The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-25
CHAPTER NIL.
THE WHITEHEAD GARLAND.

Meanwhile Sholto Jared onward down the
along the hank we're all on the alert and cried
many questions to him about the death Of the
Earl Earl; 'F F9it think thinking e hin In a % sbin az kTpEs g
bright Sholto answered shortly; but %civilly.
for they were mostly decent folk. well on In
who naturally desired to know wherefore
their sons had been summoned.
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
Not till he came within a few miles OF the
nan who could give him any material. assist
ance. 1t was bv the f2rds of ,Tongland that ne
irst met S6lnTb liih one and d! soma Mee aaaaaiiv who Tsts TIsh
fresh fish TO the hurghers of Kirkcudbright aud
the whole countryside. giving q day to each
district 80 long az the supply OF her staple did
Fair good daytoye. nistress!" said Sholto.
taking of his bonnet to the sonsy outstanding
And to you. horny. lad, replied the compli-
mented dame. dropping a %cmrtsey; may the
Mt your left elbow. May candle cieesh never
ia, on ye, fire burn ye: nor water scaId yen
when Sholto cut her short,
Can you tell me-. good lady he asked in
any m vessel Cleared from tie port during these
Deed. sir. that, l should, ken. for is no. my
hlh Ii'toA mai W W. w We WHO .
liz oficer o the wort? So ! can advise y that
rims for the great houses, though never a fin
o them like the benny fish ! carry here in
d3zen for the bonny lass that's waiting for ye?
That we're a presentto recommend ye. in
deHSddior RI mar air I thar Your y ,eaudy flowers. fule
You cannot remember any. other ship of
larger, size than the Manx fishing boat?" con-
"Weel. no to ca clea, ed fIae the port lib
went on. but there was a pair o, ~uncaDny look
ing ships that lay DOT there by the Manxman's
treen they Gaed DOT with the tide. They were
saving nboot the foreshore that they. gaed
French monzie that cam tothe Thrieye at the
great tournayinG., But | kenna what wad
bright ahint him. Forby Sic, herrins as are sup
Piled by me. Tin Mcclellan. at less than
get. whom in The course, o natur' and the Drovi-
dence o God you and her comes to hae Il fam
Sholto promised that he would not forget
when ne tune alluded TO- arrived. Then.
c cnFRihg Its SSn" he to took "i1 Inn, nnTf thro rTaT II II" "' hr.
dendee forGs and made all snced toward n lit
tie port upon the water OF Fleet. Mt the point
where that fair Inoorland stream winds laHilv
through the water meadows for n mile or two.
after IT. hrawlinG passage down from the hills
But it was not until he had long crossed it.
and reached the lonely taSSencarS shore, that
.Sholto found his first trace Of the lost mnidens.
For ms he rode across the cliffs his keen eye
noted a well-marked trail through the heather.
approaching the shore at right angles to his
own line of march. The tracks. still perfectly
evident in tho grassy places, showed that as
MANY as twenty horses had passed that way
within the last two or three days. He stood n
while examining the marks. and then. leading
his beast slowly by the bride. he continued 10
follow them westward till they became con
fused aud lost near a little jetty erected by tho
Iairds of Cree and Cassencary for convenience
OF traffic with Cumberland and the Isle OF Man.
Here on the very edge OF the foreshorc, blown
by some chance wind behind a stone and won
derfully preserved there. Sholto found a child's
chain Of woodbine entwined with daisies and
Dheasant's eyes. He took it up and examined
it: some of the autumnal flowers were not vet
withered. The Interviewing was done after
n fashion he had taught the little Maid Of Gal
loway himself one. hahnv day when he had
walked on air with the glamour OF Maud Linde-
says smiles uplifting his heart. For that
tricksOme grace had asked him to teach her
also. AMI he remembered the lingering touch
Of her fingers ere she could compass the quaint
device of the pheasant's eve peeping out from
the midst OF each festoon.
Then a deep despair settled down on Sholto's
spirit. lie knew that Maud Lindsay and the
fair Maid of Galloway had undoubtedly fallen
into the power OF the terrible Marshal de Rstz.
Sleur OF Machecoul. Ambassador Of the King
of France. and. also, many other things which
needs not in this place be put on record.
TO be continued.