Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-25

The young man rode q Spanish jennet OF
good stock, but a plain beast to look upon,
neither likely to attract attention nor stir
cupidity.
His father and Laurence were already on
their way. Shoto had arranged that
whether they found any trace Of the lost
ones or no, they were all to meet on the third
day at the little town Of Kirkcudbright. For
Sholto. warned by the Lady Sybilla. already
had his idea, which from the very horror Of
it he had as yet communicated to no one.
1t chanced that as the youth rode south
ward along the banks Of the Dee, glancing
this way and that for traces of the missing
maids, but seeing only the grass trampled
by hundred feet and the boats in the
stream dragging every pool with grapnels
and ropes. Two horsemen on rough ponies
ambfed along some distance in front Of him.
BY their long robes Of decent brown they
seemed merchants on journey, poruy OF
| figure and consequential Of bearing.
AS Sholto rapidly made UP to them, with
his better horse and lighter weight, he per-
ceived that the travellers were those two ad-
mirable and noteworthy magistrates Of Dunn
fries, Robert Semple and his own uncle.
Ninian Halliburton Of the Vennel
| Hearing the clatter Of the jennets hoofs.
| they turned about suddenly with mighty Sc
| rious countenances. For in such times when
the wayfarer heard steps behind him.
whether Of man or beast, 1t repaid him to
give immediate attention thereto.
| So at the sound Of hoofs, Nnian and his
friend set their hands to their thighs and
looked over their shoulders more quickly
than seemed possible to men Of their build.
"Ha, Nephew Sholto, lad!" cried Ninian,
nightly relieved; blythe am l to see you,
lad? You win tell US the truth OF this Ill
news that has upturned all the auld province
BY your gloomy face / see that the major
part Is over true. The earl Is dead and he
awes me for twenty-four peck OF wheaton
meal, forby ten flrlots Of malt and other sun
dries, whirk siller il the hungry Avondale
Douglases come into possession. l am little
likely ever to see Surely I have more cause
to mourn him-a fine lad and free with his
havings. II ye gat not settlement this day
| why, then ye gat 1t the neist, with never a
word Of drawback nor craving for bate
ment."
Sholto told them briefly concerning the
tragedy of Edinburgh, for he had no will for
any waste OF words, and as briefly OF the
loss of the little maid and her companion.
The batlie OF Dumfres lifted up his hands
in CONSERVATION.
"'Ts surely plot O. thae Avondales
Stra'ven folk are never to lirpen to. They
hae made a clean sweep. No Gallowa
Douglas left, II they hae speerited ava the
bonny bit lass Man. Robert, she was hell
general to the province. bath the lordshir
O. Gallowa' and the earldom O. Wigton, fol
thae twa can gang to a lassie. But as soor
| as the twa laddies were oot O. the road, Fat
jamie O. Avondale cam into the yerldou
OF Douglas and a the Douglasdale estates
forbye the Borders and the land In the
Hollands. Wos me for Ninan Hallibur-
ton. merchant and indweller in Dumfries
he'll never see bilt nor hair O. his guid
siller gin that wee lassie be lost. Man
Sholto. ist no an awfu' peety?"
During this lamentation, to which hi.
nephew paid little attention, looking only
from side to side as they rode among the
willows by the waterside the other m.r-
chant, Robert Semple. had been ponderins
deeply.
"How could she be lost In this country Of
Galloway" he said. "A land where there
are naught but Douglases and men bound
body and soul to the Douglases from Solway
even to the Black Shore o. Leswalt. TT.
Just no possible-I'll wager that 1t Is tha
Hieland gypsy, Mistress Lindsay, that ha.
some love ploy on hand, and has game af
and ta'en the lass wi her for company"
At these words Sholto twisted him abou'
in his saddle, as II a wasp had stung HIN
suddenly.
Master Semple," he said, II would have
you speak more carefully. Mistress Linde-
say is baron's daughter and has no love
ploys. as you are pleased to call them
The two bursesses shook with jolly sig