The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-08

English, we are making a pilgrimage in
order to visit our friends, and also to
lay our thanks upon the altar of the
blessed st. Andrew in his own town in
Scotland"
The old woman listened, approvingly
nodding her head as the Lord James
reeled off this invention. But at the
mention of the land of the Scots, La
Meffraye pricked her ears
Scots she said meditatively,
that will surely interest my lord, who
hath but recently returned from that
country, whittier they say he hath
i been upon a very confidential embassy
from the king"
1t was the Lord James who asked
the next question.
Have you heard whether any of our
nation returned with him from our
country? We would gladly meet with
any such. that we might hear again
the tongue of our nativity, which is
ever sweet in a strange land, and also.
if it might be, take back tidings OF
them to their folk in Scotland"
Nay, answered La Menraye, stand
/ ing before them with her eyes shrewd-
" fixed upon the face of the speaker.
| L have heard of none such. Yet it
may well be, for the marshal is very
fond of the society of the young, even
as / am. He has many boy singers for
his choir, maidenS also for his religious
Il
Machecoul without finding a pretty boy
or STRIPPING girl passing so innOcently
in and out of his study
lis his lordship even now at Mache-
coul?" asked James Douglas, bluntly.
The Lord James prided himself upon
his tact, but when he set out to mani
fest it SholtO groaned inwardly. He
never knew from one moment to an
other what the reckless young lord
might do or say next.
Il do not even know whether the
marshal is now at MacheeOul- The rich
and great, they come and so, and We
poor folk understand it no more than
the passing of the wind or the fight Of
the birds But let US get to our couch
es The morn will soon be here, and it
must not find our bodies unreSted or
our eyes unrefreshed.
La Meffraye showed her guests where
to make their beds in the outer room of
the cottage. which they did by moving
the bench back and stretching them
selves with their heads to the wall and
their feet to the fire. ShOltO lay on the
side furthereSt from the entrance OF the
room to which La MeffTaye had re-
tired with her husband. Malise was on
the other side, and Lord James lay II
the midst as most befitted his rank
These last were almost instantly
asleep, being tired with their journeying
and heavy with the meal of which they
had partaken, but every sense in Shoi-
to'S body was keenly awake. A vague
inexpressible fear possessed him. He
lay watching the red, unequal glow
thrown upwards from the efnoers' ana
through the wide opening in the roof
he could discern the twinkling Of
star.
Within the chamber of La Meffraye
there was silence. SholtO could not
even hear the heavy breathing of
Caesar Martin. The silence was COM
plete.
up the bowling of a wolf. 1t was not
an uncommon sound in the forests OF
France or even in those of his own
country, but somehow SholtO listened
with a growing dread. Nearer and
nearer it came. till it seemed TO reVer-
berate Immediately beneath the caves
of the dwelling of Caesar, tn cripple
The flicker of the embers died slowly
out. Malise lay without sound, his head
couched on his hand. Lord James began
TO groan and move uneaSily, like one IN
the grip of nightmare. Sholto listened
acutely Outside the house he could
hear the soft pad-pad of wild animals
Their pelt seemed almost to brush
against the walls behind his head with
a rustic like corded silk. ShOltO felt
nervously for his sword and cleared 1t
instinctively of the cOverture in which
he was wrapped. Expectation tingled
| in his cheeks and palms. The silence
grew more and more oppressive be
| could hear nothing but that soft
brushing and the galloDing outside as
! of something that went round the
house and round the house. weaving a
/ toll of terror and death about the
/ doomed inmates
Suddenly from the adjoining chamber
/ a cry burst forth so Shrill and terri pie
! that not only SholtO, but Malise also
] leaped to his feet.
.'Mercy-mercyi Have mercy, La Mel
/ fraye!' it walled.
Sholto rushed across the floor, strid-
| ing the body of James Douglas IN his
| haste. He dashed the door Of the inner
| chamber open and was just IN time 20
see something dark and 1.-THE dart
/ through the window and disappear INTO mo
| the indigo gloom without From the
/ he'd there came a series Of gaspin2
means. as from a man at the point OF
death.
For Gods sake bring a light" cried
! Sholto there is black murder done
/ here
seizins a birchen brand, the end OF
which was still red, he blew upon 1t
] with care and success till it burst into
a white. brilliant flame that lighted ain
the house. Then he, too. entered the
/ room where ShOltO, with his sword
ready in his hand, was standing over
| the gasping, dying thing on the bed:
When Malise thrust forward the
| torch. LOT there. extended on the couch
| on which they had laid him two hours
/ before. lay the yet twitching body Of
( Caesar. the cripple, with his throat
we'll nigh bitten away
But La Meffraye was nowhere to be
IT. De CONTINUED