Evening star., 1898-10-15

| nerets which the passing gust had blown
| Tapping from their poles, but which now
| hung slackiy about their staves.
Il would give 100 golden St. Andrews"
! he muttered, 'ff l could make out the
| scutcheon 1t looks most like a black
| dragon couchant on red field, which is not
| a Scottish bearing The lady is French
| doubtless, and passes through from Ireland
to visit the chancellor's court at Edin-
| burgh."
The Black Douglas paused moment at
the tent flap. which. being of silken fabric
lined with heavier material, hung straight
and heavy to the ground.
! Come in. my lord" cried the low and
thrilling voice of his companion from with
in. II bid you welcome with both hands
| to my poor abode A traveller must not be
| particular, and L have only those things
| with me which my men have brought from
| shipboard. knowing how poor was the pro-
vision of your land. See. do you not al
ready repent your promise to sup with
| me?"
| kled cut glass of Venice and silverware of
| godsmith's work, on which were set out
! oranges and rare fruits of the orient. such
| as the young man had never seen in his
| own bleak and barren land.
But the Douglas did no more than glance
| at the rich providing. vision fairer and
| more beautiful clained his eyes For the
| lady herself stood before him, transformed
| and glorifad In the interval she had taken
off the cloak which while IN horseback
| she had worn falling back from her shoul-
| ders. A thin robe of white silk. embroiG-
cred with gold at once clothed ard yet
| revealed her graceful and gracious figure
| even rs a glove covers but does NOT CON
ceal the hand upon which it is drawn
| Whether by intent accident. it had been
| permitted to fall aside at the neck to show
the dazzling whiteness of the skin beneath
but at the bosom 1t was secured by but
ton set with black pearl which constituted
the lady's only ornament.
| Her arms also were bare and shoUe in
| the lamp light whittier than milk She had
| removed the silver belt and tied red silk
| en- scarf about her waist in a manner
| which revealed a swift grace and 1.-THE
| sinucsity of movement. making hAr appear
| more wonderful and more desirable than
ever to the young mans eyes.
On either side the pavilion were placed
| folding couches Of rosy silk. and in thu
| Correr. draDed with rich blue hargings
| glimmered the lady's bed. its fair white
| linen half revealed. two embroidered pill
| lows at the foot and on little table he
side it crystal ball on a black platter.
| No crucidx or priedeu. such as in those
] days was in every lady's bower. could be
| seen anywhere about the pavilion,
| AS the tent flap had fallen he
| hind him the Earl William abandoned
| himself to the strange enchantment Of his
| surroundings. He did not stop 20 ask MIN
| self how it was possible that such dainty
| providings had been brought into the midst
| of his wide. wild realm of Galloway. Nor
| yet why this errant damsel should be all
|
| reti1le empty and silent about The pres
| ent sufficed him. The soft radiance Of dark
| eyes fell upon him. and all the quick run
ming, inconsiderate Douglas blood rushed
and sang In his veins responsive to their
subtle shining
| He was with a fair woman and she not
unwilling to be kind. That was enough
for all the race of the Black Douglas
What the Red Douglas loved was another
matter. Their ambitions We're more repu-
table. if less generous.
My lord she said. giving him her hand
| will you lead me to the table? I cannot
offer you the refreshment of any eIaborat4
toilet. but here at least is wheaton bread
drink
You yourself scarce need srlch earthly
sustenance," he answered galIantly for
your eyes have stolen the radiance Of the
stars and It's evident tfat the night dews
visit your checks only as they do the roses
to render them more fresh and fair"
My lord flatters well for one so young"
sne smiled as she seated herself and mo-
toned him to sit close beside her: .'boyv
comes it that in this wild place you have
learned to speak so chivalrously?
When one speaks TO beauty the words
are given" he answered. and. moreover,
my days "
You speak French?" she queried in that
languaga. --'>
An" she said, when he answered .the
divine language L knew you were perfect"
Ana so for a long while the young man sat
spellbound, watching the smiles coming and
going upon her red and f1ower-like lips.
ara listening to the fast-runnng rinple of
her foreign speech. 1t was pleasure enough
to listen without reply
1t seemed no common food of mortal mon
that was set before him with sweep of
white arms and bend of delicate fingers
upon the chalice stem. He did not care TO
eat. but again and again he set the wine
cup down empty. for the vintage was lev
TO MN and brought. with it a haunting
Wi
vivid with unknown joys.
The pavilion with its cords of sendal and
its silver hanging lamps spun round about
him. The fair woman seemed TO dissolve
ard reunite before his eyes She had Inf
down her hair. and 1t flowed in the Vene-
tian fashion over her white shoulders
sparkling with an inner fire. Each fna silk
en- thread as il glittered separate from SIS
fellows like a twining golden snake
And the ripple of her laughter plaved
uFon the young mans heart as a lutte that
Is touched carelessly by the hands of a
master. Som thing of tha primitive elar,ar
Of the night and the stars clung TO this vo-
man. 1t seemed a thing impossible that she
should be less pure than the air and the
waters. than the grass beneath and the sky !
oVerh lad. He knew not that the devil sat
from the first day of creation on Eden wall |
that human sin is wellnigh as eternal as !
human good. and that passion rises out of |
Its own ashes like the phoenix bird of fable |
and stands again all beautiful before us a |
creature of fire and dew.
Presently the lady rose TO her feet and |
gave the earl her hand to lead her to a |
couch.
Set footstool by me-" she said. 81 de- |
sire to talk to you
You know not my name" she said,
though | know yours. But then, the sun 1
in midheaven cannot be hidden, though /
nameless bide the thousand stars. Shall / /
tell you mine? 1t is a secret, nevertheless I |
will tell You if such be your desire"
Il care not whether you tell me or no"
he said. looking up into her face from the |
lew seat at her feet. Birth cannot add to |
your beauty nor lack of uuarterings detract |
from 1t. have enough of both, good lacki /
And little good they are like to do mer'
Shall / tell YOU now" she went on cor
will You wait till you convoy me to Edin-
burgh?'
ITO Edinburgh" cried the young man,
astonished. Il have no purpose of journey
ing to that town of mine enemies. l have |
been counseied oft by those who love ne to
remain in mine own country Ny horC-
scope bids me refrain. Not for 900 com
mands of king or chancellor will l go to
that dark and bloody town, wherein, they
say, lies the curse of my house"
But you Will go to please a yyo-naOp"