The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-02-10
THE FATED KING
A Romance of scottish IIrory


A Romance of Scottish Hiaory.
1t was the night of the Goth dFeb-
ruary, 143S The King and Queen OF
Scotland held their court in the abbey
of Black Friars at Perth.
The apartment was filed with the no
BILE and fair, among whom james L and
his lovely consort were distinguished by
their personal beauty and grace OF man
ner. as well as by their rank.
In the recess of one Of the lofty WIN
dows 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 Ran
dolph.
The young man mad a fine figure and
handsome features, but there was an e1-
preston about the eyes and mouth that
indicated at times that his prepossesslng
exterior concealed a bad heart and a
cruel disposition.
His eyes were fixed on the King with
so. fierce a gaze that the Lady Ida
started as she beheld it.
Robert, " said she, "of what are you
dreaming? You look at the King as
fercely as though you were Sir Robert
Grahame himself.
alt was of him l was thinking, La,
replied Stuart. my unhappy kns-
man, condemned to wander an Outlaw
among the mountain fastnesses, through
the injustice and tyrannical severltyof
James,"
"Not so, Robert" said Ida; "he
King was not unjust"
''He refused to bestow upon him ne
Earldom of Strathern, to which he lad
claim" answered he; "and he CO.
demned him to prison for a crime tht
he might have committed with impunty
in the reign of his father and during
the regency Of Albany. l marvel MT,
that on being freed from such ignohe
bondage, a man of so fiery and haughy
a spirit should seek to be revenged n
his oPpressor."
"He had no right to the Earldomf
Strathern," said Ida, "and as fsr lts
imprisonment, the crime for which h
suffered well deserved such punish
ment.
81 know that many of the noble
blame the King because he metes OF
the same justice to all classes becaus
he does not deem that noble blod
should entitle its pOssessOr to COMMIT
every dark and evil deed with impuniF.
"But surely, you cannot excuse I'm
for seeking the life of the King, or
sending him a defiance, renOuncing is
allegiance to him, and threatening TO
destroy him with his own hand ??
"He has many good qualities, a
swered Stuart, evaslvely.
Robert ! Robert - said Ida, hr
voice trembling with the earnestnes
with which she spoke, "speak MT
thus Let me not hear you say auglt
in praise of a traitor and a murdere
The King has ever been a warm frield
and an affectionate kinsman to you; Why
should you speak harshly of him, and
kindly Of his enemy ?"
"Nay, nay, you mistake me, Ida, re-
piled the young man. So wished not TO
speak harshly of the King know that
he has ever treated me with great kind
ness, and that he has honOred ne with
the greatest confidence on eveF occa-
sion but Grahame was one of my dear
est friends; Ipity his fate, myfriend-
ship for him leads me to find e1ases for
his conduct, and l cannot help thinking
that James has acted toward hn with
great severity.
"Yet speak not thus" said Id; IT
is most imprudent-should you words
be repeated to the king
81 would probably have to shae Gra-
halne's disgrace and exile" interrupted
he. "But fear not I viii not augh
to expose myself to danger, an as 10
what 1 have said this night, nome ma
heard me but you, and L think not tna
my Ida will betray me-"
The Lady Ida looked up intohls 1ac
with a smile. but before she couIo an
swer an attendant came to lnf'rn MN
that the King desired his preseIce.
Ida remained standing for 6 lew NO
ments by the windows after hS mad eli
her, musing over his words.
He had never spoken either OF the
/ King or Grahame In the sam manner
before. and dark and undened fears
passed through her mind, but Ae quick
ly dismissed them, deeming hsseIiun-
kind and unjust toward her tfiaced
husband In harboring them fG amo-
1nent.
1t was late ere the commnydis-
persed.
The King remained for sometin af-
ter all had retired, conversine cAer-
fully with the Queen and her lfiiA
Suddenly, however, a shade passed
over his face, and he remained br sme
time in deep thought at lengh, I'm
ing to the Queen, he said:
"Do you notremember that, vheton
NV way here a few weeks since, ras
met by an old Highland woman, no
told me If / came to Perth ] wQld
never leave it alive? She was here lis
evening, and sought an intervew Sth
me, but she was informed that she cold
not be admitted to my presence aso
late an hour. regret that did ot
see her. / know not why, but with
the last few hours I have felt sstraze
pre- sentiment of impending evil. The
is an old prophecy that predicts TT
in this year King will be killedn
Scotland"
"And what, of whom do you fear, v
| lord?" asked the Queen.
Robert Grahame has sworn to )
) stroy me, as you know" replied Jam.
"And I have cause to believe tt
there are many others In league Vi
him to take my life, and there could II
be more favorable opportunity for b
to make the attempt than the presep'
! The Queen shuddered.
She felt that there was every resn
to fear that Grahame would endeayoo
: fulfill his oath ere long, for. owingo
Z the small size of the abbey, the gus
of the King were quartered among .