The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-22


| can be two persons-has gone 10 ac-
quaint my mother of my arrival"
The girls alarm seemed 10 increase as
! the Kings diminished. Trouble, dismay
and fear marred her perfect face, and
as the King scrutinized her more Nun
utely, he saw that the firm mouth and
The rcsolute chin OF her sister had no
place in the more softened and womanly
features of the lady before him.
Your mother? Who is she?"
First, Margaret Tudor, daughter of
the King of England; second. Margaret
! Stuart wife of the King CT Scotland;
third, Margaret Douglas. i'll mate of The
Earl OF Angus; fourth and let us hope
finally, Margaret Stuart again, spouse OF
Lord Methven and owner of this castle.
The girl swayed as if she would TALL,
all color struck suddenly from her fac"
She leaned, nearly fainting, against the
stone wall, passing her hand once or
twice across her terror-filled eyes.
Great Cod" she moaned, do not tell
me that you are James King of Scotland,
here and alone, in this den of Doug
lasses."
Douglas" cried the kind, reused at
the hated name. How cal I;.ere be
Douglasses in the Castle of Doune; my
mothers house, constabled by my friend.
young Stuart"
Your mothers house," said the girl
with an uncanny laugh. when has the
Lady Margaret set foot in Doune?
Not since she was divorced from nv
uncle, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus,
and the constable, Aye, the constable Il
in Stirling. Doune Castle stands gloomy
and alone, but in Stirling with the young
king. there are Mosques, and hunting
and gayety. Young Stuart draws the
revenues of his charge, but pays slight
attention to tho fulfillment of his duty
You are, then, Isabel Douglas? And
now. to echo your own question, how
came you here? If this is q den OF
Douglasses, as you say, how comes y
mothers castle TO be oftcered by the
enemies of her SOM"
THAT you ask such a question SHOWS
little foresight or knowledge OF men
When your first stepfather and my
uncle. Archibald Doug alss,6h 6& 6l@t
uncle, Archibald Douglas, had control o.
this castle through you mothers name ne
filed il with his own adherents.
Naturally, nepotism was well-known
trait of my domineering stepfather
which did not add TO his popularity IN
Scotland Who can get office or justice
against a Douglas? was their cry. Bc'
did not young stuart, when he was MAD
constable, put IN his own men
..The constable cares nothing for this
strongboldso long as it furnishes money
which he may spend gayly in Stirling.
II see. So you and your sister found
reruge among your underlings? And
Kings mothers own fortress, almost I'M
der the shadow of Stirling? And admir-
able device. Why, then, do you Jeopar-
die your safety by letting me into the
secret?'
The girl sighed deeply with downcast
eyes; tehn she flashed glance at MN
which had something in it OF the ola
Douglass hauteur.
II fear" she said, "that it is not our
safety which is jeopardized.
You mean that l am in danger?
The same stronghold which gives i'm
munity to family of the Red Douglas
can hardly be expected to confer security
upon James ", their prosecutor"
mo. Certainly, that would be too
much to expect Are you, then, in this
plot against me, my lady?'
Il have not heard of any plot. If there
is one, l know nothing of it. 1 merely
acquaint you with some hint of my fears
'"rhen 1 charge you as loyal subject
of the lawful King to guide me from
this stronghold into which / have been
cozened by treachery and falsehood.
Catherine. who had entered silently and
unnoticed through the smaller door, now
stepped forward, drew her sister into
the room took out the huge key, closed
the door and locked it. then turned fierce
lv to the King. Her beautiful white
right arm was bare to the elbow, the
loose sleeve rolled up, and in her hand
she held dagger With her back against
the newly locked door she said:
..I'll be Your Majesty's guide from this
castle. and your perjured soul shall hnd
exit through postern gate made by my
dagger!'
"Oh. Catherine, Catherine" sobbed
Isabel, weeping in fear and horror of the
situation you cannot contemplate SO
awful deed, a murder so foul, for how
ever unworthy he may be, he is still the
King"
What is there foul in Kidding the
world of a reptile such as he? How many
J innocent lives has he taken to encompass
his revenge? How many now OF our
name are exiled and starving because OF
his action? l shall strike the blow with
greater surety, for in killing him l eX-
tinguish his treacherous race"
mo good can come from assassination,
! Catherine"
what greater evil can spring from
his death than from his life?"
His killing will not bring back those
whom he has slain; it will not cause our
| banished kinsmen to return. It will be
murder for revenge"
And not the first in Scotland" said
! Catherine grimly.
! The King had once more seated him
self, and now, resting his chin on his
open palm, listened to the discussion with
! the interest bearing of one who had little
concern with its result. half amused
smile wreathed his lips, and once or
twice he made a motion as if he would
intervene, but on second thought kept
silent.
do not attempt this fell deed, dear
| Iaf,