The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-05

|, inglen, was he not the constant com-
 panion of the earl's son7
 But there was one faithful heart which
 watched unknown over the fortunes of
 Nigel. Margaret Ramsay knew by com mon report the course of Glenvarlock was pursuing. In her distress she con suited Mother Ursula, woman who gave advice to love-sick maidens, sold love plilters and helped court gallants to their desires Margaret bribed her to keep her informed of all matters ar- taining to Nigel especially of the plots against him. Mother Ursula was also con- suited by Jin Win concerning his hopeless love for his employers daughter. Ere
 quent Beaujeu's ordinary" said Ursula to Jin Win, "Ruffle it with the best of them and when you have become gay gallant reveal yourself to Margaret. She refuses her fathers apprentice, but she will not refuse such a noble cavalier as you will become Come now, will furnish you
 with proper clothing, and while in the day you can still be apprentice, at night you can be a court gallant winning your gold at old Beaujeu's tables. And for reward bring you me news of all they say and do there. especially of all that con- cerns Lord Glenvarloch." So Vincent Jen- kins fell and rattled the dice of nights with the small players at Beaujeu's.
 Nigel too, was among the small play CTS. His natural inclination and his de- termination to play for nothing which he could not afford to lose placed him there. My Lord" said Richie one day.
 "I come to crave your lordship's com mands for Scotland" Nigel expressed his surprise and after some preliminary talk Richie broke out with, "Ye shall at last hear some sound doctrine, my lord. Do you think all this dicing and haunting of playhouses suits your lordship? For I am sure 1t does not suit me. And I maun
 be plain with you, that me notice 1t that you play only with the misguided crea- lures that can afford to lose but bare stakes" "No man may dare say that I play unfairly said Nigel angrily, land I play for what stakes I please" That
 Is cen as men say. quoth Richie, and they begin to speak of your lordship as the Sparrow Hawk. Sorry I am to leave the service of Glenvarloch, but to Scot land I maun go, and sorry that either or your lordship ever saw this Babylon O carnal sin and wickedness." "Then go, in Gods name" cried Nigel, land here is money to pay your passage" Mind no leave ye in diversity, my lord, but in prosperity we must cen part" said Richie as a parting shot. and walked away.
 Nigel was vexed more that he would admit. all the more that he saw the var let had something of the right of the matter. His conduct had never before appeared to him in the light Richie had put 1t. Scarcely had Richie gone when a letter was brought to Nigel It said
 Lord Dalgarno is utterly false to you and doth seek under pretense of friend ship to mar your fortune and diminish l your good name. The kind countenance | which he shows you is more dangerous than the Princes frown; even as to gain at Beaujeu's is more discredtable than | to lose, Beware of both" The letter was from Margaret, of course, but was un-
 signed-and if 1t had been signed Nigel would scarcely have remembered the | name.
 | To cool his feelings Nigel went to walk | in the park, choosing an >unfrequented | part of it. and there met the bitter-tongue 1 knight Sir Mungo Malagrowther Sil
 Mungo was g hanger-on at court, old maimed from his duels, poor and ar original" Nigel was about to pass on
 but Sir Mungo put his arm throusf