The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-04-12


1tv,e he nieht AZ the 2Dth Of
Fehrusrv Il38 The King ma
Omen Of Scotland held their court
in the abbey Of Black Friars At
Perth.
The anartment was iiIled With the
noble and fair. amone whom Jane
/ ana his lovely consort were dis
tineushed bv their rerpoual beauty
and grace Of manner, as well as by
their rank.
In the recess of one of the lovely
windows stood Robert Stuart, the
grandson and heir of the Earl of
Athol, kinsman of the King, and
his betrothed bride, the young and
beautiful Lady Ida Randolph.
The young man had fine figure
and handsome features, but there
was an expression about the eyes
and mouth that indicated at times
that his proposing exterior con-
cealed a bad heart and cruel dispo-
sition.
His eyes were fixed on the King
with SO fierce a gaze that the Lady
Ida started as she beheld it.
Robert said she, s'of what are
YOU dreaming? You look at the
King as fiercely as though Won were
Sir. Robert Grahame himself"
1T was of him l was thinking,
Ida" replied Stuart. my unhappy
kinsman. condemned to wander an
outlaw among the mountain fast
nesses, through the injustice and ty-
rannical severity of James
Not SO, Robert" said Ida; "the
King was not unjust"
He refused to bestow upon him
the Earldom of Strathern, to which
he laid claim" answered he; "and
he condemned him to prison for
crime that he might have commit |
TED with impugnlty IN the reign OF
ms iatner ana during the regency
OF Albany: 4 marvei not tnat on
beng freed from sucn 'gnopie Don,
dage, a man OF 80 naughty ana
merry spirit should seek 10 DE
revenged on ms oppresso
HE mad no ngnt 70 the Earidom
OF Stratnern, said lda, and as ior
ms imprisonment, tne crime ior
wnicn ne sunered wen deserved sucn
punishment.
Il know that many OF the mobiles
blame the klng because ne metes
out the same justice to all classes
because ne does not deem that no.
bic blood should entitle Its possessor
to commit every dark and evil deed
with impugnIity.
But surely, you cannot excuse
him for seeking the life OF the King,
for sending him defiance, renounc-
ing his allegiance to HIM, and
threatening to destroy him with his
own hand r
"He has many good qualities"
answered Stuart, evasively.
"Robertl Robert p said Ida, her
voice trembling with the earnest
ness with which she spoke, speak
not thusl Let me hear you say
aught in praise of a traitor and a
murderer! The King has ever been
a kind friend and affectlonate klns-
man to you; why should you speak |
harshly OF him, and kindly OF his
enemy"
NAY, nav, you mistake me, Ida"
replied the young man. Il wish
not to speak harshly of the King:
know that he has ever treated me
with great kindness, and that he
has honored me with the greatest
confidence on every occasion; But
Grahame was one of my dearest
friends; / pity his fate, my friend
ship for him leads me to find ex-
cuses for his conduct, and / cannot
help thinking that James has acted
toward him with great severity.
"Yet speak not thus" said Ida;
cit is most imprudent = should
your words be repeated TO the
King"
81 would propably have to share
Grahame's disgrace and exile, inter-
rupted he. "But fear not Twill
not do aught to expose myself to
danger, and as for what / have said
this night, no one has heard me but
you, and | think not that my Ida
will betray me.p
The Lady Ida looked up into his
face with a smile, but before she
could answer an attendant came to
inform him that the King desired
his presence.
Ida remained standing for few
moments by the window after he
had left her, musing over his words.
He had never spoken either of the
King or Grahame in the same man.
ner before, and. dark and underlined |
fears passed through her mind, but
she quickly dismissed them, DEEM
ing herself ankind and unjust to-
ward her afiianced husband in har-
boring them for a moment.
1t was late ere the company dis
persed.
The King remained for some
time af.er ali had retired. convers.
ing cheerfully with the Queen and
her ladies. III
Suddenly, however. a shade pass
ed over his face, ard he remained