The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-11


you hear, William of Douglasl" said
the marshal, turning Upon the young
man, who stood still and motionless,
never taking his eyes off the slender
figure in white
The marshal continued his pitiless
questioning.
'At castle Thrieve you persuaded him
to follow you to Crichton and afterward
to Edinburgh, knowing we'll that you
| brought him to his death"
1T is true!" said the girl with
voice like one speaking out of the grave
itself
You hear, William of Douglass" said
! the marshal
And at castle Crichton you played
the play to the end. With false. cozen-
ing 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 cap
tive to death by the drawing Of your
eyes?'
the girl replied, her whole figure fixed
and turned to stone by the intensity of
her tormentor's gaze:
Il did these thingsI I am accursed!"
The ambassador turned with a fleet
ing triumph.
You hear. William of Douglas" he
said; ''you hear what your true love
saysi''
Then it was that, with the calm air
and steady voice of a great gentleman,
William Douglas answered, II hear, but
l do not believe
A spasm of joy passed over the coun-
tenance of the Lady Sybilla. She half
sprang toward her lover, as if to clasp
him in her arms.
But in the midst, between intent and
act, she restrained herself.
NOT - she said
And again, like a lamentation, Il am
not worthyI'
Then, while ali watched eagerly, the
marshal rose from his seat to his full
height.
Girl, look at mel" ne cried in a loud
and terrible voice. But Sybilla 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 if you will" she said; listen, Will
liam of Douglas. Never before have
found in all the world one man true to
the core. 1 did not believe that such
an one lived. Hear this and then turn
from me in lOathing.
For the sake of this mans life, for
felt ten times over (she pointed as she
spoke at the marshaD, Ito whom. by
the powers of hell, my soul is bound, [
came at the bidding of the king of
France and of this man, my master, to
compass the destruction of the earl of
Douglas. The kings son desired his
duchy, and promised to this man par
don for his evil deeds. I came to salts
fly them both. On my guilty head be it.
1t is true that I deceived and led you
on. 1t is true that at Castle Thrieve
deceived you, knowing well that which
was before you. I knew to what you
would follow me, and for the sake of
the evil wrought by your fathers I was
lad. But afterwards at Crichton, when
in the woods by the watersde, I told
you that I loved you 1 did not lie. 1 did
love you then. And, by Gods grace,
do love you now-yea, before all men I
declare it. Once for a season of foget-
ting, all too brief, [ was yours to love,
now 1 am yours to hate and to despise.
I tried to save you, but though you
had my warning, you would not go
back nor forget me. Now it is too later
AS she spoke, over the face of VIII
liam 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,
'be not grieved for the thing that is
past. That you love me truly is enough.
I ask for no more, least of all for pity.
have not lived long. 1 have not had
time allotted me wherein to do great
things, but at least for your sake 1 can
die as we'll as anyi You have given me
Of your love, and of the flower thereof.
am glad. That you loved me was my
crown of life. Now it remains but to
pay a little price for a joy exceeding
great
But the chancellor had had enough of
this. He rose and, stretching forth his
William Of Douglas, you and your broth
er are condemned to instant death as
enemies of the king and his ministers.
Soldiers, do your duty Lead them IN
stantly forth to the block!'
And with these words he left the da1s,
followed by Sir Alexander Livingston.
The girl stood in the place whence she had
spoken her last words. Then, as the men
alarms went ishamefacedly to take the
earl by the arm, she suddenly threw her
self across the dais. leaped lightly over
the barrier and fell into his arms.
William, once 1 would have betrayed
you she said, but now l love you. l
will die with you-or by the great God, 1
will live to avenge you
las, touching her brow gently with his
lips. and putting her into the arms Of an
sent to remove her. Fear not for me.
Death is swift and easy. L expected moth
ing else. That you love NE is enough!
Dear love. fare thee welli
But the girl heard him not. She had
tainted in the arms that hid her. Yet the
marshal de Retz had still more for her
to surfer. He stood beside her and
dashed water upon her till she awoke;
that she might see that which remained
to be seen.
1t was scene dreary beyond all power
of words to tell it, when INTO the court
yard of the castle of Edinburgh they
brought the two noble young men forth
10 ole. The sun had long risen, but the
first flush of broad morning sunshine still
fingered upon the low platform on which
stood the block and beside it the heads
man sullenly waiting to do his appointed
work.
The young lords of Douglas came out
looking brave and handsome as bride
grooms on a day of betro thing. William
once more had his hand on David's shout
der his other rested careleSSly on his
thigh as his custom was. The brothers
who looked on they seemed to be convers-
ing CT light matters of love and ladies'
favors.
High above upon a balcony, hung like
an iron cage upon the castle wall, ap-
peared the chancellor and the tutor. The
crying out: DO nothing to my dear
cousinsl command you'll am the kingi
But the tutor roughly babe him be still. |
telling him that he would never reign II |
these young men lived. and presently an
other came there and stood beside him. |
The Marshal de Retz it was, who, with |
a fiendish smile upon his sleek parchment |
face conducted the Lady Sybila to see /
the end. But it was a good end to see, !
and nobler by far than most lives that |
are lived.
The brothers embraced as they came to
the block. kneeled down and said a short !
prayer, like Christians of a good house. |
So great was their enemies haste that |
they were not even allowed q, priest to |
shrive them but they did what they |