The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-23

out. Instantly the earl thrust the ring
upon his own finger, with the opal
turned inward, and with the dark an
ger mark of his race strongly dinted
upon his fair young brow, he faced the
unseen intruder.
"Who is there?" he cried loudly and
limperiously
The door opened with rasping of
the iron pin, and a little girlish figure,
clothed from head to foot in a white
night veil. danced in. She clapped her
hands at sight of him.
You are come back she cried, land
you have so fine a gown on, too. But
sit up so late, even if you are earl of
! Douglas and a great man now. Will
/ you never play at "catch-as-catch-
can" with David and me any more?"
Margaret" said the young earl.
what do you want away from your
chamber at all? Our mother will miss
you. and 1 do not want her here to-
night Go back at oncei"
But the little wilful maiden, catch
ing her skirts in her hands at each
side, and raising them a little way
from the ground, began to dance
dainty pas seul. ending with flashing
whirl and a low bow IN the direction
of her audience.
William Douglas could not choose
but laugh, and soon sat down on the
bed, setting his clasped hands behind
his head and contenting himself with
looking at his little sister.
Though at that time but years of
her age, Margaret de Douglas was pos
sessed of such extraordinary vitality
and character that she seemed more
like II. She had the clear-cut, hand
some Douglas face, the pale olive skin,
the flashing dark eyes and the crisp
blue black hair Of her mother. A 1.-THE
grace and quickness like that of a
beautiful wild animal was characters
tic of every movement.
"Our mother has been anxious about
YOU. brother mine," said the little girl.
firing suddenly of her dance and leaping
upon the other end of the couch on
which her brother was lying. Estab-
fishing herself opposite him, she pulled
the coVerlet up about her so that pres
emily only her face could be seen peep
ing out from under the silken folds.
30, I was so cold, but I am warmer
now. And if maid Betsy Ahannay
comes to take me away l want you to
stretch out your hand ike this and say,
'Seneschal, remove that Bosom to the
deep dungeon beneath the castle moat,'
as we used to do in our plays before
you became a great man.
''Then I could stay very long and talk
to you all the night, for Maud Linde- |
say sleeps so sound that nothing can
awake her."
Gradually the anger passed out of the |
face of William Douglas. as he listened |
to his sisters prattle, like the vapors |
from the surface of a hill tarn when |
the sun rises in his strength.
He even thought with some self-re-
proach of his treatment of Malise and |
his uncle, the abbot. But a glance at |
the ring on his finger and the thought |
of what might have been his good for |
tune at that moment but for their in |
reference hardened his resolution |
again to adamant within his breast.
His sisters voice clear and high in
its childish treble, recalled him to him
self.
80, William, and there is such news
I forgot because 7 have been so over
busted with arranging my new pup
pets house that AIalise made me. But
scarcely were you gone on Black Darn
away ere a messenger came from our
granduncle James at Avondale that he
and my cousins Will and James will
be tomorrow at the Thrieve with a
to attend the Wappenshaw."
The young man sprang to his feet and 7
dashed one hand into the palm OF the
other.
This is i'll tidings indeed" he cried.
what does the fat flatterer at the cas-
tie of Thrieve? If he comes to pay
homage, it will be but a mockery.
Neither he nor Angus had ever any
goodwill to my father, and they have
none to me-
'All. do not be angry, William" cried
the little maid, sit will be beautiful.
They will come at fitting time. For
tomorrow is the great levy and the
weapon-showing and our cousins will
see you in your pride. And they will
see me too in my best green sarcinet,
riding on a white palfrey at your side
IS you promised
"A weapon-showing is not a place for
title girls.' said the earl, Modified in
spite of himself, casting himself down