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

It was a strange night, that which
the three Scots spent in the little house
standing back from the street. of st.
Philbert, on the gloomy edges of the
forest of Machecoul. Their hostess, IN
deed was unweariedly kind, and
brought forth from her store many
dainties for their delectation. She talk
ed with touching affection of her poor
husband, afflicted with these strange
fits of wolfish mania in the paroXysms
of which he was wont to tear himself
and grovel in the dust like a beast
This she told them over and over, as
she moved about, setting before them
dainties from secret stores of her own,
obviously unknown, or perhaps forbid
den, to Caesar Martin.
Wild bee honey from the woods she
placed before them, and white wheaton
bread, such as could not be got nearer
than Paris, with wine of some rarer
Vistage than that out of the cripple'S
resinous pigskin. These and much else
La Meffraye pressed upon them, till
she had completely won over the Lord
James. and even Malise, easy-natured,
like most very strong men, was taken
by the sympathetic conversation and
gracious kindness of the wife of poor
afflicted Caesar Martin of st. Philbert.
Only Sholto kept his suspicion edged
and pointed, and resolved that he
would not sleep that night, but watch
till the dawn the things which might
befall in the house on the forests edge.
Yet it was conSpicuously to Sholto
that La Meffraye directed most of her
establishments.
Her rudy face, so bright that it
seemed wholly covered with a birth
mark, cleaned with the most absolute
good nature. She threw off the black
veil which half concealed her strange
couture of green fungoid hair She
placed her choicest morsels before the
young captain of the Douglas guard.
"'Tis hard she said, touching him
confidentially on the shoulder, ito dwell
here in this country, wherein so many
deeds of blood are wrought, all alone
with poor imbecile like my husband.
None cares to help me with aught, be-
ing too busy with their own affairs. 1t
falls on me to till the fields, which,
scanty as they are, are more than my
feeble strength can compass unaided.
Alone / must prune and water the
vines, bring in the firewood and go out
and in, by night and day, to earn a
scanty living for this afflicted one and
myself. You will hear, perchance, mis-
chief laid TO my charge in this village
of evil-speakers and lazy folks They
hate me because I am no gadabout TO
spend time abusing my neighbors at
the village we'll. But the children love
me, and that is no i'll sign Their
young hearts are open to love poor,
lone, old woman. What cares La Meff~
rave for the sneers of the ignorant and
prejudiced, so long as the children run
to her gladly and search her pockets
for the good things she never forgets
to bring them from her kitchen?
So the old woman, talking all the
time, BUSTED here and there, setting
sweet cakes baked with honey, confit-
ures and BARNS goodies, figs, almonds
and cheese before her guests; but
through all her Establishments Sholto
watched her and had his eye warily
upon what should befall her husband.
who could be seen lying apparently I'M
conscious upon the bed in an inner
room.
You do not speak like the folk CT
the SOUTH" she said to the Lord James.
Neither are you mortimer nor of the
Midi. From what country may you be?"
the question dropped casually, as to fill
up the time.
I'VE are poor Scots who have lived
long under the protection Of your good
King Charles. the seventh of that name,
and, having been restored to our pos
sessions after the turning out of the