Evening star., 1898-12-03

were better to put it of till after dinner"
Then through the open doorway came a
voice piercing and ready:
| The play Is played indeed. William of
Douglas. and the lion is now safe IN the
power of the dogs. How like YOU our ken
mel. mighty lion?''
1t was the voice of the Chancellor Crich-
| ton.
The young king came running from his
| place and threw his arms about the earrs
| neck.
Il am the king he cried. Not one Of
you shall touch or hurt my cousin Douglas.
| Stand back, James" said the tutor Liy-
ingston. THE Douglas is a traitor. and you
| shall meyer reign while he rules. He and
| his brother shall be tried for treason. They
Rave claimed the kings throne, and usurp-
| ed his authority.
| Shol.o Mackim turned about In all that
| threatening array OF armed men no friend
| ly eye met his, and none of all he had
| benefited draw a blade for the Douglas
| He stood calculating the chances. To die
! like man was easy. but To die to some
| purpose was more difficult. He saw the
| king with his arm about the neck of Viii
! liam Douglas. who remained quietly in his
[ place. with pale but assured countenance.
| 1t Sholtos only chance. With his
| left hal.d he seized the king by the collar
| of his doublet, and set the point of his
| sword to his neck. between the shoulder
| blades
| Now" he cried. '1et a man lay hand on
| my Lord Douglas, and will slay the king!'
At this there was great consterna ton.
| But for fear of Sholtos keeping his word
| half score would have rushed forward TO
| the assistance of the boy. The scream of a
| woman from some concealed portal showed
| that the queen mother was waiting to wit
! ness 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 his
| feet, and now stood, easy and careless as
ever, with his thumb in the blue silken sash
which girt his waist.
.'Sholto," he said, calmly you forget
your place. Let the king go instantly, and
| again in its sheath 1 am your lord. l
| dubbed you knight Do as l command
your
Sholto most unwiningly 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 ban
/ quet hall, what would ye with the Doug
| las? Do ye mean my death, as by the bulls
| head here on the table ye would have me
| Believer"
i For black trea son, do we apprehend you.
| Earl of Douglas" creaked the voice of the
chancellor still speaking from behind the
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"
| tliu WIZ pldCe SIt lile peGso VI
| the Earl OF DougIas?" said the young man
| haughtily.
Il will not handy words with you, my
Lord Douglas. You are overmastered.
| Yield yourself, therefore. indeed you
must. without remead. Deliver your weap-
| ons and submit, It's our will
| My brave chancellor" said the Earl
William, still in a voice of pleasant irony,
| you have well chosen your time to shame
| yourself. We are your invited guests. and
! the guests of the King of Scotland. We are
| here unarmed, sitting at meat with you in
| your house. We have come hither unat-
| tended, trusting to the honor of these noble
| knights and gentlemen. Therefore, my
| brother and l have no swords to deliver.
But if, being honorable men. you stand
| is natural upon nice punctilio can salts
| fly you"
! He turned again to Sholto MacKim.
Give me your sword" he said. "'Ts
| better l should render ii than you
With great unwillingness the captain of
| the guard of Thrfeve did as he was hidden.
The earl reversed 1t In his hand and held IT
| by the point.
"And now. my lord chancellor / deliver
you Douglas sword, depending upon the
word of an honora bic man and the invita-
tlon of the King of Scotland"
But even so the chancellor would not ad-
vance from behind the cover of his soldiers.
| and the earl looked around for some one to
whom to surrender.
win you then appoint one of your
knights to whom 1 may deliver this weap-
on? Is there none who will dare to come
near even the hit of a Douglas sword?
Here, then, Shoito, break it over your knee
| ana cast it upon the board witness
against treachery."
Sh Ito did he was told, breaking his
sword and casting the pieces upon the table
in the place where the king had sat.
And now. my lords. am ready" said
the earl and his brother David stood up be-
side him, looking. as they faced the I'M
broken ring of their foes. the two noblest
and galantest youths in Scotland
At this the king caught Lord William by
the hand. and lifting up his voice. wept
aloud. with the sudden breaking Iamenta-
tion of a boy.
MY cousin, my cousin Douglas" he cried,
they shall not harm you. L swear il on
my faith as king"
At last an officer of the chancellor's guard
mustered courage to approach the Earl of
Douglas, and, salutdng, he motioned him to
follow. This with his head erect and his
usual easy grace, he did, David walking
alb, east of his brother, and Sholto, with ali
his heart filed 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.
CTo be contInued)