Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-14
HER CHALLENGE
By OWEN OLIVER
lCopyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.) The Spur mountains belonged to the Macdonalds, and the Lonnon mountains to the McAllisters. The valley between them was no mans land, for they were too busy fight ing over 1t to keep out the thieves from the hills.
 Neither boastcd long of advantage, till the days when Robert McAllister. seventh of the name, grew old. Then an i'll time happened to the clan. His son slipped over crag and was killed. Since Robert McAllister was too old for arms, the name of the clan grew small, and the more dar. ing of the tribesmen took service un- der the king of France, for Mary Nc. Allister had the spirit of man, but only the body of maid. Alan, the young chief of the Mac donalds, had won great renown in 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 McAllisters from. the valley. and built little fortresses there to hold it, and when he had held it for a full year he sent 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. It is said that good foes make good friends. and am wishful to try, for there is none who honor your name more than l."
 Robert McAllister, being wise old man. was minded to consent
 Tt is generous offer from a gal. lant 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, I hold to what I have held, and my forefathers 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. Tt were giving Macdonald the land." they declared. There is no man in Scotland who can stand be- fore him." For he was large. pow .erful man, and withal quick as small CT men are: and he had curious cun- 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 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:
 I T 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 warden came to the gate and asked her pleas. ure, she made him the same answer 1 as before.
 q bring to you an equal challenge" She looked him straight in the eyes.
 If your challenge is such as man may accept" he answered steadily. T accept 1t unheard."
 She put her hand in her bosom and drew out two quaint phials of oolored glass, with shoppers of dull wrought sold.
 "wili you drink . toast with mel" she asked.
 Surely" he answered, If 1t 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 drink the other?"
 Tt is only death!"
 There are worse things" he told her. She pushed the phials smilinsly towards him.
 Choose. I will drain the other"
 And theny"
 "One of us 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 sn open easement on to the floor.
 It 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. T dare. Give me which you will"
 T should give you death," she an suered. For I know" Alan Mac dsnald looked hard at her. and saw tat truly she was passing fair.
 Give me death. if you will"
 T take no odds" she said. Neither would I have the death of SO generous foe on my soul For your honor, | A.an Nardouard choo4o"