Evening star., 1898-10-22

Of himself, casting himself down again on
the couch and playing with the serDent
ring on his finger.
All, now, cried his sister, her quick
eyes dancing everywhere al once, you are
not attending to a single word l say. !
know by your voice that you are not. That
is pretty ring. Did lady give it to you?
Was it our Maud's? | think 1t must have
been our Maud She has many beautiful
things, but mostly 1t is the young men who
come here who wish to give her such
things She never gives any of them away,
but keeps them In a box. and says that 1t
Is good to spoil the Egyptians. And when
| am tired she will tell me the history of
each and whether he was dark or fair. Or
make 1t all up just good If she fOrgets
But. oh. William. if were a lady, | should
fall in love with nobody but you. For you
are so handsome-yeS. nearly as handsome
as l am myseIf-tshe passed her hands
lightly through her Curls as she spoke)
And you know l shall marry no one but a
Douglas-Only you must not ask me to
marry my cousin William of Ayondale. for
he is SO stern and solemn, besides he has
always a book In his pocket and wishes ne
to learn somewhat. as If | were a monk
Douglas should not be monk; he should
be a soldier
So she lay and prattled on to her brother
who. buried In his thoughts and occupied
with his ring, let the hours sliD on till at
the ooen door of the earpS chamber there
appeared the most bewitching face in the
world. as many in that castle were ready
to prove at the swords point. The little
girl caught sight of 1t with shrill cry of
pleasure. instantly checked and hushed
however, at the thought of her mother.
''Oh. Maudie," she cried, come hither
into Williams room. He has such beautt-
full ring that lady gave him. l am
lady gave it him. Was 1t you, Maud Linde-
say? You are sly puss not to tell me If 1t
was William. 1t is wicked of you not to
tell me who gave you that ring. If 1t lad
been some one you were not ashamed Of
you would be proud of it and tell. Whs-
r1,n Il mill Son
one, not even Maudie"
Her brother had risen to his feet. with a
quick movement girdlng his red gown
about him as he rose
Il fear I have given you anxiety by de-
tanning your charge so late. But she is a
willful madam and i'll to advise"
She Is a Douglas" smiled the fair maid
who stood at the chamber door, refusing
his invitation to enter with a flash of the
eye and quick shake of the head, which
betokened no small share of the family
qualities "Is not that enough to excuse
her for being waywa-d and headstrong?'
Earl William wasted no more words Of
entreaty upon his sister. but seized her in
his arms. and pulling The coverlet in which
she had huddled herself up, with her pert
chin on her knees. more closely about her
he strode along the passage with her in
his arms till he stopped at an open door
leading into a large chamber which looked
to the south
There" he said, smiling at the girl who
had followed behind him, II will lock her
In with you and take the key, that I may
safe bind such uncertain charges"
But the girl had deity extracted the key
even she passed in after him, and as
the bolts shot from Within she cried, II
thank you right courteously, Lord William
but mine apothecary. fearing that the air
of this Isle of Thrieve might not agree with
me, bade me ever to sleep with the key of
my door under my pillow. Against fever
and quinsies cold iron is sovereign spe-
cific"
And spite Of his wounded heart Earl
William smiled at the girls sauciness as
he went slowly back to his chamber In
spite of his earldom taking pains to pass
his mothers door on tiptoe.
CHAPTER VII.
The Douglas Muster.
The day of the great weapon showing
broke fair and clear, after the storm of
the night. The windows of heaven had had
I'll their panes cleaned and even after
broad daylight the brighter stars appeared
only. however. to wink out again when the
sun arose and shone on the wet fields. re-
Joicing like bridegroom from his chamber
And equally bright and strong came forth
the young earl, every trace of the anger
and disappointment of the night having
been removed from his face, IL not from his
mind. by the recreative and potent sleep of
youth and health.
In the hall he called for Sir John of Aber-
nethany, called Laniless Jock
Conduct my uncle the abbot from fbe