Evening star., 1898-11-19
is like that of a giant. and can fell an OK

| is like that of a giant, and can fell an OK
| at a blow"
Truly" said the young earl modestly
! you do me over much honor. My cousin
| James there, he is the champion among US,
and alone could easily have overborne me
| today, even without the aid OF your uncle S
blind eye. Even William of Avondale is a
better lance, and young Hugh will be when
| his time comes"
| Your squire fought a good fight" she
| went on, though his countenance does not
| commend itself to me, being full of self
| suficience."
| ''Sholto-yes, he is his fathers son. and
| fought well. He is a MacKim and cannot
! do otherwise. He will make good knight,
| and l will dub him one ere this sun set for
his valiant laying on of the this day
The great muster was now over. The
| tents which had been dotted thickly over
| the castle island were already mostly
struck, and the ground was Uttered with
miscellaneous debris, soon to be carted off
| in trail carts with square wooden bodies set
| on DoughS of trees and flung into the river
by the earl's varlets of Stablemen.
The hegemen of the Douglas were by this
time streaming homeward by every noun
tain pass. Over the heather and through
the aboundng morasses horse and foot
took their way, no longer marching in mill
tary order. as when they came, but each
lance taking the route which appeared the
shortest to himself. North. east and west,
spearheads glinted and armor flashed
against the brown of the heather and the
green of the little wales wherein the horses
bent their heads to pull at the meadow hay
as their riders sought the nearest way TO
their peel towers and 40-shiling lands.
1t was at the great gate of Thrieve that
the earl called for Sholto. He had been
speaking to his cousin William, strong,
silent man. whose repute was highest Tor
good council among all the branches OF the
house of Douglas
Sholto came forward from the head of
his archer guard with a haste which be-
trayed his anxiety. lest in some manner he
had aP6p6 his duty. The earl DaU6 M N
kneel down. A little behind the young
Douglases of Avondale, William, James and
Hugh, sat their horses, and the boy David
who had been left at home to keep the
castle, looked forth disconsolately from the
window of the great hall On the steps
stood the little maid. Margaret. and her
companion, Maud Lindsay. who had come
down to meet the returning train Of riders
And, truth to tell. that was what Sholto
cared most about. He did not wish to be
dsgraced before them all.
So he knelt with sober countenance be-
fore his lord, the earl took his cousin Will
liam's sword out of his hand, and laying
it on the shoulder of Sholto Mackim, he
| said: Great occasions bring forth good
men. and one battle tries the temper of
! the sword. You. Sholto, have been quickly
| tried but thy father hath been long tenn
pering thee. Three days agoDe you were
but one of the archer guard, yesterday you
were made its captain, today [ dub you
knight for the strong courage of the heart
that is within, and the service which this
day you did your lord Rise. Sir Sholto!"
But for all that he rose not, for the head
of the young man whirled, and little drum
ming pulses beat in his temples. His heart
cried within him like the overword of a
song. Does she hear? VIII she care? VIII
this bring me nearer to herr So that, in
spite of his lords command. he continued
to kneel till lusty James of Av0ndale came
and caught him by the elbow Up. Sir
to your lord. Not your head but mine hath
a right to be muzzy with the coup | gat
this day on the green meadow of the boat
croft
And practical William of Avondaie wh.s-
pered in his cousins ear: And the lands
for the youth that we spoke OFF,
Moreover" said the earl that you may
suitably supporc the knshthood which
your sword has won, ! freely beStoW on
you the forty-shllirg lands of Airelands and
Lincolns. with Scrcel and Ben Garn, on
condition that you and yours shall keep the
watch fires laid ready for the lighting. and
that in time you rear sturdy yeOmcn TO
bear in the Douglas train the banneret of
Mackim of Aireland.
Sholto stood before his generous lord.
trembling and speechless. while James
Douglas shook him by the elbow and en-
couraged MIN roughly: Say thy say, man,
Hast lost thy tongue?"
But William Douglas nodded approval of
the youth
Nay" he said, 'Iet alone. James. like
the lad the better that he hath no ready
tongue. 'Tis not the pra ters that fight as
this youth hath fought this day"
So all that Sholto found himself able to
do was more than to kneel on one knee
and kiss his masters hand.
Il am too young he muttered. Il am
not worthy"
Nay" said his master. But you have
fairly won your spurs. They made me a
knight when | was but two years of my
age. and | cried all the time for my nurse.
your good mother. who when she came
comforted me with pap. Surely it was
RIGHT fblt I Ghfl111 Lp q MIA
foster brother within the goodly circle OF
the Douglas knights.