The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-05

was in my dream, though 1 have never
told you nor so much as limited"
And he asked if you had missed him,
and you made a sign to me not to
speak, just as you used to do at castle
Thrieve and said: No, not little bit! .
Margaret and l were quite happy to-
gether. We hoped you would not come
back at all this night, for then we
could have slept together
Maud Lindsay drew a long, soft
breath and looked out of the window of
the White tower into the dark.
THAT is sweet dream, she muir
INJURED. "Ah. would that it were true
and that Sholto.''-
/ She broke off short again, for the
maid slapped her hands greefully. You
said it, You said it" she cried, You
called him Sholto. Now know, and
am so glad, for he is nearly as good to
play with as you. And l shall not mind
him Bit"
She broke off short in her turn, see
ing something in her friends face.
Why are you suddenly grown so sad,
Maudie?" she asked.
1T came to me, dear Margaret" said
Maud, how that we are but two help
less maids in a dreadful place without
friend. Let US say a prayer to God to
keep us,'
Then Margaret Douglas turned and
knelt with her face to the pillow and
her small hands elapsed in front Of her.
Lend NE your silver cross she said.
4 lent the little gold one that was vii
lianl's TO the Lady Sybiila and she hath
not given it back again.
Maud returned her the cross and she
took it and held it in the palm of her
hands, looking long at it. Then she
requested, one by one, the chiidren's or
is0ns she had been taught, and after
that she made q little prayer of her
own. This is the prayer:
Lord of mercy, be good to two maids
who are lonely and weak, and shut UP
in this place OF evil men. Keep our
lives ana our souls and our bodies from
harm. Make us not afraid of the dark
'or of the devil. For thou art the
stronger. And do not forget to be near
us this. night for we have no other
friend, and sorely do we need one to
love and deliver US. Amen"
1t was true. More bitterly than any
two in The whole world these rnaidens
needed IL friend at that moment. For
scarcely had the childish accents been
lott in the night silence when the outer
door of the. white tower was thrown
open to che wall. and on the steps of
the turrer stair they heard the noise of
men coming upward to their prison
rDorn
But first. though the inner door of
their chamber was locked within, the
hOlts glided back apparently of their
own accord. Ii opened, and the hideOus
face Of lie Meffraye looked in upon
them with 9. cackle of fiendish laughter.
Come. street maidens," she cried.
gleefully, as the frightened girls clasped
each other closer upon the be1, come
away. The Marshal de Retz calls for
you. He hath need of your beauty to
grace his feast The lights of the ban
quet burn in his hail. See the light
shine out upon the night. The very
trees are red with il. The skies are
red. All is red. Come-up-make your
selves fair for the eyes of the great
lord to behold!"
Then behind La Meffraye entered
GILES de Sille and Potion, the marshal's
servants.
Make ready in haste-you are both
to go instantly before my lord. who
abides your comingr' said Giles de
Sille. "Poitou ard I will wait without
the door and La Meffraye here shall be
your tirewoman and see that you have
that which you need. But hasten, for
my lord cannot b.. kept waiting.
SO they brought the Scottish maidens
down from the white tower into the
night. They walked hand in hand |
Their steps did not falter. and as they
went they prayed to God to keep
them from the dangers of the night !
Astarte, the she wolf, who must have |
kept guard beneath, stalked before !
them, and behind them they seemed /
to hear the hobbling crutch and caek- !
ling laughter of La Meffraye.
Across the wide courtyard they went /
It also was filled with the reflection of /
the red tide of light which ebbed and |
flowed, waxed and waned above. Saw !
ing for that window the whole castle I
was wrapped in gloom and silence, and /
If there were any awake within the pre-
cincts they knew better than to SOY
upon the midnight doings of their !
dread lord.
The little party passed up the great !
staircase of the keep and presently |
halted before the inscribed wooden door
by which Laurence had entered the
Temple of Evil before them.
AS Giles de Sille opened ii for the
maids to enter. the skirt of Maud Lin
1esay's robe, blown back by the draft
IF the chamber, fiuttered against the
meek of Laurence MacKim as he lay on
ais face in the niche of the wall. At the
light touch he came to himself and
ooked about him with a strange and
instant change in all the affections and
movements of his heart.
With the coming of the maidens
ear seemed utterly to forsake him. A
larity of purpose, an alertness of brain,
! strength of heart unknown before