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

was her custom. Maud Lindsay sat a
while by her side. For, so far as they
could they kept to the good and kindly
traditions of Castle Thrieve. 1t seemed
somehow tie with home III that hor-
rible place in which they were doomed
to abide.
Give me your hand, Maud, and tell
on" said little Margaret, nesting
closer TO her friend and laying her
head against her arm as she leaned on
the low bedstead beside her.
Margaret was gowned in a white
linen night-rail made long ago for the
marshal's daughter, little Marie de
RetZ, in the days before the setting up
of the iron altar. Catherine, his desert
ed wife, had been kind to the girls at
Pousaugus, and had given to both of
them such articles Of Sarmenture as
they were Sorelv in need of.
Tell on-haste you" commanded lit
tie Margaret with the imperiousnesS Of
loving childhood, nesting closer as she
spoke. 1t helps me to forget l can
almost think when you are speaking
that we are again at Thrieve, and that
if we looked out of the window we
should see the Dee running by and Ben
Gairn. and hear SholtO Mackim drill
ing his men out in the courtyard. Why,
Maudie, what is the matter? L did not
mean to make you cry. But it is all so
sweet TO think upon in this place. o,
Maudie, Maudie, what would you give
TO hear a whaup WHISTLE"
Then. drawing herself with her hands
about Mauds neck, into a. sitting pos
ture, she took a kerchief from under
the pillow and dried her friends tears,
murmuring the while: All, do not cry,
Maud; m-- vision will all come true,
and you shall indeed see Ben Gairn and
Thrieve-and everything. 1 was dream
ing about it last night. Shall 1 tell you
about it. sweet Maud?"
Maud Lindsay did not reply, not
having recovered power over her voice.
So the little maid of Galloway went on
unbiddea:
Yes, I dreamed a glad dream ysster-
cen. Shall I tell you, all and all? l
Will-though you can tell stories far
better than l.
..Methought that I and you'll mean.
dear Maud, you and I-were sitting to-
gether in the cleaning at the door of a
little house up on the edges of the
moorland. where the heather is pref
test and longest And we were happy.
We We're waiting for some one. 1 shall
not tell you who, Maudie. but if you
are good and stop crying you can
guess. And there was ring on your
finger, Maud. No, not like the old
ones-not a pretty ring like those in
your box, yet you loved it more than
them all, and never stopped turning 1t
about between your finger and thumb.
They had let me come UP to stay
with you, and the men who had accom-
panied me were drinking in the cla-
chan. As we sat I seemed to hear their
loud chorus sounding up from the
change house.
And you listened and said. I wish
he would come. He is very long. 1t is
always long when he is away But
you never said who it was who was
long away I shall not tell you. though
1 know. Perhaps it was old Jock Lack
lands, who used to he captain of the
guard, and perhaps gTouting Peter from
the gate house by the ford But.
somehow, 1 do not think so. All, that
is better, Now. do not cry again, But
listen else l viii not tell you any more,
but go to sleep instead.
Perhaps you do not want TO hear
the rest Yeti was such a pretty
dream Of good omen.
You do not want to hear? Well then
be good!
scurrying home, and every
now and then one of the big boom
beetles would sail whirring past us.
We could hear the sheep crying below
in the little green meadows so lone |
and the snipe bleating an an
swer away up in the sky above their |
heads, and you said, 1t is all so empty /
him.
''Then the maids brought in the cows /
and MIXED them, standing at the gable /
end. and we could feel the smell of I
their breath sweet, like the scent OF
the flowers they had been eating all /
day long Then. after awhile they 1
were driven out to the yard again and /
went in a long string, one after the !
other, back to their pastures, doucely /
and sedately, just like folk going to |
holy kirk on Sabbath days when it is /
in Galloway
Then you said 1 am weary of wait /
ing for him. and / answered, why-he 1
has not been gone more than day.
/ do not see him for weeks [
and l never fret like that,
Then you answered Gt has all come
so clear into my head) Some day you
will know. little one.' And you patted
me on the head and went to the house
end to look into the sunset. You looked
long under your hand and when you
came back you said as if you had never
said it before, He is long a-comingi 1
wonder what can be keeping him.
''Then the maidens told us that the
supper was ready to put on the table,
Hhe,eat you scolded them. telling them
hat it was too early, and that they
must keep it hot against their masters
coming. And to me you said, You are
lot hungry, are your And / answered
No, though l was indeed very hungry
in my dream, that is). Then you said