The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-21

the night comcth. and the task of the
day Is done, hold you In my. cm-
and you say again. as on that day in
the pleasallnce, For life, John Graz
ham. and for death
1T has not been easy living for you.
Jean, since that marriage day. when
the. trumpets were our wedding bells.
and your mothers curse our benedic-
ton, and | take thought oftcntimcs
that 1t has been harder for thee, Sweet
counters OF the field with open enemies
and of the Council with false friends.
but thou hast had the loneliness of
Dudhopc. when was not there to
Faithful have you been to tho cause.
and to me. and make boast that
have. not been unfaithful myself to
either, but the sun has not been al
and there have been some chill blasts.
Yet they have ever driven us closer
into one anothcr's arms. and each COM
ing home. II II has been. like the first
like 1t new marringe-day. Say you
1t is not true, Sweetheart, we be still
bridegroom and bride. and shall be to
when l asked you to be my wife.
Jean, told you that love even for you
would not hinder me from doing the
kings work, but this matter have had
would guess at my heart. have also
the fear that 1t VIII vex you greatly.
Mayhap you have heard. for such news
flies fast. that we lighted upon Henry
Pollock and party Of his people last
week. They were going to some
preaching and were taken unawares.
and we captured them all, not without
blows and blood. Pollock himself
without fear. and was wounded
saw that his cuts were bound up, and
that he had meat and drink. We
brought him on horseback to Edin-
burgh. treating him as well as we
could. for while knew what the end
would be. and that he sought no 9th
er. do not deny that he Is an honest
man and l do not. forget that he loved
you. Yesterday he was tried before
the Council. and I gave strong evil
dcnce against him Upon my word IT
was that he was declared guilty of
rebellion against the kings authority.
and was condemned to death. None
other cold 1 do, Jean. for he that spared
so dangerous and stalwart an enemy
as Pollock. is himself a traitor. but
when the Council were fain to insult
him I rebuked them sharply and told
them to their face that among them
there was no spirit so clean and brave.
This morning he was executed and
since there was fear lest the people
who have greatly loved him should at
tempt TO rescue, | was present with
two troops of horse. 1t needeth not
me to tell you that he died Well bid
ding farewell to earth and welcome
to heaven in words cannot forget,
tho they sounded strange to me.
Sweetheart. l win say something boldly
in thine ear | have had little time to
think of heaven and little desire for
such a place. but l would count my
self fortunate If in the hour of death I
were as sure Of winning there as
side. and l helped him to his death:
some day l may die for my side. and
his friends. will help me to my death.
1t is dark day and a troubled nation.
both been thorough. God is our judge.
wha kens but He may accept us bath?
But cannot deny he was a saint. as
We once said of him, and that l shall
ham. my love and my hearts delight.
This is sore writing to me. but 1
would rather ye had 1t from my hand
than from another's, and l fear me yc
what has been done. This Is the cup
we have TO drink and worse things
may yet be coming. for l have the
.misSivinS that black danger is at hand
for his crown. Before long. II l be
not false prophet. my old general.
the Prince of Orange. will do his part
to wrcst the throne from his own wife's
father. If he does the crown will not
be taken without one man seeing that
other crowns be broken. but 1 fear mo,
lean. | fear greatly. In Scotland the
kings chief servants be mostly liars
and towards, seeking every man after
his own interest. with the heart OF
Judas Iscariot. and in London doubt
If they be much better. These be
dreary news. and wish to heaven
lad better to send thee. This can
ever give unless We answer me that
It is yours before. the love of my
inmost heart tin am able to give
you it in the kiss of my lips. with
your arms again flung about me, as
on that day. Till our meeting and for
evcrmorc. my dearest lady and Only
Sweetheart first and last. I am your
faithful lover and servant
JOHN GRAHAM
So II had come to pass as she had
often feared. that Pollock would die by
Claverhousc's doing, and now she had
not been n woman II her heart were
not divided that evening between her
lovers. although she had no hesitation
either then or in the past about her
preference. Jean knew she was not
made to be the wife of an ascetic,
but never could she forget the look
in Pollock's eyes when lie told her