The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-05-02


Falkland was astir; the streets we're |
full OF unfamiliar dazzling figures NOV
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 : 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
queraders there appeared presently. a
lean man, wallet on side. and a woman
with long dark locks, In the short
striped skirt of the peasant; and q
crooked stan In her hand The king
bowed carelessly.
ION the word of a Douglas" whis-
pered the earl Angus. Ills 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"
The king had drawn little apart
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
the king. at once extending his hand
SAY on" She bent over the palm
eagerly, mumbling some indistinct
words. James inclined his head to
| listen intently.
Broken bonds by the aid of q
| friend"-the voice fell to a whisper &C
that he alone heard, and she no long
err read from the hand Horses al
| midnight outside the West Port. Even
now the means of liberty lie in the
royal chamber. The guard at the
royal postern viii be silent. Follow
the Spaewife standing at the gate
house on the stroke of 10. Lose all
or gain everything"
i Then she stopped again and peeret
closely into the palm as II seeking
there what she had said, and her brow
became clouded.
TITS written. tbs written" sh'
said as If to reassuIe herself. Blu
beware of woman, Woman eve
worked i'll to the Stuart race" The
suddenly dropping the hand sh
turned to find the Douglas and hi
young daughter Margaret who stoo'
behind her. Attracted by the scene
other guests fiocking in their wake
came towards the king,
| - NitCd OACs iiShAAs
Read me my fate. friend"
The Spaewife turned instead t
Angus.
Would the Douglas know his fat,
and what the future holds for him
she demanded, drawing down her dar
brows, and fixing her eyes on Angus
face.
Nay" he answered. shortly. "Doul
las heeds not old wives tales"
IF the Douglas will not. then rea
me the weird of his daughter" brok
in the fair Margaret Douglas. stretcl
ing out her hand The soothsaye
glanced at 1t. then at the pretty fac
with its frame of golden hair. an
hesitated. her aspect softening som
what.
Speak" cried Margaret, imperiou
ly, flushing as she read the EXPIRE
sion. Can Ii be that the Spaewii
pities Margaret Douglass"
ITO betray half.brother. to wand,
with never a home. to love and
loved, then to languish In vain with
prison walls"
"Betray a half-brother-that
Jamie, Languish in dungeon
Where will 1t be, Jamie? 'Tis not Il
kind. But ! shall love and be love-
All. well-a-day," And she skipped o
dragging the king with her. to see Il
dancers on the bowling green, viii
the Spaewife disappeared in u
J crowd. followed by her kinsma
Leslie.
But no music of lutes and viols. NJ
nimble footing of the dancers-Egy
. | tians from the south In fantastic ga
} array-seemed TO hold the attentiC
J of James Stuart. In the quick thro
bling Of the strings he heard again u
Spaewifes words. and freedom TO
before him in one great pulse OF g
] hilaration. Less than an hour to Il
, erty. a few short hours till he mig
nav back in fail 10 Douglas the mise
able farce Of thrald1m in mimic kin
ship: when morning dawned he won
be king indeed-make an end of y
stormy past and begin a tairer futuI
In another moment James vas g
ing towards the door Of the palal
that led to the royal apartment
There. the woman had said, he shou
End the means OF liberty. Breathles
L.. $1,000 .h, r,sard at the foot of n