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

above them, and appeared to reach for
ward in the act to clutch them. After
the first check in his hideous incanta-
tions, GILES de Retz had returned to
his own chamber, in which, after his
exit, the light cleaned brighter and
more fiercely red than ever. AS the
maidens stood on the marble square. La
Meffraye went to the door and called
certain words within, some message
which Laurence could not hear.
Then, with an assured carriage and
naughty stride, came forth the marshal,
his gray hair and blue-back beard in
strong contrast with his haggard,
corpse-pale face, from which the mo-
mentary glow of youth half-restored
had already faded, as fades a footprint
uOon wet sand.
Giles de Sille and Poitou bowed ST
lently before him as men who have
done their commission, and who retire
to await further orders. But La Mef-
fraye stood her ground.
Here are the dainty maids from the
far land, 10 beggars' hrats are they.
No strays and pickings from the streets
no, nor yet silly village innocents who
follow La Meffraye from the play fields
through the woodlands 10 the paradise
of our Lord Gilesi Hasten not the joy,
Let these pearls of youth and beau
teousness die indeed. but let them die
slowly and deliciously. And in the last
blood of an ancient race let our master
battle and find the new life he seeks.
Hear US, o Barran-Sathanas and grant
our prayer"
Then La Meffraye approached the
maids and would have touched the
dress of the little Margaret, as if 10
order it more daintily for the pleasure
of her masters eye. But Maud Linde-
say thrust her aside like an unclean
thing.
Whereat La Meffraye laughed till her
rusty black cloak quivered and rustled.
All. my proud lady, she said, in
a little, in very little, you, too, will be
calling upon La Maffraye to save you.
to pity you. But l. La Meffraye, viii
gloat over each drop of blood that dis
ills from your white neck. Aha, you
shall change your tone. when. at the
white throat apple, which your sweet
heart would have loved to kiss, you feel
the bite of the sharp, slow knife Then
you Will not thrust aside La Meffraye.
Then you shall cry. and none shall pity
Then she will sDurn you from her
knees.
Out" said Giles de Retz, briefly,
and like some inferior imping devilkin
before the great master of evil, La
Meffraye retreated, hobbling to the
doorway of the marShaPS chamber,
where she crouched. nodding and
chuckling and mumbling,s inaudible
words. mingling them ever with her dry
cackling laughter
Giles de Retz stopped at the corner
of the platform and looked long at
Maud and Margaret, where they stood
on the great central square of marble
II was the little maid who spoke first.
Dear messire.' she said. sweetly
and almost confidently, you have a
little girl of your own. l know, for 1
have played with her. l love her
Therefore you will not hurt US l am
sure you will not hurt US. You are
going to send US back in ship to our
own country, because it is lonely here,
where Maud and 1 know no onei"
The marshal smiled upon her his in
scrutable inhuman smile. He leaned
against pillar of strangely twisted de-
sign and contemplated the two victims
at his ease.
Life is sweet to you, is it not?" he
said at last. you are truly happy,
being young, and so have no need 10
be made young again"
20, but 1 am very old" said the maid.
gaining some confidence from the quiet
of his voice. Il am nearly eight years
old. And our Maudie here, she $50.
a dreadful age, She is very, very old"
You would not like to die?" sug-
gested Giles de Retz, with a certain
soft insinuation.
20. no. said Margaret Douglas. Il
am going to live long and long-tin
in the world loves me- l am
going to help everyone to get what they
most desire. And you know 1 can, for
| shall be very rich. And if what they
say is true, and 1 am princess of
Galloway, l shall marry and be very
great lady. But 1 shall never marry
anyone who is not a Douglas"
The marshal nodded.
Il do not think that you shall marry
anyone who is not Douglas" he
said, with a certain grave and not dis
courteous irony in his tones
Yes" the littls maid went on. She
had lost all fear in the very act of
speech. Yes, and Maud, she is going
to marry Sholto-and they will be so
happy, for they love each other so. [ /
know it, for she told me SO tonight, just
before you sent for us to come to your /
feast. That was kind of you TO remem- |
Der US, though il was past bedtime But
now, good marshal, you will send us
back. will you not? Now, look kind to-
night. You will be glad afterward that |
you were good to two maids who never /
harmed you, but would be ready to !
owe you if you were kind to them"
Hush, Margaret" said Maud Linde- /
say 1T is useless to speak such words .
% such a man.
The Marshal de Retz turned sharply |
o her.
"Ah," he said. with curious bite in |
lis words, then, my young lady, YOU