Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-21

of the other royal residences.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Nay, nay, my fair Queen, calm thy
self, said James soothingly.
L was wrong to say anything that
could alarm you.
"There cannot be aught to fear-I
babe my trusty kinsman, and gentleman
of the bed-chamber, Robert Stuart, ere
he retired for the night, to go over
the abbey and look to bolt and bar.
"Should danger approach, the senti-
Hels will give timely warning, and we
will dispatch messengers to the city to
summon our guard.
$50 fear not, we can bid defiance to
Robert Grahame and his troop of assas-
SINS"
AS he spoke, strong light, apparently
from the courtyard, flashed across the
windows of the room.
The King sprang to the easement.
The courtyard was filed with men, and
by the light of the torches they carried
he could see that they were armed, and
among them he beheld his deadly foe.
" 1t is Grahame, he has come to per
form his oath, " said James calmly, turn
ing from the window.
"Oh fly then, fly while there is yet
timer exclaimed the Queen, almost
wild with terror.
"And whittier shall I fly ?" said the
King. "It would be madness to attempt
it, they must even now be in the abbey.
Had any place of concealment-but l
know of none and I must even defend
myself until aid arrives, or until my
strength fails me.
"Not so, my lord" exclaimed the
Lady Catharine Douglas, one of the
ladies of honor of the Queen.
81 have heard there is vault beneath
this apartment that communicates with
the courtyard, and have been shown
the plank in the floor which it is neces-
sary to raise in order to descend into it.
Once there, my lord, you can easily es-
cape"
You ore right, fair lady," said the
King. 81 had forgotten the vault. l
will descend into it it may conceal me
from my enemies, but unhappily can
not escape from it, as the entrance into
the court yard was walled up few days
ago by my order because when played
at ball, the ball frequently rolled down
through the opening"
The plank waS hastily raised, and the
King descended. But before the plank
was again lowered the voices and foot
steps of the assassins were heard in the
corridor, approaching the apartment.
The Lady Catharine Douglas flew to
fasten the door, but the bar had been re-
moved. Without moments hesitation
she thrust her arm through the staples.
But so frail an obstacle could not long
keep out the intruders.
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 ladies were
standing together in corner of the
room. Grahame saw at glance that
his victim was not there, and was about
ordering his followers to go with him to
seek the King in the other apartments
of the abbey, when one of the ruffians
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 Ran
dolph beheld among the conspirators hor
affianced husband, and, with wild
shrek, she pronounced his name.
"What, fair lady," said Grahame,
with fierce smile.
"Knew we not that your betrothed was
in league with us2 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, crimsoning
with anger and shame.
"Know you not that, Notwithstanding
our precautions, some of the attendants
have escaped? They will alarm the
city, and the Royal Guard will be upon
us ere long"
"You are right" said Grahame,
"and 1 should be 10th to leave the alb
hey without accomplishing that for
which [ came.
"Yet hear me, Lady Ida, you will
think less harshly of the deeds of this
W1IOA yOu OCO SA1O OAOnA VI AOOV-
land 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 throne of the tyrant
whose reign will end tonight"
So saying, he left the apartment, fol-
lowed by the rest of the conspirators.
Ida uncovered her face, gazed after
them wildly, and then, uttering low
cry, fell insensible on the floor.
After having sought their victim in
vain through every part of the building,
Robert Stuart recollected the vault,
and suggested that he might be con-
cealed there.
They Immediately returned to the
apartment where the Queen and her la
dies had passed the time of their alb
sence in the most agonizing anxiety and
suspense, and, tearing up the plank,
beheld the unfortunate monarch stand
ing below.
A demoniac yell burst from the con-
spirators at the sight. and two of the
r1ffians snranp down and threw them