The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-05-21

white beard a pair of unearthly eye
CLEANED from beneath his frosted brows. Or
a table by his side was a small old-iashoneC
lamp. SO soon as he found himself alone
with this uninvting figure he advanced eau
tiously and, glancing suspiciously rount
him, grasped his sword. The old mans dui
eyes became fixed upon his face, and q smal
faint voice inquired if he were Lord Stair
Lord Stair answered in the affirmative
adding: at is you, / presume, who have
sent for me in this mysterious fashion,
"Kuecl down that | may look upon your
face"
Strangely impelled by his authoritative
tone, as well as some irresistible feeling i'm
his own heart, Lord Stair obeycd. The old
man seized the lamp, and throwing the light
full upon his visitors face, gazed at it
eagerly he then stretched forth his yellow,
skeleton hand, and touched his visitors
check. The young man almost rccoiled from
it; he felt as though the hand of death were
writing his sign manual upon his brow.
a see-I recognize the features of my
racc-it is my own lost youth come back
again. Now, lift up your eyes and look on
me-"
Amazed, half stupifed, and yet strangely
affected, Lord Stair did as he was bidden !;
but he saw nothing there to stir his memory
1t was face Of an utter stranger, seemingly
belonging to another world.
"Your eyes do not recognize me-" he said
impatiently; 'but your soul must, for it is
akin to mine. Aye, you must start, but the
blood that rushes flaming to your face now
comes from the same fountain as that which
stagnates and freezes in mine. For years,
long years, Eve yearned to look upon the
face of mine own race and blood a little
while and | shall be content to die; but not
yet--not yet. | have two things to do.
should not lie quiet in my grave if left un-
DONE"
Guided by his directions Lord Stair drew
a heavy box from beneath bed.
"There, there" continued the old man,
''you will find papers which will repair the
losses you and your family have sustained;
deeds which will restore you to estates enjoy
ed wrongfully by Others With the aid of
these you will easily recover property which
is yours by descent; and you will read the
story of my life, it is written there"
Lord Stair hastily scanned the documents
and found that they were precisely what the
old man limited, and he raised his eyes to
him in wondering gratitude. lie would
have taken his bony hand and pressed it to
his lips, but the old man snatched it away,
"Theres blood upon it, rve tried to hide
it, but it's always there"
Lord Stair recoiled step, struck by the
sudden gesture, no less than by the words,
and the shuddering expression that came
into his companions face The old man,
observing the revulsion his words created
put forth his hands pleadingly, as headed
"No. don't leave me yet; | am an old
mana very old man, and | have repented
Oh God have not repented? Yea, from
the very hour that | slaked my thirst for
my blood began to cool, and
felt the brand of murder-cruel, cowardly
murder ON my soul. l hid myself from the
eyes of mine own kindred, from the eyes Of
all the world, and l would tain have hidden
from myself; but / have the stain of Cain
upon my brow. l meant my secret to be
Int q Lot
it will not let me die until it has cxcaped
my lips. / have tried to die but | could not;
! was a coward and. dared not. He paused
a moment, overcome by mental pain as well
as physical exhaustion; then, grasping his
young kinsman's hand, he spoke again.
almost in a whisper.
"You remember Charles .Stuart-King
Charles the First?"
Charles the Martyr, as we call him now
Yes, historically, | do remember him, P"
replied Lord Stair, wondering at the ques-
ton
'I-I-but it is all written there" rejoin-
ed the old man, pointing to Il bundle of man
uscripts. II cannot force my tongue to tell
this it was ! who stood upon the
scatlold cloaked and masked it was | who
struck the ungodly blow that unkinged Eng
land and sent thrill of horror through the
land-I, vindictiye monster that ! was.
Even as the axe was falling, | hurled my
name-her name into his ear; and as lifted
his bleeding head, his mild eyes seemed to
roll towards mine. Yes, he heard me-heard
me-and | know that he forgaye me-"
Overcome by his terrible retrospection,
the aged speaker seemed to sink into an un-
conscious state. Silently, noiselessly as Il
spectre, the guide who had conducted Lord
Stair to the house appeared upon the scene
and motioned him to leave the room.
"Aye, go-gow gasped the Old man, raj,
lying for moment-"go, and return nc
more"
Here the manuscript breaks off abruptly
OF its truth or probability the reader mus
Judge for himself We all know the ques
tion of "Who beheaded Charles II" ha,
been often asked, but never satisiactoril,
answered. Richard Brandon was engage,
to play the part of eXecutioner, but it i
denied that lie was then who struck tn,
blow.
- aa~ -
Canarips.