Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

| ing at chamber door. My mother said
| in pitiful voice that she desired to know
who was there. Whereto I'mphray Spur
way answered that he must have me as q
witness to tell what 1 knew. For that a
great man from Edinburgh. who had come
to Moreham to make perquisition into all
the circumstances of the killing.
Alas, when will all this cease and We
live again in quiet?" said my mother, sadly
kissing me. But take him. Only bring the
| lad back to me SAFE
with my own lifcr' cried Umphray
! Spurway from without the door. BE sure
of it, madam
At this my mother rose and helped to ar
ray me, which / suffered gladly enough.
, There was nothing but night alarms at
| this time and though my heart beat, the
turmoil and the strangeness made it all
nightly taking to a boy of my age and
dispositions
At the stairs foot found party of four
assembled eagerly scrutiniZing a paper
with the aid of dark lanthorn.
Presently l gathered from their talk that
this was an order from the privy council
for raising and examining the body of Sir
James. Further, that the one produced at
the first burial had been forged. Three of
the four were Outrageous, or Gas they be-
gan to be called surgeons.
The fourth was a man the like OF whom
for native dignity ! had never seen-not of
outstanding stature or greatly noticeable
but of a quiet port and with such pair
of eyes, FORTHCOMING eyes, as l had never
seen IN any COulJcldnCe- linen All OIL US
went to Moreham kirk, but not this time
by the ford there being, said the leader
no occasion for hurry. So we took a cast
about and passed over by Moreham Brig,
under which / could see the black water
flowing fast in the snow-bound narrows Of
the linn as we turned the corner, and SO
came in due time to the Kirk Yeti.
Here, to my mingled trepidaion and joy,
were real kings soldiers keeping guard
could see the star-shine glitter faint on
their bayonets, no brighter at the bright
est than print seen by the light of glow
worms-and the sight gave me curious
pridefu, feeling in my throat
The grave in Poor Mans Acre was al
ready empty the loosely compacted earth
being again turned up red, while a sentry
stood over it. for what purpose l know not.
We were admitted to the kirk and there
upon the backs of three high treStles at
the head end of the aisle lay the body upon
a bier. Candles We're standing about, fixed
each in a dab of its own grease on sconces
set against the wall. second guard of
soldiers stood between the Outrageous and
the others who stood waiting the event l
shivered as | watched, and the prideful
feeling within me died utterly away. The
men busted themselves with knives and
phials about the body. The only sound was
that of their feet and their low whispering
one to the other.
1t was fully an hour afterward and nigh
the breaking of the morning when one of
the Outrageous looked down and beckoned
the gray-eyed man. who meantime had
been busily and quietly looking over papers
which he had brought with him bound with
bright colored tape into sheaf.
He went Immediately within the Gordon.
The chief chirurgeon whispered something
in his ear. He held up his hand, and 10! at
the signal officer sprans along the aisle
and was out of the door like shot.
Then every one waited more YEARLY than
before save and except the gray-eyed man.
who again buried himself deep In his pa
pers. The Outrageous covered up the poor
harried. harled body. and | was glad of
that. Thus diSmally enough, we waited, as
1 say, hearing nothing but the dreep of
large mist drops they formed the
leahess twigs and splashed frregularly on
the roof, and the wisp-wisp of the doctors
them and looking at them close to the light.
Then all suddenly we heard on the kirk
brae the ordered tramp of feet coming
nearer, and presently the rattle of arms
grounded without. There was a hoarse
bark of command, and Umphray Spurway
opened the door at a sign from the quiet,
gray-eyed man. He simply looked up from
his papers. nodded, and SO dropped his
head again to his task.
So there in the dim cleaning of the morn
ing we saw company of his majesty's foot
guards standing at attention across the
path. looking spruce and brave In the gray
light from the east. Another word of COM
mand and they separated, wheeling right
and left with sudden clash of accouterment,
and 10! there between the open leaves of
the door, with an armed soldier on either
side of him. stood Philip Stansfeld. my
father.
Then. In the little kirk Of Moreham. and