Evening star., 1898-10-29

ton early, and though the Douglas was
the greatest man in Scotland, yet sur
rounded by ,neaIer men as he was it be-
hooTed him at all times to be jealous of his
life and honor
Earl Douglas came out of the SPARED
inclosure of the tilt ring in order to re-
ceive his guests.
First, an escort to the royal ambasga-
uors OF france and Scotland, who came be-
hind. rode the Earl of Avondale and his
TOUR sons, noble young men and all un-
llkely TO have sprung from such a stock
James the Gross rode a broad CIydesdal lie
mar, mar, snort. sort, unwieldly man, sit
ting squat on the saddle like frog astride
a roof. and glancing sidewise out of the
pursy recesses of his eyes
Behlnd him came his eldest son William
OF true Douglas countenance quick high
and stern. Then followed lanes whose
1.-THE body and wondrous dexterity in arms
were already winning him repute as one
or the bravest knights in all christendom
Behind the Avondale Douglas rode two
men abreast, with Il lady ON a paifrev he
tween them.
The first to take the eye both by his stat
49, ohe anu ren1aTkapie appearance, rode
charger covered from head to tail in the
gorgeous red and gold diamond TRAININGS
pertaining to marshal of France He
was IN complete armor and wore his visor
do"n. long blue feather hoated from
his helmet, falling almost upon the hank
or MS horse A truncheon of gold and
black was at his side A pace hebind bi,,,
ie the liiles or FRANCO Were displayed. float
ing out languidly from a banner starr il,
the hands of young squire
The knight behind whom the bop,or
IoSal OF ocotiand futtered was man of
dlnerent mold His spare frame seemed
buried IN the suit of armor which be ,rora
somewhat aWkwardly His naIa osnt;o
face looked more in place in a monLisb
cloister than on knightly fitting pronnd
srrd srift ne glanced this way and that with the
whi1a sattf et.t Live I'VE suspicion of one who
in another. ~ NC TAKEN
But the lady who rode on white na,fre,
oeomteh n'so .hese two took all mems regard
even IN the presence of a marsbaI or l-sn,t W.
and herald of the King Of ST. VI d'ice
Ihe Earl Douglas having LET his ewes ono.
resi- upon her, could not again remove
of elfe, M Delns; as II were fixed by greatness
1t was the lady of the pav;Iio, rnaa,
neath the pines, the lady of the evanirr,
light and the midnight storm. evening
Sne was no longer clothed in sfmnIo
Hhlte, put arrayed like a kings dauphter
ON her head was a high neaIked cnfef,.a 81
from which there flowed down a praoaf,,,
cloud of finest lace. This even &C H. air.,
,ooksd ;.oSi at her, She caught at with a be-
"llcnlng gesture and brought ovar ~
shoulder with her sloved hand A ,oo
ntunS lobe of palest blue outlined tbe nar-
iections of her body. singIe f1enrNaaN,i.
IN soid was embroidered on the breast of
oNA~N, ]iiu the same device
peared again and again on the urhita - p
ing of her palfrey. i'A
She sat in her saddle gently smi1ins and
looking down with sweetness which was
either the perfection of finished noo,a..
or the expression of the finest naturoI r,i
esty. Nt f'i HUI
strangely enough the first thought which
came to the Earl Douglas after his iii ',
prise was one IN which triumnh - Hai
ed with mirth. was 'ieiu-
What will the abbot and Malisa t,;r,
or thls?' he said half aloud And he t,IrnN
ed him about in order to look unon tho
face of his master armorer ~
He found MaliSe MacKim asben n,Io o,,.
drawn of coLntenance the month anan go
squared with wonder. His Jaw was faIen
slack and his hands gripped one unon the
saints. . = ~ ~
The earl smiled and bidding ,,a1iso I'M,
lace his helmet in compliment to bis eI,asts
ne stood bareheaded before them his heaI
appearing above the blackness of his
armor ; bright as a flower with youth, and
instinct with the fiery beauty of his race
1t was James the Gross who came for
ward to act as herald. NV weII-beIovad
hepheW' ne began, in somewhat whining
tones. Il bring you two royaI emhassias
one from the King of France ana tba othar
from the King of Scotland. / have the
nonor to present to you Marshal Giles de
,1' hetz' ambassador OF the most Christian
king, Charles VII. who will presently de-
liver his masters message to Won :"
The marshal who till now had kent his
visor down, slowly raised 1t, and revealed
a race which after being once seen, could
| never afterward be banished from the mem
ory. 1t was a large gray-white counte
nance, with high cheek bones and colorIess
lips, which were continually working one
upon the otner. Black eyes were set close
together under heavy hairless brows and
a long, thin nose curved between them, like
the beak of an unclean bird
Eari William. said the marshal. IT bid