Evening star., 1898-12-24

of any cavalcade which might have passed
that way. but neither from the country
folk nor from hoofmarks upon the grassy
banks could he CLEAN the least information
pertinent TO the purpose of his quest.
Not till he came within a few miles of the
town did he meet with man or woman who
could give him any material assistance. 1t
was by the fords of Tongland that he first
met with one Tib Mcclellan. who. with
much volubility and some sagacity retail
ed fresh fish 10 the burghers of kirkcud-
bright and the whole countryside. giving a
day TO each district 50 long as the supply
of her staple did not fall.
talr good day to We. mistress,' said
Sholto, taking Off his bonnet TO the sonsy
outstanding fishwife.
And TO you, bonny lad replied the
complimented dame, dropping a courtesy;
may the corbie never cry at We nor ill-
faured pie juik at your left elbow. May
candle creesh never IA on ye, fire burn ye,
nor water scald ye''
lib was reeling off her catalogue Of bless
ings when Sholto cut her short
can You tell me. good lady" he asked
IN MS most insnuating tones, IF there has
neen any vessel cleared from the port dur
ing these last weeks?''
Deed, sir. that l should KEN for is no
my ain sister married on Jock Wabster.
wha'S cousin by marriage, twice removed,
IS me baliie officer o the port. So 1 can
advise We that there was a boat frae the
Isle o Man wi herrins for the great
houses, though never fin o. them like the
bonny fish L carry here In my creel wad
ye IKE 10 see them, TO buy a dozen for the
ponhy lass that's waiting for ye? That
were present to recommend We, indeed
iar mair than your gaudy flowers fule
ballads, and sic like trash!'
You cannot remember any other ship of
larger size than the ManX fishing boat? %
continued Sholto
,Weel. no to ca cleared frae the port"
I'D went on, but there was a pair O. un-
canny-looking ships that lay oot there by
4 1tlr1fs lob
iiicht alore yestreen they gaed DOT with
the tide. They were saying aboot the fore
shore that they gaed west to some other
port TO take on board the French monzie
mat cam TO the Thrieve at the great tour
naying! But / kenna what wad TAX him
ava to the f1eet or the ferry toon o. Cree.
ana leave a the pleasures of Kirkcudbright
anlht hlm For by sic herrns as are sup
Plieu by me, lib Mcclellan. at less than
cost price, as l houp your honor Will NOT
forget, when in the course O. natur' and
tiie m PIoVidence o God you and her comes
TO nae a family atween We"
Sholto promised that he would not forge,
When the time alluded to arrived Then
turning @ his jennet off the direct road to
kirkcudbrighttown, he took him through
.ne AIuehdee lords, he made all speed to-
waru niue port upon the water OF Fleet
at the point where that fair moorland
stream winds lazly through the water
nheanows Tor mile or two, after its brawl-
ing passage uown from the hills of heather
ana oelore II commits its crystal water to
the mother sea
But 1t Wos not until he had long crossed
~, reachcn Inc lonely CaSSencary shore
that Shoito found his first trace of the lost
inaldens. For as he rode across the cliffs
ms Keen eye noted a well-marked trail
tnfough the heather approaching the shore
at right angles to his own lire of march
TIE tracks, still perfectly evident In the
grassy places, showed that as many as
twenty horses had passed that way within
tne last TWO or three days. He stood a
While examining the marks and then lead
ing his beast slowly by the bride, he con-
ihned to follow them westward till they
tecame confused and lost near little jetty
erected by the lairds of Cree and Cassen-
cary for convenience of traffic with Cum
beriard and the Isle of Man. Here on the
very edge of the foreshore blown by some
cnahce wind behind stone and wonder
fully preserved there Sholto found a child's
chaln or Woodbine entWined with daisies
and pheasants' eyes. He took il up and ex-
amined it; some of the auturluaI flowers
were not yet withered. The Interviewing
was done after fashion he had taught the
little Maid of Galloway himself one happy
day when he had walked on air with the
glamor of Maud Lindesays smiles unlift-
ing his heart For that tricksome grace
had asked him TO teach her also, and he
remembered the lingering touch of her
fingers ere she could compass the quaint
device Of the pheasant'S eye peeping out
from the midst OF each festoon.
Then a deep despair settled down on Shol-
tos spirit. He knew that Maud Lindsay
and the fair Maid of Galloway had uu-
doubtedly fallen into the power of the ter
rible Marshal de Retz, Sieur of Machocoul,
ambassador of the King of France and
also many other things which need not
in this place be put on record.
ha cd