The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1913-01-11

Alan OrQundTl "hSl DioSh>
Archibald stepped to her side and said:
"Ha, Is this Rorie who has grown
so big and Important
But the name Mistress Mary had men,
toned was enough to suggest the plot
to q clod. Alan Lrquhart, It may Dc re-
membered, was the ferryman between
kilellan and the Cloch. point on tne
Lowlands shore. 1 escaped at the nrst
opportunity and related the incident TO
Don John. He slapped his thigh de-
lightedly.
That is good, Rorie. Now, you go
to this Alan Urquhart and say like TINS
and here Don John looked cautiously
around" Mistress Mary sent me to
you, Alan You'll remember that
RorieT'
AYE"
And IL he seems to understand, then
you'll look around again-like TINS, no
rie-to see that no one hears you I'M
derstand-and say, When"
Aye"
That's all. If Mistress Mary has Al
ready spoken with him, then ne VIII un-
derstand. If he does not understand,
then YOU will tell him that there is
fine sum awaiting him II he VIII row
his boat around to the Str1ven snore inc
first dark night" ,.
remember: so for hours on end Don
Jobn and I rehearsed the little play.
Sometimes he would give me confusing
answers, SO that we must nave SSne
over every possible situation. ihat
evening / went to the clachan ano me- re-
Alan Urquhart as he came from tne
Cloch. ,r. I'm
Ebay, Rorier' he cried. 1T Will be
very fine evening"
at WILL / gulped, for already my
heart was in my throat.
Alan looked suspiciously al me- tnen-
and nearly burst out laughing-he be
gan to 20 through all the little ANTICS
that Don John had been at such pains
to teach me- He looked back OF MIN ana
said mysteriousiy:
Mistress Mary sent me 10 ye.
And was to say, 'when?'"
For answer, / shrieked with laughter:
Alan gripped my arm and "nSpere'
my whist. lad, Whist, Would we see
me danslinr on a dule-tree? Say the
word and get ye gone ,,
/ sobered up instantly and wroughs
my brains for an answer to this, the
only unrehearsed. possibility. 1 ae ms
mined to take a plunge for good or III
"The morrow's night by the stroke OF
the Il on the other side OF the burn
Good. Now run. lad,'' Alan whis-
pered when he had repeated the tryst.
Not only was this satisfactory to Don
John, but / was able to whisper II 70
Mistress Mary when I delivered the
milk in the morning. She seemed PLEASED
at first: then her face fel: Night"
Aye, Mistress Mary.
Give him Godspeedr' she whispered
through her tears, and she went PACK
into the castle, too wrought 10 utter
the message which / knew her heart
sent.
NV story only served to depress Don
John. who spent the rest of the day
walking up and down in the narrow
cave. his brow clouded with grief and
fallen when the brambles were thrust
aside and Mistress Mary, barefooted
| and pale. stood before us;
Mary" he gasped, taking her in his
| arms. What have you done!
John" she answer simply L could
not let you CO.
An he murmured, and he held her
at arms length from him and Toasted
his moist eyes upon her simple beauty.
/ But your brother" he said.
Il care not" she said. quietly. Il
cannot return to the castle-now. or
have I the wish to. l am coming with
Mary, 1t is impossibIe!'' he gasped
| Yet his eyes were ago" WIN lit III
| of II. DO you not SEE
Don John. you say you love me?
| Heaven knows how I love you-John!
| Her voice broke. and she threw out her
| hands. II cannot live In that fearful
place, even though / shall know you
are striving to come back to me. John
John-take me with you. ] am not
afraid. | will starve. If you can. l Will
! die if-oh. why speak Of it, she cried
impatientiy. Il have taken the step;
seeks me- his anger rising as every mo-
ment passes. There is only one way
John. You must take me with you.
| Don John stared at her face. which
veaIed in resolute. glorious lines;
There was a long pause; then he said
| in a voice which was athrill with
passion and grief:
$50 be II. Mary see IL clearly
! will take you with me-
Then, the crisis past. a more signifi
cant stiffness fell within the cave. II
was broken by Don John. who ad-
| dressed me.
| "Rorie," he said. gravely. you are
a child: yet you understand what you
see. and in years to come you shall
bear witness. I promise. before you
TO cherish this woman as my wire
until I die. And see. Rorie, In token
| of faith. I give her this"
He took a locket and golden chain
| from his neck and placed II reverent-
| ly around Mistress Mary's.
| ct contains the face Of my mother.
he said simply. IT make my VOW uron
| her sacred me mory. So shall no man
| speak III OF our union. Mary, give me
| nv ring
She drew IL slowly from her hand
| and slipped IL on Don Johns finger
| And may God have mercy on US
both, my husband she whispered
"Rorie." said Don John with a sud
den twinkle in his eyes. cit shall be
your pleasure. privilege. and honor Il
kiss Dona Maria Marquesa de Muir
cia."
II was a few moments before ] real
| lied that he meant Mistress Mary
then l bashfully kissed her and found
/ her face wet with tears. Soon after
left them and went back to the farm
house fer my supper.
| At 8 O'Clock, which was even late
for me to be out of bed. my father
! looked at me as I sat by the fire
thinking, and said:
/ What Is II. lad?"
| I would have told him. but at thu
very first words he raised his hand.
IF II Is about Don John. keep you
own counsel, lad
| I continued sitting by the Are. snt
| when the old clock said II wanted bu
half an hour Of the u my father oil
not even raise his head a. ! passed out
/ trotted across the Long Pasture unit
/ a. L..~. n