The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-20
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SECOND FLOUTING OF MAUD
LINDSAY.


Sholto MacKim stood on the lowest
step of the ascent into the noble gate
way of Thrieve, hardly able to believe
in his own good fortune. But these
were the days when no man awaked
without having either the possibility
of d knighthood or the gallOws tree to
encourage him to do his duty between
dawn and dark.
The lairds of Douglas had gone within
and were now drinking the cup of APP
petite as their armour was being I'M
braced by the servitors, and the chafed
limbs rubbed with oil and vinegar after
the tolls of the tourney. But still ShOl-
to stood where his master had left him,
looking at the green scum of duckWeed
which hoated ON the surface of the
moat of Thrieve, yet of a truth seeing
nothing whatever, when a low voice
pierced the abstraction of his reverie.
Sir Sholto," said Mistress Maud
Lindsay, Il bid you long goodbye,
Sir Sholto MacKinl Say farewell to
him, Margaret, as you hear me dor
"Goodby, kind Sir Sholton' piped the
childish voice of the maid of Galloway,
as she made a little courtesy to Sholto
MacKim in imitation of her companion,
Il know not where you are going, but
Maudie bids me, so l will"
And wherefore say you gOodby to
me?" cried Sholto, finding his words at
once in the wholesome atmosphere of
raillery which everywhere accompanied
that quipsome damsel, Mistress Maud
Lindsay.
why, because we are humble folk,
and must get out ways upstairs out of
the way of dignities. Permit me to kiss
your hand, fair lordY' and here she
tripped down the steps and pretended
to take his hand.
Hold Off" he cried, snaJcning it
away angrily, for her tone vexed and
thwarted him.
The girl affected a great terror, which
merged Immediately into d meek and
respectful resignation.
"No-you are right-we are not
worthy even to kiss your knightly
hand" she said, but we will respect
Iully greet you Here she swept hlm a
full reverence, and ran uD the steps
before he could take hold of her Then,
standing on the tOpmost step, /ld hold
ing her friends hand in hers, she spoke
to the maid of Galloway in a tone
hushed and regretful, as one speaks of
lie dead.
mo, Margaret" she said, che VIII
no more play with us hide and seek
! about the stackyard ricks at The Mains
and over in the gloamings. Sir SholtC
ism things. He will not not even blow
out lamp with his own honorable lips.
No, he Will call his squire to do it
Sholto looked the Indignation he
would not trust himself To speak.
He viii dine with the earl III hall.
and drink and stamp and shout with
the best when they drink the tCGsts.
But he has become too Sreat man 20
carry you and me any more over step
nj, 10 -5tI,
the ripe berries when the briars are
dropping purple on the braes of Kelt0n-
hill. Bid him good-by, Margaret, :or he
was our kind friend once. Ana when
he rides by to battle perhaps, if we are
good and respectful, he may again wave
us a hand, and say: There are twc
lassies that once L kennel
AT this inordinate houtn$, the new
! knight, growing more and more angry
at each word, came ouicily 10 the
breaking point; for his nerves We're
Jared and tangled by the exciteme1is
of the day. He gave vent to d short
sharp cry, and started up the steps
with the intention of making Mistress
] Lindsay pay in some fashion foY her
impertinence. But that active and
gainsome maid was most entirely CT
the alert. Indeed, she hal been count
ing from the first upon provoking suck
a movement. And SO, with her nin!bit
charge at her heels, Mistress Llnde-
say was already at the inner port, and
| through the iron-barred gate of the tur-
ret stair before the youthful captain
of the guard, still encountered with his
armor, could reach the to0 of the
outer steps.
AS soon as Sholto saw that he was
hopelessly distan3ed, he sIackened his
gait, and, with a sobe: tread BETTING j
knight and Office" Of the garrison, he
walked along the passage which led
to the chamber allotted to the CAPTAIN
of the guard, from which that day
I.andless Jock had removed his effects
The soldiers of the guard, who had
heard of the no1ors which had 50
swiftly come upon the young man, rose
and respectfully saluted their chief
And Sholto. though he had been silent
when the sharp tongue of the mirth-
loving maid tOfmenteC lin, found
/ speech readily enough now.
L thank YOU" he said acknowledge
ing their salutations. I'VE have known
each other before. Fortune and misfor-
tune come to all and it Will be all your
turns one day. But UP or down, good OF
! ILL we shall not be the worse comrades
! for having kept the guard and sped the
bolt together
Then there came one behind him who
stood at the door of his chamber as he
was unheiming himself and said: NV
captain, there stand at the turret stall
the ladies Margaret aud Maud, with a
message for you
"A message for me-what is it?' said
Sholto testify, being (and small blame to
him) a trifle ruffied in his temper
Nay, sir said the man respectfully
that know not, but methinks it comes
from my lord
1t viii not do to say to what our gal
liant Sholto condemned all tricks and
! queens and spiteful damosels. in whose
eyes dwelt mischief trimming over, and
whose tongues spoke softest words that
yet stung and ranked like fairy arrows
dipped in gall and wormgood.
But since the man stood there and re-
! peated, Il judge the message to be one
| from my lord" Sholto could do no less
than hastily pull on his doublet and
again betake himself along the corridor
| to the foot of the stair.
When he arrived there he saw nc
one. and was about to depart again as
| he had come. when the head of Maud
Lindsay appeared round the upper
spiral, looking more distractingIy mis-
chievous and more bewitching thar
ever all ripping over with dark curls
and her eyes fairly scintillating light
She nodded to him and leaned a little