad
ana with countenances of such cherubio
innocence. that my Lord Abbot Will
liam of the great Cistercian abbey OF
Dulce Cor, looking upon them as with
bare, bowed heads, they knelt rever-
entity on one knee to ask his blessing,
said to his train: They look like two
young angels. It is shame and sin
/ that two such fair innocents should be
compelled to jc'1 in aught ruder than
the chanting [ psalms in holy sery-
ice"
Whereat one of his company who had
been witness to their treatment of the
Angus provost and also Of Laurence S
encounter with the knight of the black
armor, was seized incontinently with a
T. fit of coughing which almost choked
him.
Bless you. my sons" said the abbot,
I viii speak to my nephew, the earl,
concerning you. Your faces plead for
you. Evil cannot dwell in such fair
bodies. What are your names?"
The younger lznelt with his fingers
joined and his eyes meezly on the
grass, while Sholto. who had risen,
stood quietly by with his steel cap in
his hand.
Laurence MacKim," said the young
er modestly, without venturing to raise
his eyes from the ground, and this is
my brother Sholto."
can you sing, pretty boy?" said the
abbot to Laurence.
I'VE have never been taught" an
swered Sholto. But his brother, feel
ing that he was losing chances, broke
in:
Il can sing, if it pleases your holt
ness,'
And what can you sing, sweet lad?''
said the abbot, smiling with expectation
and setting his hand to his best ear to
assist his increasing deafness.
Shut your FOOLS mouth" said Shol-
to under his breath to his brother.
Shut your owni 'Tis ugly as a rat
trap at any rate!" responded Laurence
in the same key. Then aloud to the
abbot he said, An it please you, sir,
can sing, %. Mary Queen"
The abbot smiled, well pleased.
"Ah, exceedingly proper song to the
honor of the queen of heaven Che de-
vOutly crossed himself at the name); L
knew that 1 could not be mistaken in
you"
Your pardon, most reverend" inter
jected Sholto, anxiously, please you
to excuse my brother. His voice hath
just broken. and he cannot sing at
added: Laurie MacKim, you Cod
forgotten fool, if you sing that song,
you will have us both stripped in a
trice and whipped on the bare back for
insolence to the eaI1s unclel'
Go to-" said his brother, Il will sing.
The old cock is monstrous deaf, at any
ratei"
Sing" said the abbot, st would hear
you gladly. SO fair face must be ac-
Of 10
Besides. we sorely need tenor for the
qoire at Sweetheart"
So, encouraged in this fashion, the
daring Laurence began:
Nae priests ABBOTT me shall be seen,
To humble prayers bath morn and cen,
1 swap them a for Mary Quean!
I'll bid nae mass for me be sung,
Dies lille, dies irae,
Nor clenking bells for me be rung,
Sic semDer solet fer!
1 gang my ways TO Mary Quean!
All, very good, very good, trulyw
said the abbot thrusting his hand into
his pouch beneath his gown. Here
are two gold mobiles for thee. sweet lad,
and another for your brother, whose
countenance is somewhat less sweet.
You have sung we'll to the praise of
our lady. What did you say your name
was? OF a surety we must have you
at Sweetheart. And you have the Lat
in, too, as l heard in the hymni 1t is
q thing most marvellous. Verify, the
very JUNCTION of grace must have visit
ed you in your GRADER
Laurence held down his head with
all his native mOdesty, but The more
open Shoito grew red in the face, hear
ing behind him the tittering and
misunderstanding of the priests and
lay servants in the abbot's train, ana
being sure that they would inform their
master as soon as he passed by con-
corning the true import OF Master
Laurence's song He was muttering
rand recitative, 30, wait, wait. Larrie
MacKin. till I get you on the Carlin-
wark shore. \ sore back and a stiff
skinful of bones shalt thou have, and
not an inch Of hide on thee that is
not black and blue. Amen" he added,
stopping his malcdictions quickly, for
at that moment the abbot came some
what quickly to the end of his bene-
dicdon.
The great churchman rode away on
his fair white palfrey horse, with a
smile and a backward wave of his
hand.
7 will speak to my nephew concern
ing you this very day, my child! he
cried.
And the countenance of the most
gentle youth kept its sweet innocence
and angelic grace to the last, but that
of Sholto was dark and frowning.