The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-13

expression in their depths, and were
then dropped with a sigh.
You are still angry with me-" she
said, little wistfully, land l wanted
10 tell you how happy it made me
made us, mean-that you are to be
captain Of the castle guard instead of
that grumbling curmudgeon Jock of
Abernethy."
The heart of Sholto was instantly
melted, more by her looks than by her
words, though deep within him he had
still an angry feeling that he was being
played with. All the same, and in
spite of his resolves, the eyeshot from
under those dark, sweeping lashes did
its own deadly work.
Il did not know that aught which
might befall me could be anything to
Mistress Maud Lindesay!'' said Sholto,
with the last shreds of dignity in his
voice.
Il said not to me, but to u.s." she
corrected, smiling; but tell me, what
think you of this appearance which
has SO startled our Margaret. Was it
ghost or goblin or dream of the night?
We have never had either witch or
werloc1 about the house of Thrieve
since the old Abbot Gavin laid the
ghost of Archibald the Grim with four
and forty masses said in the castle
chapel
Nay, ask me not" answered Sholto
Il am little skilled in matters spiritual.
l should try sWordpoint and arrowhead
on such gentry, and if these do them no
harm, why, then, I think they will not
distress me muchr'
But all the same he said nothing to
the girl about the red blood on his
sword or the gouts on the steps of the
staircase.
He followed Maud Lindsay into her
chamber, and, being arrived there lift
ed couch and all in his arms with an
ease born of long apprenticeship to the
forehammer. The girl regarded him
with admiration, which she was careful
not to dissemble.
You are very strong she said.
Then, after a pause, she added, Mar
garet and like strong men,
The heart of the youth was glad
within him, thus to be called a man,
even though he Kept saying over and
over to himself: ''She means it not!
She means it not! She loves the earl!
l know well she loves the earlr'
Maud Lindsay paused a moment be
fore the chamber door of her little
charge, finger on lip, listening
She sleeps-go quietly she whis-
pered, holding the door open for him.
He set down the bed where she showed
him, by the side OF the little slumbering
figure of the Maid of Galloway.
Then he went softly to the door The
girl followed him. You will not be far
away" she said, doubtfully, and with a
perilous sort of humility. IF this dread
full thing should come back again. I
that is, we, would feel safer if we knew
that you-that any one strong and
brave was near at hand
Then the heart of Sholto broke out
in quick anger.
Deceive me mott" he cried. 81 know
well that the earl loves you, and that
you love him in return
Wen, indeed, were it for him if he
loved as honest woman" said Maud
Lindsay, pouting disdainfully. But
what is such matter, yea or nay, to
you?"
TT is all life and happiness to me-"
said Sholto earnestly. t'Ah, do not go
stay moment. 1 shall never sleep this
night if you go without giving me an
answer"
Then" said the girl you will be the
more in the line of your duty. You are
but a silly, petulant boy for all your
fine captaincy. l wish had the Land
less Jock. He would never have veXed
me with foolish questions at such a
timel''
But love you, and demand an an
swer," cried Sholto, tuning; do you
love the earl ?"
What do you think yourself, now?"
she said, looking up at him with an in
imitable slyness and pronouncing her
words to initiate the simplicity of coun-
tryside speech.
Sholto vented a short gasp or mar
ticulate snort of anger, at which Maud
Lindsay started back with affected
terror.
ssDo NOT frieyb+ n ,,oo,, maid >, che cold
viii you put me in the dungeon if
do not answer? Tell me exactly what
you want me to say, and l will say it,
most nightly captain
And she made him the prettiest little
courtesy, turning at the same time her
eyes in mock humility on the ground.
80, Maud Lindsay" said Sholto,
with a little conflicting sob in his
throat, i'll becoming so noted a warrior
as the captain of the castle guard of
the Black Douglas, ''if you knew how
l loved you, you would not treat me
thus"
The girl came nearer to him and laid
white and gentle hand on the sleeve
of his blue archer's coat.
Nay, lad she said, more soberly
lifting a finger to his face, surely you
are no milksop to mind how a girl flouts
you. Love the earl-say you? Well, is
he not worthy? Is he not the head of
our house?"
Cheat me not with words. The earl
loves you?" said Sholto, lifting his head
haughtily out of her reach. (To have
ones chin pushed this way and that by
a girls forefnger, and as it We're con-
sidered critically from various points
of view, may be pleasant, but it inter
feres most seriously with dignity.
.'He may indeed" drolled the mink
zone can never tell. But he has never
said so. He is perhaps afraid, being
born without the self-conceit Of some
people-archers of the guard, hedging
captains and such like gentrice."
do you love him?" reiterated Sholto
81 will tell you for that gold buckle
said Maud, calmly pointing with her
finger
Instantly sholto pulled the cap from
his head, undid the pin of the archery
prize, and thrust it into his wicked
sweetheart's hands.
She received it with a little cry of
joy, then she pressed it to her lips
Sholto, rejoicing at heart, moved a step
nearer to her. But in spite of her arch
delight, she was on the alert, for she
retreated deftly and neatly within the
chamber door of the Fair Maid of Gal
loway. There was still more mirthful
wickedness in her eyes.
Love the earl? Of course L do In
deed, l dote upon him. she said. How
] shall love this buckle, just because he
gave it to you"
And with that she shut the door.
Sholto, in act to advance stood a
poised on one foot like a goose.
Then, with heart blazing with anger
and one of the first oaths that had
ever passed his lips, he turned on his
heel and STROBE away.
Il will never think of her again:
will never see her. will go to France
and perish in battle. / will throw me
in the castle pool. L will"
SO the poor lad retreated muttering
hot aud angry 1Kn,lls all his hart go.