Evening star., 1898-12-24
CHAPTER XAXIX.
The Gift of the Countess.

1t was the Countess of Douglas who COM
manded that night in the castle of Thrieve.
SholtO wished to start at once upon the
search for the lest maidens. But the lady
forbade him.
There are a thousand searchers who,
during he night. Will do all that You could
dO-and better. Tomorrow we shall surely
want YOU You have been three nights
without sleep. Take your rest. L order You
III Your masters name
And on the bare stone outside Maud Lin
desay's empty room Shoito threw himself
down and slept as sleep the dead.
But that night. save about the chamber
where abode the mother of the Douglass.
the hum of life never ceased in the great
castle OF Thrieve. Whether she slept OF
no. God knows. For the door was closco
and there was silence within.
Sholto aWoke smiling in the early dawn.
He had been dreaming that he and Mauu
Lindsay were walking the shore to-
gether- II was a lonely shore, with gTea
driftwOod logs. whereOn they sat and rested
ere they took hands again and walked on
their way. In his dreams Maud was kind.
her teasing, Gisdainful mood quite gone s.
ShOlto awoke smiling, but III a moment he
wished that he had slept on.
He lay a space, becoming conscious of a
pain in his heart-the overnight pain of q
great disaster not yet realized. For little
he knew not what it was. Then he saw
himself lying at Mauds open door and III
Then the loss of the little maid and OF
Maud. his winsone sweetheart Maud. III
another moment he had leaped to his feet.
buckled his sword belt tighter, slung his
coat into a corner and run downstairs
The house guard, which had ridden to
CrichtOn and Edinburgh, had been replace.
from the younger yeomen of the kelton
and Balmaghie levies even as the earl had
arranged before his departure But of these
only a score remained on duty. All who
could be spared had gone TO join the march
on Edinburgh, for Galloway was set on
having vengeance on the chancellor and had
sworn 10 lay the capital itself in ashes In
revenge for the black dinner of the castle
banquetlnS hall.
The rest of the guard were out searching
for the bonny maids of Thrieve. as through
out all the countryside Margaret Douglas
and Maud Lindesay were named.
Eager as Sholto was 10 accompany the
searchers and though he knew well that
no Zoe was south of the forth to assault
such q strong place as Thrieve, he did not
leave the castle till he had set all in order
SO far as he could He appointed andre
the Penman and his brother John officers
OF the garrison during his absence.
Then, having seen to his accouterment
and providing. for he did not mean to re-
turn till he had found the maids, he wen
lastly 10 the chamber door of the Lady
Douglas to ask her leave to depart.
At the first knock he heard foot come
slowly across the floor II was my lady.
who opened the latch herself and stood be-
IDFs SnOItO IN tEe naDlt she mad worn the
night before. Her couch was impressed
Her window stood open toward the south
A candle still glimmered upon little altar
IN an angle of the wall. She had been
kneelins all night before an image of the
Virgin, with her lips upon the feet of her
who also was j woman and who by treach-
cry had lost son.
Il would have Your permission to depart.
my lady countess said Sholto, bowling his
head upon his breast, that he might noi
intrude on her eyes of grief. The castle is
safe. and | can be well spared By God 5
grace l shall not return till 1 bring either
the maids themselves or settled news of
them Have i your leave?'
The Lady Of Douglas looked at him a mo-
ment without speech.
You are not the same who rode away
behind my son William. You went out Ie hi
and gay as David, my young son. There is
now a look of Earl William himself in your
were sucked by the same mothers milk
as he. May double portion of his spirit
rest on you. 1t is the Douglas mark. Fol
low on and turn not back till you find
Strike and cease not till all be avenged. |
have no son left to save to strike. Go
Sholto MacKim. He who Is dead loved
You and made you knight. 1 said at the
time that You were too young, and would
have dissuaded him. But when did Doug
las listen to wom8n's advice, his mothers
or his wife's? Foster brother you are
brother you shall be. BY this kiss 1 make
you as my SON.
She bent and laid her lips on the young
mans brow. They were hot as iron unccoi-
ed from the smithy anvil.
Come with met she added and with a
vehemence strangely at odds with her calm
OF the night before, she took Sholto by the
hand and drew him after her into the room
that had been Earl Williams
From the bundle of keys at her side she
took small one of French design. With
this she unlocked a tall cabinet which stood
in corner. She threw the folding doors
open, and there in the recess hung q won.
derful suit of armor. of the sort called
"secretr'
This" said the Lady of Douglas "I had
designed for my son. Ten years was 1t IL
the making. His father trysted 1t from a
cunning artificsr in Italy. All these years
has II been perfecting for him 1t comes
too late. His eyes shall never see 1t nor his
body wear 1t. But l give II to you. Nc
Avondsle shall ever don II upon him. 1t viii
ht you, for you and he were of q bigness
No sword can cut through these links. were
II steal OF Damascus forged for a sultan
No spear thrust can pierce It. though
leave you to avenge the bruise. Yet II will
lie soft as silk. concealed and unsuspected
Under the rags Of a beggar or the robes oi
q king. The cap will turn the edge of ar
AZ even when swung by q giants hand. yei