The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-25

his Young body behind IL, impineed on the wall.
a tlnRlinR shock OF acutest agony ran up the
sword dropped ringing on the pavement. and
Shnlto's arm fell numb and useless TO his side.
LIT the, sword and look" commanded tho
sholto did as he was hidden with his left
hhoonnnn' an9 y, tne POM; which bad bent like a
armorer's."
Can you strike with your left hund2" asked
with my right" answered the son of Ma
There was a bar at the window in the wall
bending outward in shape like the ,ietter u.
Then strike q cutting stroke with your left
short sighted policy that on the hour OF his de-.
parture on q perilous quest he should disable
WAS not the youth to. question an order. He
lifted the sword in his left hand. and with a
strong. unGraceful motion. struck with all his
AZ first he thought that he had missed alto.
Gether. There, was no tingling in his arm, no
the Iron. But the Countess was examining
the centre OF the iron hoop.
Come htther and look" she said. without
turning round.
been cut through almost without bending.
The edges OF the break were fresh and bright
Now look at the edge OF your sword she
There was not the slightest dint anywhere
turned about the blade to see II by any chance
he could have smttten with the reverse,
LADY fSi nnd s ,a INF f,,n he is sq y srs Saly gli knsel am to n his
For in such times OF peril Jewels and lands
were as nothing to the value Of such a suit OF
arnor. which kings and princes might have
made war to obtain.
passed over the face of the Countess of Douglas.
1t Is the best | can do with 1t now" she
said. At least; no one of the Avondales shall
After the Lady Douglas had armed the young
knight and laid upon him his quest. Sholto de-
tramplinG his clean wooden flooring. The
stock. but a plain beast to look upon, neither
likely to attract attention nor to stir c~upidity.
,, His iatheE and Laurence were already on
they found any traced the lost ones or no. they
were all to meet on the third day at the little
by the. Lady Sybilla. already had his idea,
which from the very horror Of it. he had as yet
1t CHANGED that as the youth rode south
ward along the banks OF the Dee. Glancing this
way and that for traces of the missing maids.
but seeing only the grass trampled by a hun
bred feet and the boats in the stream drag
cling every pool with grapnels and rones. Two
some:distance in front Of him. BY their long
robes OF decent brown. they seemed merchants
on a Journey. portly OF figure and consequent
$ sholto rapidly made up to them. with his
peter horse.and lighter weight. he perceived
and noteworthy Magistrates ;of ,Dumiries.
Robert Semple and his, own uncle. Ninian
Hearing the %clatter OF. the %jennet's hoofs.
they turned about suddenly with mighty seri-
the w~ayfarer heard steps behind him, whether
q man or beast, it repaid him to give imme-
s. at the, sound Of hoois Ninian and his
friend. set their hands to their thighs and
looked over their shoulders more, quickly
.'Ha., Nephew Sholto.. lad!' cried Ninian.
nightly relieved; blythe am to see you.
that has upturned all the aud province. BY
your gloomy face | see that the major part Is
over true, The Earl is dead and he awes me
ten frlots of malt and other sundries. whilS
s%lller.:if the hungry Avondale,D ouglases come
Surely | have more cause to mourn him-a fine
lad and free with his havings. If We Gat not
neist. with never a word Of drawback nor
craving for batement."
Sholto told them briefly concerning the
any. waste OF words. and as briefly Of the loss
OF The LITTLE maid and her COMPANION;
me 6aliie OF Dumfries lifted up his hands in
",Tis surely a plot o thae Ayondales.
made. a, clean sweep: No q GaIl6wa' Boug LAS
LEFT. If they hae speerited ava the bopny bit
nrsvins Nan ba hG5e It, she icrG Tas her .! F aaIfGTa to , ths
the earldom o. NiGton. for thae twa can gang
to a lassie;, But as soon as the twa ladies
Douglasdnle estates. forbye the Borders and
ian Halliburton. merchant and indweller. in
DHmfriiSs: he'll never see bilt nor hair O. his
Sholto. ist no an awful peoty?"
During this lamentation. to which his
nephew paid little attention. looking only
lows by. the. waterside. the other merchant,
Robert Semple. had been ponderinG deeply.
Galloway" he said. "A land. where there are
na9ght but Do%HGlases and men bound body
the he Black BHS. : shore f.s o @ffeswsI hi'" IT'S Hs' 1ust S nSs po 80
sihle-Ill wager that it Is that Hieland gypsy.
Mistress Lindsay. tina. has some love ,ploy on
hand and has game all and ta'en the lass wi
At these words Sholto twisted him about in
Master Semple." he, said. Il would have
you speak more carefully Mistress LINDSAY
you are pleased to call them"
Tbs two 5urgesses sh0ok with significant
is exceedinriiy, iiii--tlmed.." he said. "an i'd I viii
consider myself well rid Of your COMPANY.
"Bide ye. wild laddie; p, he said. ,"'There is
Lreend here meaned to speak nae III o the lass.
But at least ! ken o. ae love ploy that Mis-
trees TeSsa L In e ro, if Engaged N nand in n or your birses
man. But guild luck to We. Ye hae the MAR
chance O. finding the flown brides that We
o. the bit calf. But God speed ye, I say. for
gin ye bring. ma. back the wee lass that's heir
to the braid lands o Galiowa'. it's an i'll chance
Ninian Halliburton has ever 20 I'll his loot VII
the bonny Rowden angels that. next to high
heeyen. are a mans best friends in an evil and
adulterous generation"
CHAPTER XII.
H MISSION OF JAMES THE GROSS.