Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-05-03


ing with one accord toward the palace
where Douglas, the earl OF Angus,
would entertain for his royal prisoner,
James Stuart.
The ports stood open while troops
of gay horsemen and horsewomen
cantered through, lords and ladies
from the length and breadth of the
Kingdom of Fife. Their trains fol
lowed them in. bright disorder OF
color and glitter. Each guest destined
for the palace wore a small mask and
many and various were the costumes
| donned by the masqueraders
At the entrance to the park stood |
| the young king, James Stuart. King |
| In name only, for his stern step
| father, Douglas, the earl of Angus,
| virtually held him prisoner, nor could
| he even ride within the limits OF Falk-
land park unescorted.
A little way behind him stood Doug
las, earl of Angus, an unmistakable
figure, though masked and in the dress
of an ancient Thane, his eyes ever on
his royal prisoner.
Among the gay company of mas
|
lean man, wallet on side, and woman
with long dark locks. in the short
striped skirt of the peasant; and
crooked staff in her hand. The king
bowed carelessly.
"on the word of a Douglas" whts-
pered the earl of Angus. "'tis the
Spaewife of Creich to the life, and
Leslie himself Could we but see her
eyes
Spaewife!" exclaimed James. Then
shall she read us our riddles. Let us
now to the company and afterward to
the play"
. from the crowd when voice broke in
/ gently:
May it please his majesty to hear
what the fates have written?"
"Of a surety, good madam" replied
a the king, at once extending his hand;
:, "say on" She bent over the palm
! eagerly, mumbling some indistinct
i. words. James inclined his head to
q listen intently.
Broken bonds by the aid of a
friend"-the voice fell to whisper sc
that he alone heard, and she no long
] err read from the hand. Horses al
midnight outside the West Port. Ever
z now the means of liberty lie in the
a royal chamber. The guard at tht
. royal postern will be silent. Follow
the Spaewife standing at the gate
IL house on the stroke of IL. Lose all
d or gain eyerything!"
q Then she stopped again and peeret
closely into the palm as If seeking
q there what she had said, and her brow
al became clouded.
otis written, ills written" sh
said, as If to reassule herself. "Bu
y, beware of woman! Woman eve
ne worked Ill to the Stuart race The
suddenly dropping the hand sh
turned to find the Douglas and hi
q. young daughter Margaret who stoo
ry behind her. Attracted by the scene
=. other guests fiocking in their wax,
Q came towards the king.
ay "A soothsayer!" cried one, light.
ed "Read me my fate, friend"
IN The spaewife turned instead
Angus.
would the Douglas know his fat
ot and what the future holds for him
s. she demanded, drawing down her dar
y brows, and fixing her eyes on Angu
", face.
NJ may" he answered, shortly. "Dou
J. las heeds not old wives tales"
IF the Douglas will not, then res
me the weird of his daughter" brol
to in the fair Margaret Douglas. stretc
Ing out her hand The soothsay
glanced at 1t, then at the pretty ia,
IN. with its frame of golden hair, al
Ich hesitated. her aspect softening som
Il what.
Speak" cried Margaret. imperior
IL ~, flushing as she read the EXPIRE
not sion. Can it be that the spaewi
nv pities Margaret Douglass"
ITO betray half-brother, to wand
with never a home, to love and
len loved, then to languish in vain with
or prison walls"
"Betray a halfbrother-that
lon samiei Languish In a dungeo
me Where will it be, Jamie? 'Tis not t
an kind. But | shall love and be love
All, well-a-day!" And she skipped {
ou1 dragging the king with her. to see I
dancers on the bowling green, VIII
. the Spaewife disappeared In t
crowd, followed by her kinsm
Leslie.
But no music of iutes and viols. 1
i'm. nimble footing of the dancers-Eg,
:, tians from the south in fantastic &,
the array-seemed to hold the attenti
are OF James Stuart. In the quick thr
ON. bling OF the strings he heard again |
Spaewife's words. and freedom n
irse before him in one great pulse of
of hilaration. Less than an hour to
He erty. few short hours till he mi
pay back In full to Douglas the mis-
OF able farce of thraldom in mimic XII
no ship; when morning dawned he wo
~ be king indeed-make an Nend OF
-, stormy past and begin fairer futu
ING In another moment James was
nan ing towards the door of the pal
/ -