Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-01-31

Nvi'"iuS' hdu WOH great IchOWh ~
arms, and he had the way of leading
men; and those who are born for lead
ing never lack men to lead he
drove the McAllsters from the valley,
and built little fortresses. there to
hold it, and when he had held * for
full year he sent a message to Robert
McAllister, saying:
From Alan Macdonald to Robert
McAllister, most courteous greetings.
The fortune of war has given us
advantage which you cannot resist.
When strife is useless, strife should
cease. If you will own that the val
ley is mine | shall be honored by
your using it. 1t is said that good
foes make good friends, and am
wishful to try, for there is none who
honor your name more than |,
Robert McAlister, being a wise old
man, was minded to consent
1T is a generous offer from a gal
liant enemy he Said.
But his daughter pleaded with him
in her dead brothers name and pre-
vailed. So he made answer thus:
Robert McAllister sends all cour-
teous greetings to Alan Macdonald.
The fortunes of the moment changes.
For those who come after | hold to
what have held, and my foreiathers
before me. If our numbers are less
ened our courage is not
Then came another message from
Alan Macdonald
IF you rely on courage, let one of
your tribe meet me in single com
bat the valley to belong to the vic
tors clan. Alan Macdonald
Many of the McAllisters volun-
teered for the fight, but there was no
great man of arms among them, and
the elders would not consent.
1T were giving Macdonald the
land they declared. There is nc
man in Scotland who can stand be-
fore him" For he was a large, pow.
erful man, and withal quick as small
or men are; and he had curious Gun.
ming of fence which he had learned
in France.
So they sent no answer at all, and
Mary McAllister locked herself in her
room for two days, and brooded over
the dishonor of her clan. Presently
she made a deep plan, as women will
and rode out in the gray dawn to the
castle on the Spur mountains; and
when Macdonald's outposts chal-
lenged her in the valley, she an
swered:
81 am Mary McAllister, and have
come to answer the challenge of your
chief Then they sent guide to
conduct her the easiest way to the
castle, and when the chief warder
came to the gate and asked her pleas
ure, she made him the same answer
as before.
81 bring to you an equal challenge ="
She looked him straight in the eyes
IF your challenge is such as a man
may accept" he answered steadily, II
accept it unheard
She put her hand in her bosom and
drew out two quaint pitfalls of colored
glass. with shoppers of dull wrought
gold.
''Win 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
1T is an innocent toast enough, and
harmless-if you drink the one"
And if l drink the other?"
1T is only DEATH"
There are worse. things" he told
her She pushed the phials smilingly
towards him.
Choose | will drain the other"
"And them"
One Of MS will gain the valley, and
the other will feel no loss"
He took up the phials and held them
in the sunlight that streamed through
an open easement on to the floor
1t was awesome, he thought. that
death should come in such a guise;
and he was angry with himself, be-
cause he feared that he feared.
Dare you not?" she asked taunt-
ingly
Aye" he said Il dare. Give me
which you viii.
should give you death, she an
swered "For ! know Alan Mac
donald looked hard at her and saw
that truly she was passing fair
Give me death if YOU Will"
= take no odds" she said Neither
would have the death of so generous
a foe ON my soul For your honor,
Alan Macdonald, choose"
He bowed and looked at the phials
once more One was green and one
was pink, and either flashed in the
sun. And before any could stay him
he had drained the green phial Your
health, madam
Mary McAllister rose steadily and
put out her hand for the pink vessel