The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-10-18

THE KING INTERVIEWS. ~

pale WHY, Wednesday. the day Of our ~yeey meet
ings? Did you SUGGEST it?'
1T was the kings suggestion OF course replied
Ballengeicn 1T is merely coincidence, and is, 1
thing. a good omen
Before the bell rang j the conspirators were gath
cred together in the courtyard OF Castle Stirling hud-
died would perhaps be the more asOurate word. for
they We're eleven very frightened men
AS the bell slowly toed II official from tbs
palace the courtyard searched the delegation for
concealed weapons and curtly commanded them TO
follow him. Climbing the stone stairway they were
ushered into a large containing a long oaken
At the head of the table was a biEbbaeed Seat re-
sembling a throne. Che official left them standing
there alone and after he had closed the door they
heard the oninous sound of bolts being thrust into
their places The silence which followed seemed OBJ
pressve almost sufocatng. At last the tension
broken but it would scarcely be correct TO say that it
was relieved. The heavy curtains parted and the king
entered the clad in the imposing robes Of his
high state frOWn on his brow, and he advanced
straight from the doorway to the throne at the head
Of the table without speaking casting glance at
any one Of the eleven. When he had seated himself
he said, grufHy;
There is a chair for each of you Sit down.
1t is doubtful if any Of the company except the cos
bier at first recognized their ruler the alleged Laird
Of Ballengeich but at the sound Of the moUarcha
voice several started and looked anJiously
other Again the king addressed them:
"a week ago tonight I met you in Flemuings room
appointed this DAY Tor the conference that the ro1
tine Of your meetings might not be disturbed. as
thought it that the OF your rebeCus gather
ings should be held In the Case or Stirring Tor am
resolved that this cOncave shall be your anal effort in
treason One Of your number has stated that the
word Of Stuart is not 10 be trusted This reputation
appears to have descended to me, and it is pity
should not take advantage Of it."
When the king ceased speaking he lifted a small
nnaHet and smOte resounding bell which was the
tered bearing between them block covered With black
cloth; this they placed silently in the center Of the
and Withdrew. Again the king snnote the bell
and there entered masked executoner with CLEAN
ing his shoulder He took his place beside the
block, resting the head of his the floor.
'This." said the king "is the entertainment have
provided you Each Of you shall taste OF that
and ne pointed the heading block
The cobbler rose unsteadily to his feet drawing
from his bosom with trembling fingers the parchment
IGN Il 0rr
lips with his tongue then spoke in a low voice:
Sr" he said, eve are here under safe conduct from
safe conduct 20 vhere?" cried James angry; that
is the point stand by the document Read tread
sr # says safe conduct for eleven here pres
ent, under protection Of your royal word"
You DO not keep to the point cobbler" shouted the
king, bringing his fist down the table safe
duct to where I asked. The parchment does not say
safe conduct back into Stirling again Safe conduct
to heaven or elsewhere was what guaranteed"
That is but an advocates bubble your majesty.
low alike. Nevertheless, would respectfully submit
TO majesty that alone of those present doubted
a Stuarts word and like to have my doubts prac-
majesty mat NV comrades would not have been beT
had trusted the Master Of BaIlengeich, ana
alone nav the penaIt of my error and allow my friends
to so scathless from the grim walls Of Stirling
There is reason in what you say, replied the king.
"Are you all agreed to tnat? ne asked of the others
NO, by Cod" cried the leader springing TO his feet
and shifting the table with his fist Justify as the king
had done. I'VE stand together fall together The
gates with Open-'
"Headsman," said the king, do your duty
The headsman whipped of the black cloth and dis
played underneath IL box containing large jug
rounded by drinking horns. Those present, all
now their feet, glanced with amazement from the
masked man to the king The sternness had vanished
from his majesty's face, if dark cloud has passed
from the sun and allowed it to shine again. There
sparIled in kings eye all the jubant mischief OF
the inCorriEble boy and his laughter the cell
ing Somewhat recovering his gravity, he stretched
out his hand pointed a finger at the cObbler-
II frightened YOU Flemning!" he cried. Il fright
ened you; don't deny it, I'll wager you gold crown
against a weavers woolen bonnet frightened the
whole eleven of you"
Indeed" said the cobbler with uneasy laugh.
ST shall be the first to admit it.
Your face was as white a harvest moon in mid
sky. and heard somebody's teeth chatter Now the
drink have had at meetings heretofore was
vile. and more fitted for Christian throat than
is headsman's AK; but If you tasted anything
better than this tell where to get hogshead Of it,
The headsnan having filled their horns, the leader
raised the hagon above his head and said:
ct give YOU the toast Of the kingl"
''NO. no." proclaimed the bOyish monarch. Il want
to drink this myself III give you toast May there
never come time when Scotchman is afraid to risk
his head for what he thinks is right"
And this toast they drank together,
Copyright 1903.