Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-04

| men. like you and David there. But what
1 comes here? 'f .
! There was a stir among the servitors ut
! the upper end Of the room. Sholto, who
stood behind his masters chair. heard the
music OF the pipes approach nearer. 1t
grew louder, more insistent. hnahy almost
oppressive. The doors at either end were
: Allied with armed men, They fled silently
J into the hail in dark armor. and carrying
| shining Lochaber axes.
Then through the open doorway came .
, voice piercing and reedy.
THE play is played. William OF Douglas.
and the lion Is now safe In the power Of
the dogs. How like you our kennel, mighty
lion?"
| It was the voice Of the Chancellor Crich-
| ton. ....
The young king came running from his
place and threw his arms about the ears
neck.
II am the king" he cried. mot one Of
you shall touch or hurt my cousin Douglas"
stand back. James," said the tutor Liv-
ingston. THE Douglas is traitor, and
you shall never reign while he rules. He
and his brother shall be tried for treason.
They have claimed the kings throne and
usurped his authority"
threatening array OF armed men no friendly
eye met his, and none Of all he had bene-
fitted drew blade for the Douglas. He stood
calculating the chances. To die like a man
was easy, but to die to some purpose was
more dimcult. He saw the king with his
arm about the neck OF William Douglas,
who remained quietly in his place, with Q
pale but assured countenance.
4, 1t was Sholto's only chance. with his left
l a. 4. t.t..-
his doublet and set the point OF his sword
| to his back between the shoulder blades.
Now he cried, "let man lay hand on
my Lord Douglas and l will slay the
king"
At this there was great CONSERVATION and
but for fear Of Sholtos keeping his word half
q score would have rushed forward to the as
sistance Of the boy. The scream Of q woman
from some concealed portal showed that the
queen mother was waiting to witness the
downfall OF the mighty house which. In her
/ opinion. threatened her boys throne.
! Sholto's arm was already drawn back for
| the thrust, when the voice Of the earl Of
Douglas was heard He had risen to bis
! feet and now stood, easy and careless as
ever with his thumb in the blue, sllken
sash which girt his waist
"Sholto," he said, calmly. "you forget
your place. Let the king go Instantly, and
ask his majesty's pardon. Set your sword
again In ITS sheath. l am your lord.
dubbed you knight Do as command YOU"
| Shoto most unwillingly did as he was
| bidden, and the king placed himself closer
to William Of Douglas.
"And now." said the earl, facing the ar
ray OF armed men who thronged the banquet
! hail. "what would We with the Douglas? Do
70 mean my death, as by the bulls head
here on the table ye would have me be-
| lieve?"
For black treason do We apprehend you.
earl Of Douglas" creaked the voice of tho
chancellor, still speaking from behind tho
array Of men at arms. "and because you
have set yourself above the king. But We
are no butchers and trial shall ye have by
your peers"
And who In this place are the pee1 Of
the earl Of Douglass" said the young man
haughtily.
II will not handy words with you my Lord
Douglas. You are overmastered. Yield
yourself therefore, as indeed you must with
out remead. Deliver your weapons and
submit it's our will"
my brave chancellor" said the Earl
| William, still in a voice OF pleasant irony.
you have we'll chosen your time to shame
yourself. We are your invited guests, and
| are here unarmed, sitting at meat with you
| In your house. We have come hither un-
attended, trusting to the honor OF these
| noble knights and gentlemen. Therefore
| my brother and have no swords to deliver.
| But IL being honorable men. you stand as
| Is natural, upon nice punctilio, l can
| satisfy you"
He turned again to sholto MacKim.
"Give up your sword" he said. IT'S
| better should render 1t than you"
With great unwillingness the captain OF
| he guard Of Thrieve did as he was bidden.
| The earl reversed it in his hand and held
It by the point.
"And now, my lord chancellor. deliver
you Douglas sword, depending upon the
word of an honorable man and the invita-
tion OF the king Of Scotland"
But even so the chancellor would not
advance from behind the cover OF his SOL
diers, and the earl looked around for some
one to whom to surrender.
"Will you then appoint one Of your
knights to whom l may deliver this weapon.
Is there none who will dare to come near
even the hilt Of a Douglas sword? Here,
then, Sholto, break it over your knee and
cast 1t upon the board as a witness against
treachery."
Sholto did he was told, breaking his
sword ana casting the pieces upon the table
in the place where the king had sat.
"And now, my lords, l am ready" said
the earl. and his brother David stood UP
beside him, looking. as they faced the un-
broken ring OF their foes, the two noblest
and gallantest youths In Scotland. a.
At this the king caught Lord William by
the hand. and lifting up his voice wspt
aloud. with the sudden breaking lamenta-
ton OF boy. -,,'- . +
my cousin, my cousin Douglas" he
cried, "they shall not harm you, swear
1t on my faith as a king" .N--
At last an officer Of the chancellors
guard mustered courage to approach the
earl Of Douglas and, saiuting. he motioned
him to follow. This, with his head erect,
and his usual easy grace. he did, David
walking abreast OF his brother. and Sholto.
with all his heart filled with the deadly
chill of hopelessness, followed them through
the sullen ranks OF traitors.
And even as he went Earl Douglas looked
about him every way that he might see
her for whose sake he had adventured
within the portals OF death.
Ito be Continued.)