Evening star., 1898-12-10

You shall mott He trusted me, and he shall
not die "
Meanwhile Sholto, knowing that there
time to lose had been drawing in
the cord, which presently thickened into O
rope thick enough TO support the weight of
light and active youth such any of the
three young men imprisoned in Davids
tower.
But the sound of the wornars tears had
thrown the earl into an excitement so great
that he hammered on the great bolt-stud-
ded door with his bare clenched hands and
cried aloud to the chancellor and Living
ston, commanding them to open to him.
His calmness seemed wholly broken up.
Meanwhile, ShOltO, his whole soul bent
| upon the cord which gave them a chance
of saving the life of their master. had
drawn thirty yards of stout rope into the
room. He fixed it by a double knot first
TO stout ring, which was let into the wall
and afterward to the massive handle Of
the door itself.
Now my lord he whispered as he fin
ished, ''be pleased TO go first. Our lads are
! beneath and in the shaking of a COWS tail
we shall be in the midst of them
! The earl held up his hand with the quick,
| imperative motion he used to command ST.
| lence. The sound of the woman's voice
/ came again from above, now quick and
| high, like one that makes agonzed peti-
/ ton and now in tones lower, that seemed
| broken with sobs and lamentations.
! At first William Douglas did not appear
/ to comprehend the meaning of Sholto's
words, being SO bent on his listening. But
/ " hen the young captain of the guard again
| reminded hum that the time of their
! chances of relief was quickly passing and
I that the soldiers of the chancellor might
! come at any moment to lead them to their
| doom, the earl broke out upon him in sud
| den anger.
! For what crawling thing do you take
/ me, ShOto Mackim?' he cried. II will not
/ leave this place till know what they have
/ done with her. She trusted me, and shall |
! prove a recreant? l would have you know
| that 1 am William, Earl of Douglas and
/ fear not the face of any Crichton that ever
! breathed, Ho, there, without" And he
| shook the door in Intellectual anger
His only answer was the sound of that
! beseeching wOmans voice and the meas
| ured tread of the sentry, whose partisan
| they could see flashing in the lamplight
| through the narrow barred wicket, as he
/ turned in front of their door.
! And il was all in vain that Sholto plead
/ with his master. To every argument Lord
| Douglas replied, Il cannot go-it consorts
| not with mine honor TO leave this castle so
( long as the Lady SybilIa is in their hands. -
| Snolto told him how that they could now
| escape, and in d week would raise the
| whole or the south. returning to the siege
OF the castle and the destruction of the
| traitors. Crichton and Livingston But
even to this the. earl had his answer
| wv hat-flee like a coward and leave this
\ girl, who has trusted ME, defenseless in
| their hands! You have heard her weeping.
l tell you cannot go-I will not go. Let
| David and you escape. My place is here,
| and neither sniveling Cricht0n nor that
+ backstairs lapdog Livingston shall say that
i they took the Earl of Douglas and that he
| fed from them under cloud of night"
! David Douglas had been standing by
! hopefully while Sholto tied the rope to the
| rings. AT his brothers words he sat down
| again. William of Douglas turned about
| upon him.
! Go. David; I bid you. Escape, and IL
aught happen to me. fail not to make the
| traitors pay dearly for itI'
| But David Douglas sat still and answered
| not. Then Sholto desperate of success with
his master, approached David and with
| gentle force would have compelled him to
| the window. But at the first touch Of his
hand the boy thrust him away, striking
, him fercely upon the shoulder.
| Hands orr he cried; II also am a Doug
| las. will abide by my brother to the end
| No, my David" said the earl, turning
| for moment from tho door where he had
| been again listening, you shall not stay!
| You are the hope of our house. My mother
| would fret to death IL aught happened TO
| you. This Is not a matter which concerns
| you. Go. bid you. On me 1t lies, and IL ]
| must pay the reckoning, why. at least
! only drank the wfner'
Il will not" he said. 'T will bide where
my brother bides and his fate shall ba
| mine"
Then ShoIto, well nigh frantic with ap-
| prehenston and disappointment, went TO the
| window and leaned out, gripping the sill.
| They viii not leave he-cast tle," he whis-
pered as loud as he dared; the earl viii