The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-23
BY S. R. CROCKETT.
Copyright, 1898, by S. r. Crockett.)
THE WITCH WOMAN.

THE WITCE WOMAN.
One was AIalise the Smith, towering
like giant. His hands rested on the
hilt of a mighty sword, whose blade
spanked in the lampHght as if the mas
ter armorer had drawn it that moment
from the widst of his charcoal fire.
A little in front Of Malise there stood
another figure, less imposing in physi-
cal proportions but infinitely more
striking in apparel. The second was a
man Of tall and spare frame, of a coun-
tenance grave and severe, yet with a
certain kindly power latent in it also.
He was dressed in the white robe of a
CHRISTIAN, with the black Scapulary OF
the order. On his head was the mitre.
and IN his hand the staff of the abbot
OF great establishment, which he
wears when he goes visiting his sub
sidlary houses. More remarkable than
all was the monks likeness to the
young man who now stood before him
with an expression of indignant sur
prise on his face, which slowly merged
into anger as he understood why the
Two men were there.
1t was the. Abbot William Douglas,
the head of the great abbey of Dulce
Corupon> Solway side.
This was he who, being the son and
heir Of the brother Of the first Duke of
Touraine, had in the flower of his age
suddenly renowned his domains Of
Nithsdale, that he might take holy Or
ders, and who had ever since been re-
nowned for high sanctity and a multi
tude of good works.
The pair stood looking toward the
lazy and William Douglas, without
speech, kind of grim patience upon
their faces
1t was The earl who was the first to
speak.
What seek We here so late. my
Lord Abbott" he said, with all the
haughtiness of the unqUnstioned head
of his mighty house.
Nay; what seeks the Earl William
here alone so late?" answered the alb
bot, with equal directness.
The two men stood fronting each
other. Malise leaned upon his two
handed sword and gazed upon the
ground.
Il have come" the abbot went on,
after vainly waiting for the young earl
TO offer an explanation, 'as your kins-
man, tutor and councillor, to warn you
against this foreign witch woman.
What seeks she here in this land of
Galloway but to do you hurt? We nave
heard her with our own ears almost
persuade you to accompany her to
the power and deadly intent of your
enemies
Earl William bowed ironically to his
uncle, and his eye glittered as it fell
upon Malise MacEim.
81 thank you. uncle he said. 81 am
deeply indebted for your SO great inter
est. ! thank you. too, Malise. for bring
ing about this timely interference. I
viii pay my debts one day. In the
meantime your duty is done. Depart,
both of you, command you"
Outside the thunder had begun to
growl in the distance. An eXtraordi-
nary oppression had slowly filled the
air. The lamps swinging on the pa
vilion rooftree flickered and hared, al
teTRately rising and sinking, like the
life in the eyes of a. dying man.
And the while the lady sat still on the
couch, with an expression of amused !
contempt on her face. But now she
rose to her feet.
And I also ask, in the name of the |
king of France, by what rights you in
trude within the precincts of a lady's |
bower? l bid you leave mer'
She pointed imperiously with her |
white hand to the black, oblong door |
way, from which Malise's rude hand |
had dragged the covering flap to the ]
ground.
But the churchman and his guide !
stood their ground.
Suddenly the abbot reached a hand |
and took the sword on which the mas
ter armorer leaned With its point he
drew a wide circle upon the rich car
pets which formed the floor of the pa
viiion.
William Douglas" he said Il COM
mand you come within this circle, while
in the right of my holy office 1 exercise
that demon there who hath so nearly
beguiled you to your ruin
The lady laughed a rich, ringing
laugh.
These are indeed high heroics for so
plain and poor an occasion. I need not
10 utter a word of explanation. 1 am a
ady travelling peaceably under escort
# an ambassador of France, through a
Christian country. BY chance I met the
Carl Douglas and invited him to sup.