Evening star., 1898-12-17

his horses birdie to steady him. and turned
weakly to his father.
DO You speak to my lady-I cannotH' he
gasped.
y terrible figure was Malise MacKim. the
strong man of Galloway, as he came for
ward Stained with the black peat of the
morasses. his armor cast off that he NIGH
run the easier, his under apparel torn ei-
most from his great body. his hair matted
with the blood which still oozed from an
unwashed wound above his brow
My lady" he said. hoarsely. his words
whistling in his throat, Il have strange
things to tell. Can you bear to hear them -
IF you have found my daughter dead or
dying, speak and fear notr'
Il have things more terrible than the
death of many daughters to tell your
Speak and fear not-an' it touch the lives
of my sons. the mother OF the Douglases
has learned the Douglas lesson"
Then" said Malise sinking his head
upon his breast. God help you, lady-your
two sons are deadr'
rs David dead, also?" said the lady OF
Douglas
He is dead" replied Malise
The lady tottered little as she stood on
the topmost step of the ascent to Thrieve
One or two OF the torch bearers ran to sup
port her. But she commanded herself and
waved them aside.
''God-He is the Godr' she said 'In one
day He hath made me a woman solitary
and without children. Sons and daug lter
He has taken from me. But He shall not
break my heart. No, not even He. Stand
up. Malise Mackim, and tell me how these
things came to pass.
And there in the blown reek Of torches
and the hush of the courtyard of ThrIeve
Malise told all the tale of the black dinner
and the fatal morning of the short shrfi
and the matchless death. while around hin
strong men sobbed and lifted up right hands
to swear the vengeance.
But alone and erect as a banner stah
stood the mother of the dead. Her eyes
were dry. her lips compressed. her noStriIs
a little distended like those of a war horse
that shifts the battle from afar. Outside
the wall the news spread swiftly. and some.
where in the darkness a voice set up The
Celtic keen.
bid that woman hold her peace. I Will
hear the news and then We will cry The
slogan. Say on. Malisei'
Then the smith told how his horse had
broken down time and again. how he ha1
pressed on running and resting. stripped
almost naked that he might keep up wiki
his son, because that no ordinary charger
would carry his great weight.
Then when he had finished the lady oi
Thrieve turned to Sholto: And you. cap
tain OF the guard, what have you done and
wherefore left your master in his hour OF
necd?"
Then, succinct1y and to the point Sholtc
spoke, his father ana Laurence asserting
and confirming as he told of the earl's corl
mission and of how he had accomplished
those things that Were laid upon him.
II IS Wen, SAID the lady. calmly. Now
| also will tell you something that you do
not know. My little daughter, whom ye
call the Fair Maid of Galloway, with her
companion Mistress Maud Lindsay. went
more than twelve hours agone TO the holt
by the ford to gather hazel nuts, and nc
eve of man or woman hath seen them
since"
And as she spoke there passed 4 quick
strange pang through the heart Of SholJO
He remembered the warning of the Lady
Sybilla. Had he once more come too late?
Cro be continued1