The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
qHE BLACK DOUGLAS.
BY s. r.
.,,sor Of "The Raiders" The Lilac
~suubonnet," "The stickit Minis
,.r.u "The Gray Man," SC.
c~opvrfsAtd, 1925. bv S. r. Crockett
CHAPTER !.
rNrEn rnE nIAcK pouoIAs.

= Iii the Scottish southland. The twined
%.srole had not yet been taken down from
,.ors the house OF Brawny kim, master ar
UnrsT and foster.father to William. sixth Earl
!, douglas and Lord OF Galloway.
Walise kim. who by common voice was
..msd "the Brawnv." sat in his wicker chair
s.,ors his door. overlooking the island stud
al fairylike loch of Carlinwark. In the
sri,hv across the green. bare-trodden road
40 ~ his elder sons we're still hammering
y, some armor OF choice. But II was a ploy
:, their own. which they desired to fn-
IN that they might go trig and point-device
!. the Earl's weapon showing tomorrow on
,hs braes OF Balmaghle. Sholto AND Laurence
rere the names Of the two who hammered the
,inoinR steel and blew the smooth-handled
bellows Of tough bull hide that wheezed and
rnTed as the fire roared deep and red before
..nkinR to the right welding heat in a little
Dame round the buckle tache Of the girdle
hr,ee they were working on.
And as they hammered they talked together
IA alternate snatches and s%ilences. Sholto. the
Alder, meanwhile keeping an eye on his father.
hr their converse was not meant to reach the
AR OF the grave. strong man who sat 80 still In
ne chair with the afternoon sun in his eyes.
"Hark We, laurence" said Sholto. return
la from a visit to the door OF the smithy. the
inner part Of which was open, no longer will
he a hammerer OF iron and blower Of fires for
nv father. / am going to be q soldier OF for
tune, and 80 | will tell him"
when wilt thou tell him2' laughed his
brother tauntinGly. Il wager myspurple vel
vet doublet slashed with gold. which / bought
With mine own money last Rood fair. that you
will not 60 across and tell him now. VIII you
hke the dare?"
The purple velvet-you mean It." said Sholto
eagerly. Mind, IL you refuse and will not
rye II UP after promising. l will nick that ly-
INK throat OF yours with my guile knife"
And with that Sholto threw down his pin
.es and hammer and valiantly threw open
he lower door Of the smithy. He looked with
bid dark blue eyes at his father. and stepped
towly across the Grimy doorstep. Brawny
Kim had not moved for an hour His great
hands lay In his lap. and his eyes looked at the
purple ridges of Screel across the beautiful
bch Of Carlinwark. which sparkled and dim
ped among its isles like a little wilful beauty
under the gaze Of a score Of G~allants.
But Sholto's step slowed and lost it's bragg
tart strut and confidence. Behind him Lau-
renee chuckled and laughed. shifting his thigh
In his hooking glee.
The purple velvet. mind you, Sholto: how
well " VIII suCCOulc bOu, COlI lTOm IlOD E1dIl-
burton. our mothers own brother. scanned
with red gold and lined with yellow satin and
eramosie. Well indeed will IT. set you when
Maud Lindsay. the maid who came from the
north for company to the Earl's sister. looks
forth from the canopy upon you as you stand
In the archers' rank on the morrow's morn"
Sholto squared his shoulders. and with A
little backward hitch of his elbow. which
meant, Wait till l come back and I will pay
you for this louting." he strobe determinedly
Epss the green space toward his father.
The master a-morer Of Earl Douglas did
not lift his eyes till. his son had half crossed
the road. Then even as a rank of spearsmen
at the word Of command lift their glitterinR
points to the ready" Sholto Mackim stopped
dead where he was with a sort of gasp like one
who finds his defenceless body breast high
against the line of hostile steel. ,
The purple velvet''- came the cautious
whisper from behind. But the taunt was
p~owerless now.
The smith held his son a moment with his
eyes. 8.
"Well?" came in the deep. low voice. more
IKE the lowest tones Of an organ than the
speech OF man.
sholto stood fixed. then half turning on his
heel' he began to walk toward the corner OF
the dwelling house, over which q gay stream
er Of the creeping convolvulus danRled and
swung in the stirring OF the light breeze.
You wish speech with me?" said HIS father.
IN The same level and thrilling undertone.
No" said Sholto. Il thought-that is, I
Sesred-saW you Magdalen pass this. way?
nave somewhat to give her"
All. So" said Brawny Kim. without NOV
h0, "A steel breastplate. belize. Thou
mast the brace-buckle in thy hand. Doth the
lme hagdalen go with you to. the weapon
show tomorrow"
No. father" said sholto. stammering. but
was uneasy for the child. 1t is an hour
since heard her voice" ..
Then" said his father, go finish your
WORK. put out the fire and seek your sister,"
Sholto brought his hands together and
made the little inclination OF the held which
was a sign OF flial respect. Then. solemn. as
ms mad been in his place in the ordered line
%'ne Earl's first levy OF archermen. he turned
MN about and went back to the smithy. :
Laurence lay all abroad on the heap Of char
"a Oh which the armorers' welding fire was
lAoe' Laurence was fairly expiring with
uusnter' and. when his brother angrily
liked MIN In the ribs. he only wagGled an In
Isetual hand and feebly crowed like q cock
d mirth.
yet up. fool" Kissed his angry brother.
nTp me with this aocursed hammer striking
Will make an end Of such'a giggling lout
"you. Here. hold up"
ana selling his younger brother by the col
al ms blue working blouse. he dragged him
upon his feet. ~,
VOW by the saints" said sholto. III you cast
.wn goes upon me, by 81. Andrew / will break
's Wy bone in your idiots body
me purple velret-Oh. the purple velvet"
.sped Laurence as soon as he could recover
'VvTcn' and the eyes OF Maud Lindesay!"
mat VIII teach you to hin rather'of the
~ VI Laurence MacKimr' cried Sholto. and
'nNt more ado hit his brother with his
SI,aened knuckles a fair blow on the bridge OF
t~o next moment the two lads were CRAP
'%E together like wildcats. striking. kicking
~ a Gung with no thought except OF who
rJs NM nave the best Of the battle. They
,r" nv Oh the floor. now tusslinE among the
EIvA h n iaggots. anon pitching soft as one
hOokiEnn, we neat dust In the corner. gail
tOds 1,hhE over a b inch and bringing down the
hiRb, 'Ihereoh 10 the floor with a Jingle which
INA" nave been heard far out on the loch.
10 IN TTeIe sun clawing and cutting each other
ltA rage when a hand. heavy and remorse-
kAIk 'Tos lhld uDOn each, ShOltn found him