Evening star., 1898-12-10
And in turn am bound to her in life and

laughter, Dut Ine maTSnat continued TO
smile his terrible smile of determinate evil
Listen he said at last. hear this. my
lord of Touraine: Ever since we came to
this kingdom, and indeed long before we
left the realm of France. the Lady Sybilla
intended nothing else than your deception
and destruction. Poor dupe. do You not
yet understand? She 1t was that cozened
you with fair words. She 1t was that ad-
vised you to come hither that We might
hold you In our hands. For her sake you
obeyed. She was the willing bait of the
trap your foes set for you. What think
you of the Lady Sybilia now?"
William of Douglas did not answer in
words, but as the marshal ceased speaking
he drew himself together like 1.-THE ami
NAL that sways this way and that before
sprnging. His right hand dropped softly
from his brothers shoulder upon the hilt
of his dagger.
Then with one sudden bound he was over
the barrier and upon the dais Almost his
blade was at the marshals throat and but
for the crossed partizans OF two guards
who stood on either side of De Retz he had
died there and then by the dagger of Will
liam Douglas. As 1t was the youth was
brought to a stand with his breast pressed
vainly against the steel points, and stood
there, crying in fury: Liar and toad.
Come out from behind that l may slay thee
with my hand"
A score of men-at-arms approached from
behind and forced him back to his place.
Bring in the Lady Sybilla,' said the
marshal, still smiling. while the judges sat
silent ana AFRAID at the anger OF one man.
And even while the earl stood painting,
after his outburst of furious anger, they
opened the door at the back of the dais
and through 1t there entered the Lady SS-
billa. Instantly the eyes of William Doug
las fixed themselves upon her, but she did
not raise hers nor look at him. She stood
at the further side at the 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 ap-
peared more innocent and pure.
| The Marshal de Retz turned toward his
| niece, and with his eyes fixed upon hers and
with the same pitiiess chill in them, he
| said, in a low tone: Look at me-
The girl raised her eyes slowly. and as
| 1t had been reluctantly. and in them. in
| stead of the meek calm of angel, there
| appeared the terror and dismay of a lost
| soul that listens to its doom.
! "Sybilla,' hissed rather than spoke De
| Retz, is 1t true that ever since by the
| lakeside of Carlinwark you met the Earl of
Douglas you have deceived him and sought
| his DOOM"
| II care not to hear the answer" said the
| young man, even did believe that which
you may compel her to say. Unfaith in
another is not unfaith IN me. 1 am bound
| to her in love and honor-aye, even unto
| death, If that were her will,''
| Il have, indeed. deceived him. replied
| the girl, slowly. the words seeming to be
| forced from her one by one.
| lou near, Nllfam or Douglass said
! the marshal. turning upon the young man.
| who stood still and motonless. never tax
| ing his eyes off the slender figure In white
| The marshal continued his pitiless ques-
| tioning.
| AT castle Thrieve you persuaded him
| TO follow you to Crichton and afterward to
| Edinburgh. knowing well that you brought
| him to his DEATH
| 1t is truei' said the girl with n voice
| like one speaking out of the grave itself
GU near, William of Douglass said the
| And at castle Crichton you played the
play to the end. With false coZening
| words you deceived him. You led him on
| with love on your lips. and hate in your
heart. You kissed him with the Judas kiss
| You led his soul captive TO death by the
| drawing of your eyes?"
In voice that could hardly he heard the
girl replied. her whole figure fixed and
turned to stone by the intensity of her tor
| mentors gaze:
~, ~ did these things. 1 am accursed.'
| triumph
You hear, William of Douglas" he said;
you near what your true love says
1heh 1t was that with the calm air and
steady voice of great gentleman William
Douglas answered, Il hear but | do not
believe"
A spasm of joy passed over the counte-
nance of the Lady Sybilla She half surang
toward her lover, as Al to clasp him in her
arms.
But in the midst, between intent and act
she restrained herself.
mo; i am not WORTHY she said And
again. and like a lamentation Il am not
worthy
Then. while all watched eagerly. the mar
shai rose from his seat to his fun height
Girl. look at me- he cried in a loud and
terrible voice. But Sybiila did not seem to
hear him.
She was looking at the earl, and her eyes
were great and gray and vague.
Listen my true lord. and then hate me
II no you VIII; she said; listen, William of
the world one man true to the core | did
not believe that such an one lived Hear
this and then turn from me in Ioathing.
For the sake of this mans life. forfeit
ten times over (she pointed as she smoke
at the marshall, ITO whom by the powers
or nell my soul is bound. | came at the
bidding of the king Of France and of this
man, my master to compass the destruc-
ton of the Earl of Douglas The kings
son desired his duchy, and promised to this
| man pardon for his evil deeds. / came to
satisfy them both. On my guilty head he
ii. 1t is true that | deceived and led vou
on. -e is true that at castle Thrieve / de-
celVed you, Knowing well mat which was
pelore you. l knew to what you would fol-
low me, and for the sake of the evil
wrought by your fathers l was glad But
afterward at Crfchton, when in the WOODS
by the Waterside, l told you that l loved
you 1 did not lie. | did love you then
And, by Gods grace. L do love you now
| yea, before all men L declare it. Once for
season of forgetting. all too brief, | was
| to despise, | tried to save you, but though
you had my warning, you would not go
| back nor forget me. Now it is too late!'
AS she spoke over the face of William
douglas there had come a glow-the red
blood flooding up and routing the white
determined pallor of his cheek
My lady, he answered her gently che
| not grieved for the thing that is past That
you love me truly is enough. L ask for no
more, least of all for pity. 1 have not lived
| long. L have not had time allotted me
wherein to do great things, but at least for
| your sake L can die well as any! You
! have given me of your love- and of the flow
| er thereof. l am glad That you lbved me
was my crown of life. Now it remains but
| to pay little price for a joy exceeding
great
| But the chancellor had had enough of this
| He rose and stretching forth his hand
toward the barrier, he said: William of
Douglas, you and your brother are con-
! demned to instant death as enemies of the
| king and his ministers. Soldiers do your
duty. Lead them instantly forth to the
block,''
And with these words he left the dais
| followed by Sir Alexander Livingston. The
| girl stood in the place whence she had
1 lgtA.N NIrAy, hlr. 1nr-.