The Washington times., 1913-01-21

l. night, tossing from side to side,
as when the mind seeks refuge,
morning found me su;len. detected
savage by turns. 1 was dourly Jealous
when l remembered my lost happiness
Again 1 was vindictively determined
to murder the chieftain of the Kyles,
and possess myself of Mariposa,
whether she willed or not.
The brisk air in my lungs and the
cold sunshine brought me to my senses,
however. had a duty to perform. g
duty to Mariposa and to my own self
respect. When the hour had grown
timely enough for human affairs, !
went to the Macdonald's door and
knocked. 1t was opened by an old
woman. whose head was SO wrapped
in a shawl that 1 could see nothing
of her face but q pair of gray eye
brows, almost wholly sunk over the
rheumy eyes.
not know; but she giggled in dis
tressing way, and turned her back on
me. She left the door open, from
which / believed that 1 might enter:
The room was like most Highianc
kitchens. The floor was of chalked
white A bed. still warm of its late
occupant, let into the wall; and there
was a great fireplace, where the old
woman had apparently been building a
fire. As 1 entered. she got down on
her knees before the hearth. leaving
room, and went on with her employ.
When / was tired of waiting for her
to speak, i said had come to see
the Macdonald, whereat she looked
around. still keeping on her SKIM!
hands and knees, and. like a strange
beast, peered at me from among her
cIouts. Presently she utterSd that dts-
tressing giggle, and began blowing at
the tiny blaze among the peats.
In a little while, however, i hesra
before long 1 heard a step. and there
was the chfeftain of the Kyles, stand
Ing in the doorway that led TO the
hack room. He stopped there a min
ute with an astonished look; then ne
Hey. Campbell! So ye came back?"
Aye
"Y'are a fool"
.lf il was not a seeming truth, 1
said. II might dislike the word; -,
woman giggled and blew the IRE with
Bring dram. woman.' said the
Macdonald to her. harshly. MY moth
er." lie added. ALMOST apologetiea.ii;E, y,
a great hurry and shuffled into the
house. What would We be for saying.
Campbeli?"" the Macdonald asked. ie
rise early"
have gone yesternight. Macdonald.
but that there was lass in the
cIachan who claims my protection.
"Eh-heyw said the Macdonald. The
old woman laid a bottle and cups on
the table. and sniggered. There was
some thing so disconcerting about the
sound that II was a moment or two
before / could continue what ! had
come to say. During the pause the
Macdonald stood erect. cycling me as
If he was greatly amused at my con-
fusion. a.,
Coming over the hill" I said. Il
saw YOU and Mistress Mariposa'---l
could not nut Il in words. He chuck
led and nodded his head ut Is mat
Ronald Macdonald. aside from 1t that
] loved yon lass as ] will never love
another woman, and that ] had In
mind for bit while that she loved
me-aside from that. / say-and as
man who has sworn in his heart. aye.
to protect her-for she is a mother
less bairn-l was WI her father when
the Black slew him ask ye. Mac.
dorald"-
racking giggle. as If to her slow-mov-.
ing cracked brain some fine Jest had
penetrated. 1t came upon my difficult
utterarce and straining heart like the
mocking sneer of q soulless fiend. The
Macdonald turned and cursed her from
the room.
''It's iust my mother" ne explained.
She's daft. We ken. syne that night the
Campbells took away my fathers head.
We brought her the head o. the Black.
as We ken. but It'll not bring her mind
back. She has It wrapped in an auld
clout. and sniggers-"
turning hot and cold at the barbarity
of it. But It loosened my tongue and
temper.
And so. Macdonald" said. eve
would marry Mariposa, yet great head
looping blood -stinking murderer! Ye-"
His hand fell to his leg. and whipped
out his dirk Ny own was handy. but
handler was the heavy chair against
which stood. AS he crouched to spring
at me. I swung this monstrous club
above my head Put away that dirk
I said
Have done wi words" he sneered:
but for all that he returned the dirk
to It's sheath. I put down the chair.
Listen to me, CamDbell." At his first
words the cold blade of truth pierced
me TO the vital raw. and left me sick
and downcast.
Eye come here WI some fine sayings"
he jeered: but what We should say is:
Tn a jealous man. Hoot. Campbell. ]
dinna blame ye. She's a Draw heifer.
She would do service TO a king"
muscles straining as l swung the chair.
There was crash and a splintering OF
the table edge. The Macdonald. un-
hurt. sprang upon me with an uphfted
blade. I do not know how I missed, or
how 7 escaped his dix: but when the
fog Of age cleaed from my eyes. / had
him on the floor and my hand was on
his throat.
"I would kill the King first" I whis-
pered. and sank my fingers into his
thrapple.
! felt him writhe beneath me. I
watched his face turn red-crimson-
murder, of violence, gripped me. and
seemed to strange me with shame. l
loosened my hold, and / mind well how
II relieved me to see the natural color
return to his face.
He lay still, but breathed heavily. BY
ard by he opened his eyes and looked
at me curiously, sullenly. suspiciously.
/ kept my knee on his legs and my
hands on his arms.
what would you have done to me,
Macdonald?" / asked.
me-look ed at he as If to say. with his
eyes:
You fool.''
81 want you to swear" ] said. that
you will not force that girl to marriage,
for she is in your power. and force 1t
IS. Swear it,
"A fine place to swear" he said, '1y-
ing on your back with a hand to your
thrapple.
Get up and swear It,"
He struggled TO his feet when ! re-
two, stretching his legs. easing his neck,
and pvatnp In