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

your aorso somewhere before coming to
the river and meet me there on foot
wall conduct you TO the castle VIII
you Gomez"
"Of a surety" cried the King in a tone
that left no doubt of his intentions. Il
shall overtake you long before you are
at the bridge" AS he said this the
girl fled away In the darkness, and then
ne raised his bugle to his lips and blew
blast that speedily brought answered
calls.
James's unexplained absences were so
frequent that his announcement of an in
ttntion pot to return home that night
caused no surprise among his company
so, bidding him good night, they canter-
ed off toward Stirling while ne, unac-
companied, set his face to the northwest
and his spurs to the horses TANKS, but
his steed was already tired out and
could not now keep pace with his impa-
thence. To his disappointment he did not
overtake the girl, but found her waiting
for him at the new bridge. and together
they walked the short half mile to the
castle. The young man was inclined to
be conversational, but the girl made brief
replies and finally besought his silence.
The night had proved exceedingly
dark, and they were almost at the castle
before its huge bulk doomed blackly be-
fore them. There was something so
sinister in its dim, grim contour that for
the first time since he set out On this
night adventure a suspicion that he was
setting unwsely crossed the Kings
mind.
Still he meditated, it was his mothers
)wn castle, the constable of which was
a warm friend of his-almost, as one
might say, a relative, for Stuart was the
younger brother of his mothers husband,
SO what could be amss with this visit?
You are not taking me to the main
entrance" ne whispered.
No, to the postern door,
But the postern door is situated in
the wall high above my reach; it Is in
tended for the exit of possible mes
senger during a siege and not for the
entrance of a guest"
Il am acting in accordance with my
instructions" replied the girl. A rope
ladder descends from the postern door.
"A rope ladder! That sounds promis-
ing; will you ascend it?"
Yes, sire; but meanwhile / implore
Your Majesty to be silent"
The King said no more until the rope
ladder was in his hand.
Il hope it is strong" he murmured.
Then he mounted lightly up in the
darkness, until he stood on the sill of
the narrow doorway, when he reached
forward his hand to assist his slower
comrade in mounting, but she sprung
past him without availing herself of
his aid. In a low voice she begged par
Ion for preceding him. They walked up
and up a winding staircase, on whose
steps there was barely room for two to
pass each other. She pushed open
ioor and allowed some light to stream
through the turret stair, which dis
appeared in the darkness still further
aloft.
The King found himself in large
square apartment, either on the first or
second story. 1t appeared in some sort
10 be a lady's boudor, for the benches
were cushioned and comfortable, and
there were evidences about on small
tables of tapestry work and other needle
employment recently abandoned.
''Will Your Majesty kindly be seated
sad the girl. 81 must draw up the lad
der. close the postern door, and then In
torn my lady that you. are here
She went out by the way they had
entered and shut the door with & force
that seemed to the King unnecessary
but he caught his breath an instant later
as his quick ear seemed to tell him
bolt had fallen. He rose at once, tried
to open the door and discovered 1t was
indeed barred on the outside. One other
exit remained to be tested; large door,
evidently communicating with another
DOM or passage; that also he found
locked, and he returned to the middle
of the room and stood there for rev
minutes with knitted brow.
Trapped, Jamie, my lad! Trapped
| he muttered to himself. Now what OBJ
| ject can my mother have in this? Does
| she expect by such childish means to
| resume her authority over me? Does
she hope that her third husband shall
: rule Scotland in my name as did her
second, with me a prisoner? BY Saint
| Andrew, no!'
! The King seized a bench. raised it
over his head and crashed it in bits
against the larger door with a noise that
reverberated through the castle.
Open! he cried. open instantly"
Then he paused. awaiting the result of
his fury. Presently he thought he heard
light footsteps coming along the pas
sage, and an instant later the huge key
/ turned slowly in the lock. The door
1 opened, and to his amazement he saw
standing before him with wide freight
ened eyes, his guide, but dressed now as
| a In.'.'
Madam said the King sterly, Il ask
you the meaning of this pleasantly.
"Pleasantry!" echoed the girl, staring
at him with her hand upon the huge
iron key, alert to run if this handsome
maniac. strewn around by the wreckage
| of the bench he had broken, attempted
TO lay hands on her.
Pleasantly" she repeated; that is a
question l may well ask you. Who are
YOU, sir, and what are you doing here;
Who I am, and what l am doing here,
YOU very we'll know, because you brought
me here change of garb does not
change a we'll remembered face and
the King bowed TO his visitor with a
return of his customary courtliness. now
that his suspicious were allayed. for he
knew how to deal with pretty women.
Madam, there is no queen in Scotland,
hut YOU are queen by right of nature,
and though you doff your gown. you can
| ,,O,,r Golden crown