Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-07
THE WHITE BLACKBIRD
HUDSON DOUGLAS.
Copyright, 1912, by Little. Brown & Co..


where Spanish guns still stand guard.
among a multitude of other obsolete
pieces. including a carronade or two from
the ancient foundry at Falkirk, over the
equally futile suits of mail in the halls
below.
She offered to show them the dungeons
and torture chamber and oubliette, on the
way to the water gate, but Mr.. Jobilns
declared that it was too late by then TO
go underground that day, and she led
them instead along the north corrloor.
through the late earls private study ana
library and smoking room, through a
ments. till they regained the corridor at
the end. where an open doorway led
through into the spacious circular hall at
the bast of the north keep.
This part of the castle is private. sir. ~
Mrs. MKissock informed Mr.. Jobling,
who had already stepped in.
I'D like my friends to see the sunset
from the warder's tower he returned.
''if you don't mind. We won't disturb
any one on our way upstairs.
Mrs. MKissock still looked uncertain,
but Slyne had already followed the law
yer's lead and Capt. Dove was calmly
pushing past her. She glanced at Sallie
again and then bowed her also in. And
ed winding staircase, past several land
fngs. the doors of which were closed.
But the door at the turret top was
wide, and Mrs. M'Kissock was obviously
Jobling stepped to one side and politely
gave Sallie precedence out into the open
air.
Sallie smiled careless thanks for the
courtesy. and was still smiling when she
emerged from the low doorway and stop
ped just beyond it's threshold, so that
Mr.. Jobling and the others behind her
had to wait patiently where they were
While she gaZed, enraptured and forget
full Of all else, at the scene before her.
Tho
the far sea rim. and there was no least
cloud in the radiant sky. The clear-cut
mountains on either hand, the still loch
and the broad Atlantic beyond it were all
aglOW with a marvellous. mystic light; the
little cottages on the shore. 800 sheer feet
below her, were crimson instead Of white;
the very smoke which came from their
chimneys seemed somehow ethereal and
unreal.
She stood alone for a moment or two
in world transformed, till the quick.
keen, exquisite pleasure Of 1t brought a
mist to her eyes that blurred 1T all. and.
as she raised a hand to brush that away
she suddenly realized that she was not
alone. There was a young man leaning
over an embrasure at one corner Of the
battlements, who had been gazing, like
her. at the sunset till she had come forth.
He was gazing at her now, and with
even more admiration. however uncon-
scious, than he had been bestowing on
the beauties of nature inanimate; for the
waning light had TRANSPORTED her sweet,
sensitive features also. and into a SEM
blance such as one might imagine an
angel would wear.
Her eyes met his. and they two stood
regarding each other SO for the space Of
five fateful seconds. She had recognized
him at once, but it was apparent that he
did not yet know who she was
He came forward then, limping a little
and bowed. bareheaded. to her: suffi-
GENTLY self-confident youth, straight and
timber, good-loOkng enough, with smil-
ing gray eyes and a mobile mouth. some
what wistful at that moment in spite Of
his eyes.
I'm sorry if I'm in the way" he said,
pleasantly. Wont you come out and
look round? The view all about is be-
yond all words of mine-and you're only
seeing part of it there"
He hesitated slightly. regarding her
with a very puzzled expression, before
plunging further. and then, I'm Justin
Carthew" he continued, since she made
no move at all. although my lawyers
would have me believe that I'm the
ninth Earl of Jura now!' He laughed
aloud. as if that idea were amusing. In
any case.'' he concluded. na1vely, 1.-The
sunset doesn't belong to me-
She stepped out into the afterglow. still
without a word, her mind full Of vague
misgivings. And. as Mr. Jobling followed
her from the doorway. with Slyne and
Capt Dove at his heels, and Mrs. NJ kis-
sock nervously fumbling with her chate-
laine, last of all. Justin Carthew drew
back couple of PAGES.
Your lawyers have misinformed you.
Mr. Carthew,' said Mr.. Jobling, in his
most dogmatic manner. You are no
more the ninth Earl of Jura than l am.
because Let me introduce yOu-mOre
formaIly-to Lady Josceline Justice. the
late earls daughter, on whose property
you are trespassng here"
Go be continued tomorrow