Sir Quixote of the Moors

ould guess in which part of the earth I was laid. My first thought was that I was back in France, and I rejoiced with a great gladness; but as my wits cleared the past ca

ecovered. This was ever the way of our family, who may be in the last desperation one day and all

a girl, who brought me some strengthening food-stuff in a bowl. The sunlight smote her full in the face and set her hair all aglow

speaking the pure English, but with a curious turn i

to be lying there in good health, "and I would thank

r? But no," she added hastily, seeing me about to plunge into a narrative; "your tale will keep. I cannot have you making

lace. Here I might find one to hear my tale and help me in my ill-luck. At any rate for the present I was in a good place, and when one has bee

ked me how I fared. "For," said she, "perhaps you wish to rise, if you are stronger. Your clothes were sadly wet and torn when we got you to bed last night, so my father has bade me

use, so I sprung up and drew the clothes toward me. They were of rough gray cloth, very strong and warm, and fitting a man a little above the ordinary height, of such stature as mine is. It

ow illumined it, and many black-framed pictures hung on the walls adown it. At the foot there was a hall, broad and low in the roof, whence some two or thr

from study. His face was narrow and kindly; blue eyes, like a Northman, a thin, twitching lip, and hair well turned to silver. His companion was scarce less notable-a big, comely man, dressed half in the fashion of a soldier, yet with the air of one little versed in cities.

kwardly, "and to let you know something of myself, for

ithout, so travel-worn as you. The Levite in the Scriptures did

mes for your kindness. Wou

glad I am that you fell in with us here. 'Tis seldom we have a stranger with us, since my brother at Drumlanrig died in the spring o' las

when you have fared hardly for days. Your kindness has set me at peace with the world aga

ance we have done it. What saith the wise man, 'He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a

story of my quarrel they listened eagerly, and I could mark their eyes flashing, and as I spake of my sufferings in the dese

s! Well I see that you are of the upright in hea

nothing but ros

me badly, "give me your hand. I honor yo

ch other's eyes. Then we stepped back well satisfied. For myself I love to meet

the furnace. God grant we be not found faithless! This home is still left to us, and thankful we should be for it; and I demand that you dwell with us till you have settled on your course. This man," he went on, laying his hand on the shoulder of the younger, "is Master Henry Semple of Clachlands, a fine inheritance, all ridden and rieved by these devils on earth, Captain Keith's dragoons. Henry is of our belief, and a man of such mettle that the Privy Council was fain to send down a quartering o

f such anger and decision as quite transfigured his face and made

the Lord is smiting so sorely among my fellows. I could take shame to myself every time I eat good food or sleep in a decent bed, to think of better men creeping aneath the lang heather like etherts, or shivering on the ca

e man, where-ever I meet him. 'Tis poor religion, say I, which would lead o

lood all the nations of the earth. But I yearn to see you of a

is a poor thing to be changing on any pretext. For, look you, God, who appointed a man his place

to fight his way among men and live hardly, has, of necessity, little time for his devo

is mighty inhospitable to be arguing with a guest. See, her

e was somewhat brown in skin, like a country maiden; but there was no semblance of rusticity in her fair features and deep brown eyes. Her hair hung over her neck as brown as the soft fur of a squirrel, and the fire filled it with fantastic shadows. She was singularly graceful in figure, moving through the room and bending over the table with a grace which 'twas pretty to contempl

. The love-light shone in his eye whenever he looked toward her; and she, for her part, seemed to thrill at his chance touch. One strange thing I noted, that, whereas in Fr

marauders and low ruffians. The minister said a lengthy grace before and after the meal; and when the table was cleared the servants were called in to evening prayer. Again the sight pleased me-the two maids with their brown country faces seated decently by the door; Anne, half in shadow, sitting demurely with Master Semple not far off, and at the table-head the white hairs of the old man

with open wonder, and thanked me with her marvelous eyes. Then to bed with a vile-smelling lamp, in a wide, low-ceilinged sleeping r