The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-11

over their faces and stifrened their figures into
ne %sterper inspect OF warriors who stand on the
Some three poccs before the. steps OF the
dais, on which sat the se!f-constituted Judges,
TIPPED with iron, and two soldiers with drawn
swcords, were on guard at either end
The DOuglases stood silent, hauRhtily awnit-
Ing The first words OF accusation. And Tue face
OF young David was TO the full ne, naughty and
contemptnous as that Of Earl WILLIAM himself.
William, Earl 81, Douglas: and YOU: David.
moned hither bv the Kings authority to an
swer, for many crimes, OF treason against his
royal person. 0t rebellion and the ar1ninG Of
speeches and studied contempt OF those who
represent his sovereign Majesty, In this realm
above all. OF swearing allegiance To another
monarch. oven to the King Of France. What
The Earlof Douglas SWEPT his eyes across the
dais from side 10 side with n. slow contempt
which made the ChaIcellor writhe in his chair.
hut rather like n King who grants n favor than
like one accused before Judges In whose hands
is.the mower, Of life and, death.
Il see,' said he. Two knights before me on n
purse bearer. fhOyc yet to learn who consti;;
less Of amght that concerns William Douglas.
Duke OF Touraine. Earl Of Douglas. hereditary
straight, forth looking glance rnlpably en-
0"!!EE2 nTi bon 1S Sse ,tr raid ,b on c iSG aSis, again.
T i6sdtS%'oe Your Sn"' o,S G0S S hos e1S now Wait u not HaSi in
humble and answer to the things whereof you
are accused: Do you desire that witnesses
"Of what need are witnesses. ! owe no court
or lprisdietion, / have heard no accusations!'
wh:reupon Master Robert, Berry. a procurator
OF the city, advanced and read a long pnrch..
legality twenty accusations against the Earl.
of treason. rebellion and manifest OPPRESSION.
When he had finished the, Chancellor said:
you. to these thingst'.
Does it matter at all what | answer" asked
II dc, not handy words with you" said the
Chancellor. I order you to make your plead
ing S or S' Ssf, within saIS I y2HE dHI bSrs,os rrove,r.
words are gil that you dare handy with me.
Even il had honored You by laying aside my
you, YOU would refuse to afford me trial by
battle, which is the right of every peer ac-
+" Ills a barbarcus CUSTOM said the Chan
cellor; we will try your case upon It's merit!'
TIL Earl laughed q little .mocking hugh.
haste you and get the sham done with. |
Elead nnthing,, do not even tell you that you
that it should void the garbage It hath de-
vouredt But | do ask you. Marshal de Retz.
as a brave soldier and the representative of an
ho9o SShi,I King n what you have lone with the
The Marshal de Retz smiled-a smile SO chill,
seeing it longed 20 Stay him on the spot.
May l ask my lord Earl of Douglas and Duke
Of .Touraine in return what. is that to him,?" he
said with sneering emphasis upon the titles.
1T matters to me" replied William Douglas
boldly more NOR than life M and Az almost no as much as
tell me that she loved me. And l in turn am
bound to her in life and death
1anrhfnT hnt thn Marshal continual fn amiln
his terrible smile Of d~eterminate evil.
Listen" he said at last. hear this. my
kingdom and. indeed. long before, we left the
realm of France. the Lady Sybilla intended
t hSsh'nF Fo s5se d ihan yGH o yo GeG ndt yet 4 mnde deStT%f;
She i was that cozened you with fair words.
She it was that advised you 10 come htther
sake you obeyed. She was the wiling bait Of
the trap your toes set for you. What think
William Of Douglas did not answer in words,
but as the Marshal ceased speaking he drew
himself together like a 1.-the animal that sways
hand dropped softly from his brothers Shout
der upon the hilt OF his dagger.
the, barrier and upon the dais. Almost his
blade was at the Marshal's throat; and but for
the tn s S.3ssed iiG Gart di ms & two guards nnd Wh9 stood
and am ettf linen BY biaf the 9' d Rs ne'S e. " &i hna ai Gdu tasre
AS it was the youth was brought to a stand with
points and stood there CRYING out in fury:
Liar and toad! Come out from behind that l
may STAY thee with my hand
A score OF men-at-arms approached from
behind and forced him back 10 his place.
Bring in the Lady. Sybill4," said the Mar
shal, still smiling, while the Judges sat silent
and afraid at the anger OF one man.
And even while the Earl stood pan III af-
ter his outburst of furious anger. they opened
the door at the back of the dais and through
it there entered the Lady Sybilla. Instantly
the eyes of William Douglas fixed themselves
upon her. but she did not raise hers nor look
AT him She stood nj fhn fnrthaF Gi1n nf fhA
edge of the dais. her hands Joined in front Of
her; and, her golden hair streamed down her
back and fell in waves over her white dress.
An angel Of light coming through the open
door OF heaven could not have appeared more
The Marshal de Retz turned toward his
niece and with his ewes tlXei upon hers and
the same pitiless chill in them, he said in
The girl raised her eyes slowly. and. as it
had been. reluctantly, and in. them, instead OF
the mock calm OF an angel. there appeared the
terror and dlsmay of n lost soul that listens TO
its doom.
''Sybiiia." Missed rnther than spoke De Retz.
Carlinwark you met the Earl of Douglas, YOU
deceived him and sought his 9oom:'.,
young man; even did believe that which You
lnaS'compel her u say. Unfaith in another
Is not uniaith in me. [ am bound to her in
love and h9nor-aYe even unto death. il that
Il have indeed deceived him" replied the
girl. slowly. the words seeming to he forced
You hear. William of Douglas" said the
Marshal, turning upon the young man. VIII"
Sill and motion'ess: never taking his
eyes of the slender figure in white.
=. The Marshal continued his ~pitiless Gues-
AT Castle Thrieve you persuaded him TO
you to Crichton and nfterward to Edin-
burgh. knowing well thar You brought him TO
death"
1T is true" said the girl. with n voice like
one speaking out 81 the grave itself.
You hear. William Of Douglas" snid the
And at Castle Crichton you played tho play
deceived him. You, led him on with love on
your Inns and hate in your heart. You kissed
him with the Judas kiss. You led his soul cap
to death by the drawing OF o u eyeS?"
In a voice that could hardly be heard. the
gill replied, her whole figure fixed and turned
y stone BY the intensity of her tormentor's
gaze.
4 did these things. | am nccursed."
The Ambassador turned with u tieering tri-
imph., ,o,. ,v,,,om
you hear what you true love SAYS"
Then It was that with the calm air and
voice Of n great gentleman, William Df Douglas
II hear. but ! do not believe"
A splsm Of Joy PASSED over the rountcnance
II the Lady Nybilln. She hall sprang toward
her lover. as IL To CLASH him t. her arms.