Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-09


She's taken possession all right" he
cogitated. But probably she doesn't even
know that the beacons been kindled."
AS he limped through the village again
he could not but notice the unusual stir
in it's long, single street. At every cot
tage door there was q whispering group
staring up at the warders tower. The
sound of oars in haste reached his ears
from across the loch. And he was aware
of many inquisitive glances directed at
him as he passed.
His simple supper was awaiting him in
the best room of the little inn. The
black dwarf had been sent for from the
castle, the outwardly stoid and injurious
maid OF all work Informed him. He sat
down by the fire. content for the moment
as he recalled the glamour OF the after
glow from the west and Sallie's grave
glance.
He thought of nothing else throughout
his meal. and afterward. putting at a CT
gar in the lamp-lit porch. with a plaid
about him to keep the cold out, could
scarcely bring himself to consider his own
precarious situation again When he at
last applied his mind to that he was
somewhat dispirited.
He had only a few Shillngs left in his
purse. and could not afford to stay where
he was for more than a day or two. He
was stranger In a strange land. a land
in which. as he had learned already. men
in their prime had to compete keenly for
work which might bring them in no
more than four or five dollars week: a
very unpromising land in which to be left
with empty pockets.
Perhaps old Herries will give me week
or tWO'S work at something or other
about the estate" he communed with
himself But, then-that bloated lawyer
would probably interfere; and. while lie
low. Herries will be under his thumb to a
great extent. He's under the weather,
too. poor old chap!"
/ He was still shaking his head discon-
solately when his cOgitatiOns We're cut
short by the sound of Gathering hoofs and
the hurried arrival of one on horseback
who galloped up to the Jura Arms and
slipped like sack from his saddle. and
swayed and staggered while his blown
steed looked inQuiringly round at him..
till Justin Carthew slipped an arm about
him and would have led him indoors.
What are you doing here, Mr.. Her
ries?" Carthew demanded, amazed. you
should be at home in bed. and"
THE beacon?" gasped the newcomer. a
haggard. sick-lOoking old man. with a
long. white beard, almost spent, but none
the less resOlute not to enter the inn.
1T seems that Lady Josceline Justice
has just arrived at the CASTLE" Carthew
Informed him. concisely, after a moment
Of hesitation.
"Iady-Josceline-J the other re-
peated. daZedly. but with evident dsbe-
lief. did you say-I-ady Josceline JUS
tfce? You're surely joking, Mr.. Carthew
although it would be no joke for you II
her ladyshp had come back to life
I'm not joking, Carthew assured him.
''But-how can it be-" the other de-
manded. II can't conceive Have you
seen her yourself?'
Yes, I've seen her. declared Carthew.
He could not have answered otherwise
without betraying Sallie.
But come away in. You must get be-
tween the blankets again at once" he
insisted, firmly. "a five-mile gallop on
a night like this is quite enough to finish
you. And there will be time enough in
the morning-to pay her ladyship call"
I've been factor of Loquhariot these
five and thirty years-and it would i'll be-
I'm going up now" the sick man assert
ed. stubbornly. I'm responsible for all
that goes on here, you know very we'll
Mr. Carthew-and I've had no news Of all
this. l can't understand And yeti
must. indeed. be her ladyship, as you
say, since Janet Mkissock-
He caught at his horses bride again
and tried to Chamber into the saddle
group Of whispering villagers had
gathered about the inn door, and they
monstrances. But the anxious steward
of the estate was not to be gainsaid by
any one.
'If the Lady Josceline Justice has come
shivering, sit is my undoubted duty to be
on hand. And what matters else? Get
the pipes out, lads. and gather together.
Shall 1t be said Of that her ladyship
lacked a true Highland welcome homer"
Carthew, seeing him SO set in his pur
pose and not knowing how to prevent
him. except. perhaps, at Salles expense,
saw nothing for it but to let events shap
themselves. He brought the old man a
little brandy. which served to, steady him
somewhat. SO that he sat in his saddle
none so limp at the head Of the muster
formed at his bidding. And Carthew
walked up the hill by his side. partly to
help him. and partly in hope Of another
glimpse of the girl who had surely be-
witched himself.
AT his heels tramped three stalwart
pipers. and the STILL starlit night rang
again to the shrIll strains of the march
they struck up: while close behind. keep
ing step to it's Tilt. came a couple Of hun
dred or SO of the Villagers and their Wis
itors from mountain and glen and shore.
Blazing pine knots served for torches and
reached the landward front Of the castle,
where the sick man marshaled them in a
wide. crimson half moon about tho draw
bridge. while Carthew held his horse for
him at one side.
The pOstern door opened noiselessly and
Janet MKissock looked out from within.
| Herries crossed the drawbridge toward
her. and. Eth. Janet, woman!' said he.
whats all this ! hear so late? They
| tell me that the Lady Josceine Justice
| has come to Loquhariot, and"
1T was because you We're so ill that
/ didn't send word at once. Mr.. Herries, >"
| the housekeeper put in defensively as he
! paused. THE beacon was fired without
| her ladyships knowledge by one Of her
| friends. I don't"
| 1T is her ladyship, them? the factor
demanded. searching her face with his
! keen, anxious, fevered eyes. Whence
| came she SO suddenly, Janet?"
1T is, indeed, her ladyship,' the old
woman answered. solemnly. ''But-more
| than that do not know. / have had all
| to see to since the sun set, and
The other checked her plant with an
| uplifted hand.
| I'll hear about everything else by and
| by And, meantime-I've brought some
| Of her own folk up to offer her welcome
| since it is She he said all his doubts
| evidently dlspelled by Janet M'Kissock s
| emphatic assurance. will she come out
to us for a few minutes. think YEP
| THAT she Will, I'm sure" answered
| heart of gold. as it We're, and a very
kindly way with her. I'll send in word
| that her folk are here-she'n have fin
| ished dinner by now
| She turned and left him. closing the
| postern behind her so that only the red
| torchlight illumined the high portcullis
| and level drawbridge. until. presently. the
| massive main doors of the castle swung
| slowly back on their we'll oiled hinges
| and in the heart of the glow from within
| appeared Sallie. with that young-OId man
| whom Justin Carthew so disliked at her
side in very correct evening clothes. But