The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 12, 1903, Page 5

THE SUNDAY CALL. g e e i e e e e RYS o BFARR. overtake the girl. but found her rT for him at the new bridge, and Jame t walked the short half mile | f The young-man was in- atic ies and finally besought y 1d proved exceeding) almost at the ge bulk loomed blackly be- s em. There w nething so sin- ellgn s m contour that for the nce he set out on this i ure & suspicion that he ke his was inwisely crossed the King's he meditated, it was his mother's th of which was almost, as one for Stuart was the mother’s husband, ss with this visit? to the main en- e, the 1stable uated in the it is intended e messenger dur- the entrance of a fajes ering ¢ = M s K . £ The. dox ng sternly, “I a a f AL % » wh ng here?” the ause you brought . < . does not . ce,”” and the, . K to his visitor with a return « c ess, now that his > ed s s for he knew how ol w ‘Madam n t rather e is d, but you I ature, and though cannot change iously went up she murmured ; o gt = Step or t than to h - some of Catherine's work.” - S conclen e > Catherine was your name in the forest, . - what is your name in the cas- s 3 Jcabel iz my name in castle and forest ” ke. You have met my twin sister, it of them oig CAtherive. Why has she brought you ed th ) L n obedient son, T am here at the oD s Dot of my honorable mother; and o 5 DS 59~ o sister—if, indeed, goddesses so - Strangely fair, and so strangely similar od tt . e two persons—has gone to acquaint o5 : st mother of my arrival.” a 4 o he girl'’s alarm seemed to increase as 4 % the King's diminished. Trouble, dismay aitand 2% and fear marred her perfect face, and as 3 ther know T was the King scrutinized her more minutely, he . saw that th m mouth and the resolute - 4 not heve denrned. f her sister had no place in the Nng you reached SUr- n,,.. softened and womanly features of 1 o ENMMET the lady before him. - * . - Your mother? Who is she?” - “Pirst, Margaret Tudor, daughter of the ® ¥ - of England; second, Margaret Stu- S fe of the King of Scotland; third, Douglas, ill mate of the Earl fourth, and let us hope finally, iart again, spouse of Lord 1 owner of this castle.” ot - - ved as if she would fall, ail - addenly from her face. She e I, ani , nearly fainting against the stone e - ke passing her hand once or twice s g T W ar er terror-filled eyes. =he moaned, “do not tell es, King of Scotland, den of Douglases!” cried the King, roused at the “How can there be Doug- tle of Doune; my mother’s nstabled “ by my friend, young t God!” that you name 1ses in the C: ige the tailor has If you will before cc rt?” “Your mother’s house? sald the girl v c C castle. W uncanny laugh. “When has the come S Margaret set foot in Doune? Not Of a suret cried the King In a tone since she was divorced from my uncle, t ft ne f his intentions Ar 1d Douglas, Earl of Angus! and shall ¢ fore you are at the Constable! Aye, the Constable is in the br = his the girl fled Surling. Doune Castle stands gloomy and away in th s, and then he raised alone, but in Stirling with the young king his bugle j= lips and blew a blast there are masques and hunting and gay- 1 £pe ought answering calls ety. Young Stuart draws the revenues Jame u ned absences were so oI his charge, but pays slight attention s frequer announcement of an to the fulfiliment of his duty.” o return home that night “You are, then, Isabel Douglas? And rprise among his company; TCW, to echo your own Question, how came you here? If this is a den of Doug- Jases, as you say, how comes my mother's castle to be officered by the enemies of od night, they can- ling, while he, unaec- to the northwest tered off toward Sti companied, set his and his spurs to the horse's flanks, but ber son?" his steed ,dy tired out and “That you ask such a question shows could r with his om- little foresight or knowledge of men. matience intment he dia When your first stepfather and my uncle, 1, but the girl - D v | Archibald Douglas, had control of this castle through your mother's name he filled it with his own adherents.” “Naturally; nepotism was a well known trait of my domineering stepfather, which Gid not add to his popularity in Scotland. Who can get office or justice against a Douglas? was thelr cry. But did not young Btudrt, when he was made consta- ble, put in his own men? “The Constable cares nothing for this stronghold 8o long as it furnishes money which he may spend gayly in Stirling.” “I see. So you and your sister found refuge among your underlings? And where so safe from search as within the King’s mother’s own fortress, almost un- der the shadow of Stirling? An admir- able device. Why, then, do you jeopard- ize ycur safety by letting me into the secret necent lives has he taken to encompass his revenge? How many now of our . are exiled and starving because of his action? I shall strike the blow with greater surety, for in killing him I ex- tinguish his treacherous race.” No good can come from assassination, Catherine.” “What greater evil can spring from his death than from his life? “His killing will not bring back those whom he has slain; it will not cause our banished kinsmen to return. It will be a murder for revenge.” “And not the first in Scotland,” Catherine grimly. The King had once more seated hims: and now, resting his chin on his open palm, listened to the discussion with the interested bearing of one concern with it said dear sis- “Do not attempt this ter,” pleaded Isabel earnestly. “Let us away as we intended. The horses are ready and waiting us. Our mother is looking for our coming in her room. The night wears on and we must pass Stirling while it is yet dark, so there is no time to be lost. Dear sister, let us quit Scot- land, as we purposed, an accursed land to all of our name, but let us quit it with unstained hands.” “Isabel, darling,” said Catherine low voice that quivered with the em caused by her sister’s distress and app “what unlucky chance brought you this door at such a moment? Can you n in a to to understand that I have gone too far retreat? Who, having caged the ger, dare open again' the gate and set him free? If for no other reason, the King must die be e he is here and becau 1 brought him here. Open the door be- hind you, Isabel, go down the circular stair, and at the postern step you will find the rope ladder by which I ascend. you to the courtyard and there wal me, say nething: atherine, Cather the King will pardon you. He will surely forgive what you have done in exchange for his life.” “Forgiveness!” cried Catherine, her eyes blazing n. “I want no forgive- ness from the g of Scotland. Pardon! The tiger would pardon till once he is free again. The King m . “I shall go as you have bid me, Cather- tne, but not to do your bidding. I shall arouse this, castle and prevent an a nable crime.” atherine laughed har: Whom would ance? Douglas, How many of you you find in the ca You know well, e only, and that is er, old and less. Rouse the cas Isabel, if you will, and find a dead ma 1 perhaps a dead sister, when you brea this less Isabel _adies,” s Ing. 1o his- feet done my interv d the “will tic an which ; an act King, soothingly, ris- you graciously con- in this dispute? You rtant act, from the ntiment should ch requires the nd of a man brought to bear upon the pros and eaps of its con- summati You are dealing with it en- tirely f standpoint of the heart and e head, an error common h women, and one that has ever pre- cluded their effective dealing with mat- ters of state. You will pardon me, Lady Isabel, when I say that your sister takes a much more practical view of the situa- She is perfectly right ing me prisoner here, low tion than you do. in holding that, hav me to go scath- folly than the in favor of your own mt asked Isabel, amazed, ng at t & man through her =0, : still which I there is a considera- tion must endeavor to eliminate from my mind, if my advide !s to be im- partial, and « v to you. May I beg of veu to seated? We have the night before us and may consider the various interesting nts our leisure, and thus no ir liable mistake need be made. Isabel, nigh exhausted with the intensity of her fe sank upon the berich, but Catherine still stood motion- less, dagger in hand, her back against the br. The Ki ing she did not in- d to obey, went 1ve! There was ht of intense admiration in his eye as > regarded the standing woman. “Ladies,” he said an you tell me when last a otland—a James— and a ( relation to each other r circum- stances?” lower- ing at him, o reply nd after a few mo; went on. a year more than a century ago when the life of James I was not only threat- ened but extinguished, not by one brave wom- but by a mob cowardly a s sassins, Then Catherine Dc las nearly saved the life of her King. She thrust her fair young k% arm into the iron loops b, % of a door and had it shattered by those cra- ven miscreants Isabel wept quietly, b her face in her two > open hands. But Cath- erine answered in an- 5 \ ger LK R “Why did the Cath- erine Douglas of that day T ber life to : save the King? Be- b ! cause James [ was a 3 just monarch. Why does the Catherine of to-day wish to thrust - her dagger into the = false heart of James V? Because he has turned on the hand that nurtured him—" “The hand that im- prisoned him, Lady Catherine. Pardon my correction. “He turned on the man - who governed Scotland wisely and well.” “Again pardon me. He had no right to govern. I wis the King, not Archibald Douglas. But all that is beside the ques- tion, and recrimination is a bad as senti- ment for clouding cold reason. What I wish to point out is tuat assassination of Kings or the capture of them very rarely accomplishes its object. James I was as- sassinated, and as a result two Stuarts, two Grahams and two Chamberses wers tortured and executed; so hi® murderers profited little. My grandfather, James 111, was carried off by the Boyds, but Sir Alexander Boyd was beheaded and his brother and nephew suffered torture. I think I have shown, then, that violence is usually futile.” “Not so0,"” answered Catherine. ‘“‘Your grandfather was assassinated and the man who killed him i{s not known to this day. Your great-grandfather basely mur- dered the Black Douglas in Stirling, thus breakihg his word of honor, for he h given Douglas safe conduct, yet h profited by his act and crushed his kins- man.” “I see, Lady Catherine, that you are too well versed in history for me to con~ tend with you successfully on that sub- Ject,” sald the King with a silent laugh. “We will therefore restrict the inquiry to the present case, as wise people should. Tell me, then, so that I may be the bet- ter able to advise you, what is your true object—revenge and my death or the wringing from me of concessions for your family 2" “I could not wring concessions from you, because you could not make good those concessions unless I released you. 1 dare not release you, because I dare not trust you.” “I foresaw your difficulty, and so I told your sister that, having gone so far, you could not retreat. The issue is therefore & "CATHERINE STILIF=STOOD! MOTIONLESS, IDAGGER 1N HAND, HER BACK AGAINST THE DOOR. Catherine, who had entered stlently and unnoticed through the smaller door, now stepped forward, drew her sister into the room, took out the huge key, closed the daor and locked it, then turned fiercely to the King. Her beautiful white right arm was bare to the elbow, the loose sleeve rolled up, and in her hand she held a dagger. With her back against the newly locked door she satd: “I'll be your Majesty’s guide from this tle, and your perjured soul shall find made by my The girl sighed deeply with downcast eyes; then she flashed a glance at him which had something in it of the old Douglas hauteur. “I fear,” she said, “that it is not our safety which 1s jeopardized.” “You mean that I am in danger?'’ “The same stronghold which gives im- munity to a family of the Red Dougla: can hardly be expected to confer security upon James V, their persecutor.” “No. Certainly that would be too much c: to expect. Are you then in this plot exit through a postern gal against me, my lady?” dagger!” “I have not heard of any plot. If there ‘“‘Oh, Catherine, Catherine,” sobbed Isa- is one I know nothing of it. I merely ac- bel, weeping In fear and horror of the sit-/ quaint you with some hint of my fears.” uation, “‘you cannot contemplate so awful “Then I charge you as a loyal subject a deed, a murder so foul, for however un- of the lawful King to guiGe me from this worthy he may be, he is still the King.” stronghold, into which I have been coz- = “What is there foul in ridding the worid ened by treachery and falschood.” of a reptile such as he? How many in- narrowed down to death and how it may ccomplished. You have made : 11 mistake of forewarning me I cannot understand wh 1 did not mount horse beside me and stab me in we rode through the forest. Did ‘this not occur to you, Lady It did. but there were objections. Your ave escaped me to Stir- en found but a few hours’ Here 1 expect you locked room till doubtle commented ave you be the successor neither brother nor I was o dled before 1 think you ed to extinguish tollows? Who iles Scot! ure of that. I think yeur bring ¢ 1 es you 1 t your kin, now will find the a You f at gland is my uncle nship may lay claim to rone. Be that as it may, ne ret a Douglas com- nd think you Henry and state ‘T dare not let you go, erine. rated Cath- lusion uld turn your at the two in n at this ge you should 0. Lady sus than While the issue Id not be Intervention, rmit me to say se, [ nation as much as [ the Lady Isabel's I shall then take y ger door and placs with your s tside on the nar- row stairwa 1 have withdrawn the rope ladder so she cannot alarm the sar- for, if you will admire your det admire, in another w lear this k I have not withdrawn it,” sald 3 “My sister must not bring interfe: sald th took the we s King calmly, as he key from the large all at least make it fmpossi- °F to open the way into the haill.” to the smaller and before either event his action, or & of his design, he in hand, and thrust stepped out tdn their places the bolts of the stalrway cor. The two girls looked at each other for & mom in silence, Isabel plainly panic- stricken, while in Catheri struggled with chagrin to see the e's face anger ch was quick sudden consequences of this turning of the tables; the two were help- less pi ers in a remote portion of the ¢ 1~l}h‘. o one within its walls being ac- quainted with th whereabouts. The King, insulted, hoodwir and all but murdered, was now at , free to ride the few short leagues that lay betwesn Doune Stirling and before daybreak f a man endeavor- press the hearty laughter that stered him. To be doomed is rad but to be made the subject of was too h for the daunt e. She s her dagger ringing to the stone floor with a ge: 1 sank upon a b ure of rage. ch and gave way to tears; tears of bitter humiliation and rage. “‘Ladies,” sald the King from the out- side, beg that yvou will allow me to open the door.” But, receiving no answéi the bolts were drawn once more. James again entered t apartment and gazed down upon two fair, proud heads with ruddy hair. Dear ladles, 14 the King, “forgive me m timely mirt Both of you take matters much too seriously; a litt's laughter s necessary in this world. My Lady Catherine, I told you that I could grant no conc »ns under coercion, but now coercion has vanished and I enter this room a free man of my own will Tell me, my rl, what is you want? T rescinding of your father's exile? It is granted. The right to live unmolested in vour own castle? Iwis granted. Safe co iuct to England? It is granted. The prt '°ge of remaining in Doune? It is gra 3. it do not ask me to rescind the n .ment against Archibald Doug- las, of Angus, for that I shall not conc The Doug ambition, and not the ¢ tish King, has wrecked the Dousg- las fi uily, both Red and Black. But as far a: concerns your own immediate kin, with one exception, I shall give you any- thing you like to ask.” Catherine rose to her feet, threw back her auburn tresses and said curtly: “We ask nothing but the privilege of leaving the country you rule.” The King bowed. And you, Lady Isabe! y “] go with my sister and my mother.” “I grieve at your decision, ladies, and for the first time in my life envy Eng- lJand in getting an advantage over poor old Scotland, which I hope will not be frreparable, for I trust you will return But if such be your determination, then go in peace and in daylight. Your jour- ney shall not be molested by me. But before you add finality to your intentions, 1 think it would be but fair to inform your lady mother that the King Is anx- jous to be of service to her, and perhaps she may be gontent to accept what her daughters are apparently too proud to re- ceive.” James placed the key once more in the lock, and turning to Catherine, said: “My falr antagonist, I bid you good night.” He stretched out his right hand, and sghe with some hesitation and visible re- luctance placed her palm in his. Then the King ralsed to his lips the hand which at one time seemed like to have stricken him. “And you, sweet Isabel, whose gentle words I shall not soon forget, you will not refuse me your hand?" No, your Majesty, If you will promise to think kindly of me.” The King, however, did not raise her hand to his lips, but placing his arm about her waist he drew her toward him and kissed her. Next moment he was hurrying down the stone steps and tne two were left alone together. ———————— When Queen Victoria ascended the throne only $100,000 a year was spent on education; now the amount expended is $65,000,000. 12"