Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-21
THE FATED KING.
A Romance of Scottish History.

1t was the night or the zUGn OF fSD-
ruary, 1888 The King and Queen of
Scotland held their court in the abbey
of Black Friars at Perth.
The apartment was filled 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 TIE 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 fine figure and
handsome features, but there was all ex-
preston about the eyes and mouth thai
Indicated at times that his preposseseing
exterior concealed a bad heart and u
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"
cit was of him I was thinking, Ida, !"
replied Stuart. "My unhappy kins-
man, condemned to wander al outlaw
among the mountain Businesses, through
the injustice and tyrannical severity of
James,"
"Not SO, Robert" said Ida; "the
King was not unjust"
"He refused to bestow upon him the
FIarldom of Strathern, to which he laid
claim" answered he; "and he con-
demned him to prison for a crime that
he might have committed with impunity
in the reign of his father and during
the regency of Albany. I marvel not,
that on being freed from such ignoble
bondage, man of 50 fiery and naughty
q spirit should seek to be revenged on
his oppressor.
"He had no right to the Earldom of
Srathern," said Ida, "and as for his
imprisonment, the crime for which he
suffered well deserved such punish
ment.
al know that many of the mobiles
blame the King because he metes out
the same justice to all classes because
he does not deem that noble blood
should entitle its possessor to commit
every dark and evil deed with impunity.
But surely, you cannot excuse him
for seeking the life of the King, for
sending him defiance, renouncing his
allegiance to him, and threatening to
destroy him with his own hand ?"
"He has many good qualities" an
swered Stuart, evasively.
'Robert Robert !! said Ida, her
voice trembling with the earnestness
with which she spoke, "speak not
thus Let me not hear you say aught
in praise of traitor and q murderer
The King has ever been warm friend
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. "I wished not to
speak harshly of the King; L know that
he has ever treated me with great kind
ness, and that he has honored NE with
the greatest confidence on every occa-
sion but Grahame was one of my dear
est friends; pity his fate, my friend
ship for him leads me to find excuses 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 mprudent-should your words
be repeated to the King"
81 would probably have to share Ora
names disgrace and exile" interrupted
he. "But fear not; viii 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"
The Lady Ida looked up into his face
with smile, but before she could an
swer an attendant came to inform him
that the King desired his presence.
Ida remained standing for few mo.
ments by the windows after he had left
her, musing over his words.
He had never spoken either of the
King or Grahame in the same manner
before, and dark and underlined fears
passed through her mind, but she quick
" dismissed them, deeming herself IN
kind and unjust toward her affianced
husband in harboring them for mo-
Inent.
It was late ere the company dis
persed.
The King remained for some time af-
ter all had retired, conversing cheer
fully with the Queen and her ladies.
Suddenly, however, a shade passed
over his face, and he remained for some
time in deep thought at length, turn
ing to the Queen, he said:
"Do you notremember that, when on
my way here few weeks since, was
met by an old Highland woman, who
told me if I came to Perth 1 would
never leave it alive? She was here this
evening, and sought an interview with
me, but she was informed that she could
not be admitted to my presence at SO
late an hour. I regret that did not
see her. 1 know not why, but within
the last few hours I have felt strange
presentimen of impending evil. There
is an old prophecy that predicts that
in this year King will be killed in
Scotland"
''And what, of whom do you fear, my
lordP" asked the Queen.
"Robert Grahame has sworn to de-
stroy me, as you know" replied James.
"And have cause to believe that
there are many others in league with
him to take my life, and there could not
be more favorable opportunity for him
to make the attempt than the present.