Evening star., 1898-10-15
CHAPTER Z.
Enter the Black Douglas.

MIN. master dTmOier ana roster 1ather 70
William. sixth Earl of Douglas and Lord OF
Galloway.
Malise Kim, who by common voice was
named the Brawny," sat in his wicker
chair before his door. overlooking the is
land-studded fairylike loch of Carlinwark.
In the smithy across the green. bare-trod-
den road two of his elder sons were still
hammerinE at some armOr of choice. But
it was ploy of their own. which they de-
sired To- finish that they might go trig and
point-device TO the earls weapon showing
tomorrow on the braes of Bdlmaghie. Shol-
10 and Laurence were the names of the two
VINO hammered the ringing steel and blew
the smcotk-handIed bellows of tough bull
hide that wHeezed and puffed as the fire
roared deep and red before sinking to the
right welding heat in a little flame round
the buckle tache of the girdle brace they
were working on.
And as they hammered they talked to-
gethgr In alternate suatches and silences,
ShoIto. the elder. nlea awhile keeping an eye
on his father. for their converse was not
meant to reach the ear of the grave, strong
man who sat still in the chair with the
afternoon sun in his eyes
"Hark ye, Laurence" said Sholto. return
Ing from a visit to the door of the smithy.
the upper part of which was open. mo
longer will | be hammerer of iron and
blower Of fires for my father. I am going
to be soldier of fortune, and so l will tell
him
When wilt thou tell him." laughed his
brother. tauntingIy. Il wager my purple
velvet ipJblet slashed with gold. which
bought with mine own money last Rood
fair. that You will not go across and tell
him uow. VIII you take the dare"
The purple velvet-you mean it," said
Shoito eagerly. Mind. if YOU refuse and
viii not give il up after promising | will
mex t!1{ tylHE throat OF yours with my
guile knife
And with that ShoIto threw down mis-
pIUcsgs and hammer and VaIiantIy threw
open the lower door Of the smithy. He
looked with hold dark blue eyes at his
father, ard stepped slowly across the gTimy
d"or~teo- BFaWny Kim had not moved for
an -puT- Ills great hands lay in his lap,
All his eyes looked at the purple ridges of
ScTesi across the beautiful lnch of Carlin-
wark. which SparFed and dimuled among
its isles ike a little willful beauty under
tn gaze oi a score Of galiants.
But Sho!Jo's step slowed and lost its hrag-
gaTt strut and confidence. Behind him
Iaurerc- chuckied and laughed sfnlting his
thigh in his mocEin- giee.
''Ih" pCIple velvet mind YOU. Shol o; how
Wei II VIII become you. cOIt from Rob
halliburton. our mothers own brother.
scanned Win red gold and lined with yellow
SATIN and -rJUp=I-. Wei. indeed. will it
ST. You when Maud Lindsay. th- maid who
came from the north for company TO the
ear.S sister. looks forth from the canopv
upon YOU as you stand in lhe archers' rank
On he morrow morn.
SholtO squared his shoulders and with d
Ittle backward hitch of the elbow which
neant. Wait till l come back and l will
pay YOU Tor This dOulIns ne STROBE deter
minediy across The green space toward his
t4Jhsr
The master arncrer of Earl Douglas did
no lift his eyes till his son had half cross
cd The road. Then. even as rank of
sirIrSn-.n nt Tho word Of command lift
ii-"Fr g.-tt'riuE points 10 the ready Shol-
1" NarNim stopped dead where he was
V--H a sort of gasp like one who finds his
dsf~n~'l"s< body breast nigh against the
lr' NJ hostile steel
The purple veIve;-" came the cautious
whisper from behind. BUI the taunt was
pow~rIrSs now.
The smith held MS son momen, with his
Weir came in the deep. low voice. more
Hk- itr lowest tones oi an organ than the
sI--,h of Il man.
shoI,o stood fixed. then half turning ON
n irei. he began 10 walk toward tho cor
Ter If Rae dwelling house. over which a gay
sji-f'fr'r uf tlr creeping ronvOlvuIOus dau-
gil and swung in he stirring of the light
br.rZ-
'.You wish speech with me?" said his
fa-her ia tn same level and thrilling un-
No said sholro, L bat ,hought-that
l. ] desired saw YOU NagdaI-n pass this
way ! have somewhat 20 give her
All so said BrtWny Kim without mnv-
Ing. "a steel breastplstte heliI6c. Thou hast
~" "e-hUckle in thy hand Doh the
NJ" NaSaalen go with you 10 the weapon
SNOW tpTorroW -
y" father said ShoIto stammerinS.
hHI VS. uneasy for the child. 1t IS an
hour since I heard her voice"
Then. said his father. go finish your
work, put put The IRE and seek your sister
Sh'I-o brought his hands together and
n1ai- the little inclination of the head
which wdS sign OF fIiaI respect Then
sn."iun as u he had been in his place in
IT, ordered line of Jh- earrs first levy of
ar .tsrtaen. be turned hin about and went
back .D tie sEnifhy.
I-uIr"Gce lay all abroad on the heap Of
charcoal in which the armoTer's wcIdinf,
ira Ms made. Laurence was fairly ex-
pIrins with laughter and when his brother
aE-fi.J kicked him in the ribs ne only
waEF.'d an Intellectual hand and feebIy
Cf'""'i Ike cock in his throat in his eff
f'T,- &" stitlr The sounds 0f mirlh
g. up. FOOL. Missed his angry brother.
"h-tp with this accursed hammer
striking or } Will make ar end of such q
RisE-HE l9ut As yoH Here. hold up
Ana. Seizing his younger brother by the
o".iar OF his blue working blouse. he drag
Ee.l him upon his feet
Now. by the saints" said ShoIto .;f ,-,,,
caS' Nour slbes upon me. hy St Andrew I
WIZ break every hone in your idiots body =
Ihe purple Te.vet-oh. the purple vel
NHi- sasped Laurence. as sOor as he could
r~r1E'- speech; and the eyes Of Maud
IiEicS8y,''
INT viii teach you to think ratter OF
tn eyes Of Laurence MacKIm"' cried ShoI
10. anu without more ado. nit his trother
Wit. his cierahed knuckIes 4 fair blow ON
tn bridge OF his nose.
Tn" next moment the two lads were gran
ping together like wild cats striking
kI' kiuS and biting. with no thought except
oi "no should have the best Of the battle
IN y relied on the floor. now tussIins
among the cracking faggoJs anon pitching
s2t. a~ one body on the peat dust in
m corner again kucCk king over bench
an NF1nSiHc down the tools thereon TO the
njor with Jingle which might have been
htarl Tar "Et on the loch. They were still
c'a"IHS and "uihuG each other in blind
f'-', "h-a Band. heavy and rernorseIess
TaS lali unor each ShoIto found himseIf
beng -aLhir'l in tho great ternperIng caul-
Or "''-r s'Nod by his fathers forge
Laurence heard his own teeth rattle as ne
va shaken til mis- joints wagglel IKE
tLvS- "t % pGppct at KeItonhiU fair Then
y was his turn 10 be doused in the water
NrN' CIR heads Were Souudly knocked To-
Seft"r. and finally. like pair OF arrows
sent right and left. Laurence sped forrh ar
tn window in the gable end and found
hiEnsf II In the midst Of 4 gooseberrv hush