The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22
THE BLACK DOUGLAS.
by s. II. CROCKETT.
Copyright. 1898. bv S. R Crockett
CHAPTER LII.
THE HAUNTING OF la MErrRAYE.

nat Tho Scottish. maidens wore held at th,
u.rov of tbe cruel lord OF Retz. At their first
arrIvat IN tiro rountry they had been taken tc
Inc auiet chateau Of Po~uzauges. the birthplace
h poitou. the Marshal's most cruel and re-.
borseless con1dant. Here. as tho Marshal
La truly informed the Lady Sybilla, they had
been under the care OF, or rather fellow pris.
bners with. the neglected wife OF GILES de Retz,
Ind had spent some days Of comparative peace
And security in the society OF her daughter.
Rut at the first breath of the coming Of the
Gbrse strangers to the district they had been
1,sized and secretly conveyed to Machecoul IT.
,selL. there to be informed behind the vast walls
md triple bastions of that fortress prison.
81 wonder, Maudie." said Margaret Doug
las. as they sat on the fat roof OF the White
lTower of Machecoul and looked over the bat
Elements upon the green pine glades and wide
keayard lands. II wonder whether ever wo
shall see the water of Dee and our mother
land Sholto MacKim?"
II Is to be feared that the last part Of the
irroblem exceeded in interest all others In the
Reyes Of Maud LINDSAY.
1T seemed as IL we never could again be-
Ihold any one we loved or wished to see hero
Mn this horrible place." sighed Maud Lindsay.
I"If ever | get back to the dear land and see
kSolway side, I will be a different girl"
But. Maud said the little maid reproach-
hfullv. you were always good and kind. II
ia not we'll done OF YOU to speak against your
self in that fashion"
Maud Lindsay shook her pretty head mourn
fully.
All, Margaret. you will know some day"
she said. Il have been wicked-not in things
lone has to confess to Father Gawain. but. we'll.
in making people like me. and give me things.
land come to see me. and then afterward flout-
H. .bon, far Il md aan5ipO than auyayD
| IL was not a lucid description. but It suficed.
"Ah. but" said Margaret Douglas. Il think
hot these things to be wicked. l hope that
some day ! shall do Just the same. though. OF
lcourse. ! shall not be as pretty as you. Maudie
no. never. 1 asked Sholto MacKim II l
gWould, and he said. OF course not In a deep
voice. 1t was not pretty OF him. was 1t. Maud?"
II think 1t was very prettily said of him."
answered Maud LINDSAY. with the first
flicker OF a smile on her face. Her conscience
was quite at ease about Sholto. He was diff
Ierent. Whatever pain she had caused him she
meant to make up to him with usury thereto.
The others she had exercised no more for her
own amusement than for their W souls
good.
MY brother William must indeed be very
angry with us that he hath never sent to find
us and bring us home. 1t is three'months
since we met that horrible old woman in the
woods above Thrieve Toland. and believed her
when she told us that the Earl had instant
need OF us, and that Sholto MacKim was with
him"
None saw us taken away. Margaret" said
the elder. 'and. perhaps. who knows. they
have never found any OF the pieces of flower
Rarlands / threw down before they put us In
he boats from the beach of Cassencary."
But the eyes of the little maid of Galloway
L. AkN -.--.
courtyard below.
"Maud-Maud. come hither quickly" she
whispered. IF yonder be not Laurence Mac
Kim talking to the singing lads and dressed
like them-why, then. l do not know Laurence
HacKim!"
Maud came quickly enough now. Her face
end neck blushed suddenly crimson with the
\ bringing Of hope in her heart.
She looked do xn. and there. far below them.
but yet distinct enough. they saw Laurence
daring Blaise Renouf to single combat and
I Wanting his Irish prowess. as we have already
seen him do. Maud Lindsay caught her
companions hand as she looked.
They have found u.s." she whispered. lat
least. they are seeking for us. If Laurence is
here | warrant Sholto cannot be very far
(away. O. Margaret. am | looking very i'll?
! viii he think | am as" lshe paused for n wordl
|" as comely as he thoughtsme before in Scot
land. Or have J grown old and ugly with be-
ling shut upI'
But the maid of Galloway heard her not. She
Twas pondering on the meaning OF Laurence's
lpresence in the castle of Machecoul.
\ Perhaps William hath sent Laurence to
4 py us out and is even now coming from his
i1uchy with an army. He is a far greater man
1than the Marshal and will make him give us
Np as soon as he finds where we are. Shall |
(call down to Laurie to let him know that we are
here?"
Maud put her hand hastily over her com
Fanion's mouth.
Hush" she said. I'VE must not appear to
Know him. or they will surely kill him-and
perhaps the others. too. If Laurence is here
wot we'll that other help is not far away. Let
fis be patient and abide. Come back from the
fwall and sit by me as if nothing had happened"
But all the same she kept her own place in
p spot whence she could command the pleas
ounce below, and looked 10 see Sholto follow
his brother across the greensward.
Sweet and fair is the air of the evening""
furred behind them n low voice. that Of the wo-
man who was called La Merraye, 1T brings
Che color TO the checks of the young. But |
pm old and wise. and | would advise that two
haids so fair should not look down on the
80 FSN'''p 'NoA WV bN"a h'A ~
more than is fitting for such innocent eyes.'
The girls turned away without looking at
kheir custodian. who stood leaning upon her
4ftle hand crutch and smiling upon them her
Terrible soft smile.
All" she said. proud are you? 'Tis an
vi place to bring pride to this castle of Mache.
eoui. You would not deign to speak q word TO
q poor old woman now. But the day is not
iar distant when ! shall have. my pretty spit
IRE clinGinG about these old trembling
Knees and beseechinG me. whom you despise
as a woman. either to save you or kill you
you Will NOT care which. As u woman-ha! Ia!
how long is it since La MefTraye was n wo-
nan, Was she ever rocked in a GRADER Did
she play about any cottage door and fashion
paisY chains. as | have seen you do. my pref
ues, long ere YOU came to Machecoul or heard
OF the Sieur de lietH. Hath La Meffraye ever
IAN IN any mans bosom-save as the tiGress
efouchcs upon her Prev"
she paused and smiled still more bitterly
ana malevolcutly upon the two maidcns.
lld you chance TO be awake yester-