The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-09

1 donald had been good to have a
 friend; but she bit her lip and answered
 coldly.
 Such my life is, dare risk it."
 She put her hand in her bosom and
 drew out two quaint phials of colored l glass, with stoppers of dull wrought gold. | will you drink a toast with me?' she
 asked.
 Surely" he answered, If it is such
 as a man may" But he looked at the
 strange vessels and liked them not.
 "It is an innocent toast enough, and | harmless-if you drink the one"
 And if l drink the other?"
 "lt is only death.'
 "There are worse things" he told her.
 She pushed the phials smilingly toward | him.
 Choose I will drain the other"
 And then?"
 "One of Us will gain the valley, and
 the other will feel no loss" | He took up the phials and held them l in the sunlight that streamed through
 an open easement on to the floor Then
 he put them down again. | 'I pray you send some other chalen- l ger" he begged
 "The challenge is mine,'' she insisted. | "If you are no coward, choose now" 1 He shook his head. and she rose from l her chair. "I will go to my father and ! tell him that Alan Macdonald was | afraid"
 The young chief flushed rosy red as a 1 girl bushes
 Send a man to tell me so," he cried 1 fiercely.
 "One less strong and less skilled in 1 arms?" There was an angry sound
 among the men at the table, but he ! queled it with a wave of the hand. ; ''Come," she tempted him. Death is not 1 so much to dread. Give me one, and l
 will drink first" | He lifted the little vessels again and ] watched them sparkle against the sun
 beams. It was awesome, he thought.
 that death should come in such a guise;
 and he was angry with himself because he feared that he feared. "Dare you not?' she asked, tauntingly. Aye" he said. "I dare. Give me 1 which you will" ! The wise man moved as if he would speak. but stopped at the look in her ! eyes.
 'T should give you death," she an- 1 swered For I know" Alan Macdonald looked hard at her and saw that truly she was passing fair. "Give me death, if you will" l The wise man leaned forward again, and again he said naught q take no odds" she said. "Neither
 would I have the death of so generous a foe on my soul For your honor, Alan Macdonald. choose He bowed and looked at the phals once more. One was green and one was pin.. and either flashed in the sun. "It was better to share one" he said. Aye" muttered the sage, "woman and l man were made to live together or die i together"
 when they are foes" said Mary Me- Allister. "one is better dead l Her foeman turned to Bruce Macdon- /, ald. who was second in the clan. "See that the lady is escorted home i with all honor" he commanded If 1 die": and before any could stay him he ! had drained the green phial. Your l health. madame,' Mary McAllister rose steadily and put | out her hand for the pink vessel
 Your health. sir she pledged him. "You have won. He saw that her color faded somewhat her hand trembled slightly and her bosom heaved as she raised death to her lips. and suddenly he dashed the vessel from her hand on the floor and shvered it into fragments.
 "I pray you live" he begged, land ] have me at your command" Mary McAlister sank in the chair and buried her face in her hands for nearly minute by the great clock that ticked on as if life and death were nothing at all When she looked up she was ashy pale. and she accepted her foemans arm to rise.
 You are a very brave man Alan Mac donald" she told him in a slow, hushed voice Suffer me now to go"
 So he led her to the gateway in silence,