Evening star., 1898-12-24
William Douglas bowed respectfully, but

William Douglas bowed respectfully, but
unmoved.
MY lord he said. 81 forget nothing
do not judge you. You are in author
ity over our house. You shall do what
you will with these forces without there,
so be you can convince them of your right
Black murder, whether you knew and ap-
proved 1t or no, has made you Earl Of
Douglas, but, sir, if you take part with the
murderers now or screen them from our
just vengeance and the vengeance of God
l tell you that from this day you are
man without children. For in this matter
1 speak not only for myself"
He turned to his brother
James he said. "call in the others"
James went to the tent door and called
aloud.
archibald, Hugh and John. come hither
quickly
A moment after three young men Of noble
build, little more than lads indeed, but
with ths dark Douglas allure stamped
plainly upon their countenances, entered.
bowed to their father, and stood silent with
their hands crossed upon the hilts of their
swords.
William Douglas went on with the same
relentless calm.
MY lord" hs said, very respectfully.
"here stand your five sons, all soldiers and
Douglases, waiting to hear your will, Muir
der has been done upon the chief of our
mouse by two men Of cowardly heart and
mean consideration, Crichton and Living
the King Of France. We have come hither
to punish these slayers of our kin, and we
desire to know what you, our father, think
concerning the matter
James the Gross was still standing.
steadying himself with his hand on the
arm Of the oaken chair in which he had
been sitting. Hs spoke with some diff
ficulty, which might either proceed from
emotion or from the piethoric habit of the
man.
T
the world he said, that they should
lift up their hands against the father
that begat them? Ye know that 1 have
ever warned you against the pride and
arrogance of your cousins of Galloway"
You mean of the late Earl of Douglas
and the boy his brother" said William.
1.-The pride Of eighteen and fourteen is sure
ly vastly dangerous"
executed in Edinburgh by royal authority
for many well-grounded offenses against
the state" cried the earl loudly
will you deign to condescend upon some
OF them?" said his son, as quietly as be-
Your cousins prid, and ostentation of
riches and retinue, being far beyond those
of the king. constituted a danger to the
state. Nay. the turbulence of their fol-
lowers has more than once come before me
in my judicial capacity as justicer of the
realm-what more would you have?'
Were yeu. my lord: of those who con-
mot so. William; it had not been se.mly
In near tkinsman and the heir to their
dignities-that is: save and except Gallo
way, which by Ill chance goes in the fe-
male line, n we find not means to break
that unfortunatA reservation. Your cou-
sins were condemned by my Lords Crichton
and Livingston"
I'VE never heard Of either Of them" said
William. calmly@
I'm their judicial aspect they may be
styled lords, asf is the Scottish custom"
was laird af Balvany and a sitter on the
bed Of justice, It was my right to be so
Then OH, cousins were condemned with
your apprAvaI. Fmy Lord Of Douglas and
Avondale II persisted his son.
James til GrSss was visibly perturbed.
"ApprovA, W7lliam, Is not the word to
use-not word to use in the circum-
stances. They were near kinsmenr'
But upon being consulted, you did not
openly disapprove-is 1t not so? And you
will not aid US to avenge our cousins mur-
der now?'
Hearken, William, 1t was not possible I
could not openly disapprove. 1 also was in
the chancellor's hands and knew not hut
that he might include me also in the same
condemnation. Besides, lads, think of the
matter calmly. There Is no doubt that the
thing happens most conveniently. and the
event falls out well with US. Our own bar
rem acres have many burdens upon them.
What could do? have been a Door man
all my life. and after the removal of OBJ
stacfes / saw my way to become the richest
man in all Scotland. How then could /
openly object?"
William Douglas bowed
So he said, that Is what we desired