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

ed ncronD IL Windo1D - tbe roouI
The King spEnng % he csbsmenl
1he count yard W6s fflled with mer
and By tie heht of tie touches the,
carried Be could - they were arm
ed, and among then be beheld hi
deadly foa.
aIt i Gaham4 ~ kas come i
perform his oath, = said Jame
calmly, turning from The window.
"Oh fiy then, fly while there !
vet 6me!" exclaimed tie Queen
almost wild with terror.
"And whittier shall | fly 2" sai<
the King. st would be madnes
to attempt it, they must even nov
be in the abbey. Had l any plac'
of concealment-but / know o
none,r and / must even defend my
self until aid arrives, or until my
strength his me-"
1Not SO, my lord" exclaimed tn
Lady Catharine Douglas, one of tn
ladies of honor of the Queen.
II have heard there is a vault be
meath this apartment that commu
nicates with the courtyard, and
haye been shown the plank in th'
floor which it is necessary to raise il
order to descends into it Onc'
there, my lord, you can easily Is
cape"
"You are right, fair lady, said ths
King, II had forgotten the vault
I viii descend into it.; it may con
ceal me from my enemies, but un'
happily cannot escape from it, al
the entrance into the courtyard waf
walled up a few days ago at my
order, because when / played al
ball, the ball frequently rolled down
through the opening
The plank was hs1t1y raised, and
the King descended. But before
the plank was lowered the voices
and footsteps of the assassins were
heard in the corridor, approaching
the apartment.
The Lady Catharine Douglas few
to fasten the door. but the bar had
been removed. Without a mo-
ments hesitation she fhraet her
arm through the staples. But SO
frail an obstacle could nat long keep
out the intruders. 80
The door was soon burst open,
but not until the arm of the heroic
lady was broken,
The assassins rushed into the
room. The plank had been lowered
and the terrified Queen and her la
dies were standing together in the
corner of the room. Grahame saw
at q glance that his victim was not
there, and was about ordering his
followers to 60 with him to seek the
King in the other apartments of the
abbey, when one of the rufians
seized the Queen, and was about to
plunge his dagger to her heart,
when a son of Grahame interposed
and saved her life.
At this moment the Lady Ida
Randolph beheld among the con-
spirators her affianced husband,
and with a wild shrek, she pro.
nounced his name.
"What, fair lady," said Grahame,
with n fierce smile.
knew We not that your betroth-
ed was in league with us? Had it
not been for his care in removing
bolt, bar, and sentinel, we had not
gained entrance here tonight"
Ida covered her face with her
hands and turned away.
LET us be gone, Grahame, and
seek the King" exclaimed Stuart
crimsoned with anger and shame.
"Know you not that notwith-
our precautions, some of
the attendants have escaped? They
will alarm the city, and the royal
guards will be upon us ere long?"
"You are right" said Grahame,
"and / should be 10th to leave the
abbey without accomplishing that
for which / came. &
"Yet hear me, Lady Ida, you viii
think less harshly of the deeds of
this night when you see the crown
of Scotland on the brow of the heir
of Athol, for it is my intention, and
that of the mobiles leagued with me,
TO place Robert Stuart on the thone
Of the tyrant whose reign will end
tonight.
! So saying he left the apartment,
followed by the rest of the conspiri-
tors. Hss-
Ida uncovered her face, gazed af-
ter them wildly, and then uttering
a low cry, fell insensible on the
floor. w ss =
After having sought their victim
IN vain through every part of the
building, Robert Stuart recollected
he vault, and suggested that he
might be concealed there.
They Immediately returned to the
apartment whefe the Queen and
ler ladies had passed the time of
heir absence, in the most agonizing
snxiety and suspense, and, tearing
Up the plank, beheld the unfortun-
tie monarch standing below.
Z A demoniac yell burst fnom the
,onspirators at the sight, and two of
he rufiians sprang down and
brew themselves upon him.
James was unarmed, but wrench
ng a dagger from one Of his assail-
lnts, he dealt him q blow that laid
lim dead at his feet, and then turning
o the other assassin, he defended
himself gallantlv against him, when
irahame descended and stabbed
lin.
Weakened by loss Of blood, una
lie to make any further resistance,
he King sank on the floor of the
'ault, calling on his enemy to have
mercy on him.
"Thou never hadst mercy on
hose of thine own blood, or any
ne else, therefore thou shalt find
10 mercy here" replied Grahame,
'lunging his sword into the body of
is sovereign.
The vault was now filed with
onspirators, and the unhaprv
queen, throwing herself on t.e
enseless form of her husbands, |
ought to shield him from the blows
nth which his brutal enemies graf |
led their hatred BY il aicting. 1t