Evening star., 1898-10-15

he seemed over young TO have inherited so
great burden. But the next moment he
was himself again.
Il know, MaliSe,'' he said. that / cannot
offer you gold in return for your admirable
handicraft. But it's nigh to Keltonhll fair;
do you divide this gold lion petwixt those
two brave boys of yours. Faith, right glad
was to be Earl of Douglas and not a son
of his master armorer, when | saw you
disciplining Measures Sholto and Laurencer'
The smith smiled grimly.
They are good enough lads, Shoito and
| Laurence both, but they will be forever
gnurrtng and graphing at each other like
nessan dogs about kirk door"
They will not make the worse soldiers
for that, MaliSe. / pray you forgive them
for my sake
The master armorer took the hand of his
young lord. on which he was about to draw
a riding glove of Spanish leather. Very
reverently he kissed the signet ring upon it,
My dear lord" he said, Il can refuse
naught to any of your gracious house, and
most Of all to you, the light and pleasure
Of it-aye, and the light of d surly old mans
heart more even than the duty he owes to
his own married wife! oh, be CAREFUL my
lord, for you are the desire of many hearts
and the hope of all the land"
He hesitated a moment, and then added,
with kind of curious bashfulness:
But | am CO ncerned about ye this nicht,
/ William Douglas-I fear that ye could not
could not permit me-
Gould not permit what-out with it. old
grumblepate?"
THAT l should saddle my Flanders mare
and ride after you. Malise MacKim would
not be in the way even if ye went a-tryst-
ing He kens brawIy when 20 turn his head
and look upon the hills and the woods and
the bonny waters
The earl laughed and shook his head.
Ma, ma, Malise," he said, were | indeed
on such quest the sight of your gray DOW
.'ild fright fair lady, and the mere
tramping of that club-footcd she elephant
put to flight every sentiment of love. Re
member the Douglas badge is a naked
heart. Can l ride accounting, therefore,
with all my fighting tail behind me. as
though l besought alliance with the king
of Englands daughter
The strong man watched the young earl
ride away to the south along the fair loch
side. He stood muttering to himself and
looking long under his hand at his lord.
The rider bowed his head he passed
under the rich blossoming of the white
mayblossom, which covered like creamy
lace the Three Thorns of Carlinwark now
deeply stained with rose from the clouds of
sunset.
AYE aye" he said. 1.-THE Douglas badge
Is indeed a heart-but it is bleeding hearr.
God avert the omen and keep this young
rlan safe. for though many love him, there
would be more that would rejoice at his
fall"
The rider OF Black Darnaway rode right
Into the eye of the sunset. On his left
hand Carlinwark and its many islets hurn-
ed rich with spring green foliage and The
golden sunset light. Darnaway's well-shod
hoofs sent the diamond drops flying as
with obvious pleasure he splashed through
the shadows. Ben Garn and Scree boldly
rldged against the southern sky. stood out
In dark amethyst against the rosy sky OF
even, but the young rider never much as
turned his head to look at them.
Presently however. he emerged from
among the noble lakeside trees upon a
mere open space. Broom and whin blossom
clustered yellow and orange beneath HIM
,r,.iso Wit
golden banners every knoll and scaur, but
there were broad spaces of green turf here
and there on which the comics fed, CIR
fought terrible battles for the meek ear
twitching does, ''spat-spatting'' at ach
other with their forepaws and springin.
into the air in their mating fury.
William of Douglas reined Darnaway un-
derneath the whispering foliage of a great
beech, for all at unawares he had come
upon sight that interested him more than
the noble prospect of the May sunset.
In the center of the golden glade and
with all their faces mistiy glOrifed 10y tho
evening light. he saw a group of little
girls. singing and dancing as they perform
ed some quaint and graceful pageant of
childhood.
Their young voices came up to him with
a wistful, dying fall, and the slow, grace
full NOV yement Of the rhythmic dance seemed
unfairly he lifted his close-fitting feathered
cap from his head and allowed the cool airs
to blow against his brow.
See the robbers passing by passing by, passing by,
See the robbers passing by,
My fair lady!
The words came up clearly and distinctly
to him and softened his heart with the in
definable and exquisite pathos of those of
the refrain as sung by the sweet voices of
children.
be said. smiling little at his own intensity