Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21
CHAPTER II.
The Crisis.


ing in March when Dundee took another OF
his many fareweIls before he left his wife
u attend the convention at Edinburgh. II
was only a month since he had come down
from London. disheartened for the mo-
n.eut by the trcacEery OF royalists and the
tluidIty of James and he had found re-
lief iI administering municipal affairs as
provost Of Dundee. II 1t had been possible
In ,Iusistcnce with his loyalty to the ia
,pht- cause. and the commission he had
received from James Dundee would have
giady Withdrawn from public life and lived
quietly with his wife. He was an amb-
tiuuS man. and of stirring spirit. but none
knew better the weakness of his party and
no one on his side had been more shame
tuily treated 1t had been his lot to leave
lis bride on their marriage day, and now
il would be harder TO leave her AZ time
when every husband desires To be near his
wife. But the summons to be present at
tn. convention had come, and its business
was To- decide who should be King of Scot
land. for though William had succeeded to
tac throne OF England, James still reigned
in law over the northern kingdom. Dundee
could not be absent at the deposition of his
king and the virtual close of the Stuart
dynasty. AS usual he would be one OF
beaten party, or perhaps might stand alone;
ii WAS not his friends but his enemies who
were calling him to Edinburgh, and the
chances We're tl3t the nllmen would set
Tie their account with him ny assassination.
His Judgment told him that his presence in
Edinburgh would be fruitless, and his
heart held him To his home Yet day after
day he put off his going. 1t was now the
thirteenth OF March, and tomorrow the
convention would meet, and If he We're to
Eo 10" must go quickly. He had been tossed
in mind and troubled in heart. but the in
stiuct III obedience to duty which Graham
had Ubeyed through good report and evil.
without reserve. and without scrupple. till
he had done not only the things he ought
to have done. but many things also which
he ought not to have done finally triumph
ed He had told Jean that morning that
hr must leave. His little escort of troop
were saddliug their horses. and in half
hour they would be the road. the
dredry. hopeless road il was his fate TO be
ever travelling. Jean and he were saying
their last words before this new adventure
for they both knew that every departure
might be the final parting. They were
standing at the door, and nothing could be
grayer than their outlook. For haar had
come up from the sea, as is common on
the east coast. and the cold and dripping
mist blotted out the seascape: it hid the
town of Dundee. which lay below Dudhope,
and envelOped the castle in its cold gar
ments. like shroud. and chilled Graham
and his wife to the very bone.
"Ye will acknowledge. John, that l have
never Endered YOU when the call came.
AS she spoke Jean took his flowing hair
in her hand. and he had never seen her so
gentle before. for indeed she could not be
called soft or tender woman.
Ne told me what would be the way OF
life FOR us, and il has been what We said
and have not complained. But this day
1 Wish 10 God that We could have stayed
FOR when my hour comes. and it is not far
of. We ken | Will miss you sairly. Other
women have their mothers with them in
that strait but for me there is none;
naebody but strangers. If Ony evil befall
,he-. John. 1t will so i'll with me, and |
have in my keeping the hope OF your
house. Can We no bide quietly here with
me and let them that have the power do
as they will in Edinburgh? No man of
your own party has ever thanked You for
anything ye did, and II my mothers peo-
Tie do their will by you, 1 shall surely die
the end of the House OF Dundee. Must We
60 and leave me- And now her arm was
round him, and with the other hand she
caressed his face. while her warm bosom
pressed against his cold, hard cuirass
'QUeensberry. for the liar he always was
said ye would be my Delilah, Jean. but
that l knew was not In you" said Dundee
smiling sadly and stroking the proud head
which he had never seen bowed before.
You are, l believe in my soul, the
hravest woman in Scotland. and I wish
heart Of my Lady Dundee. With hum
dred men and Your spirit in them. Jean
We had driven William of Orange into
the sea. or at the worst, we should Ger
t7iHly save Scotland for the king. Well
aud bravely have We stood by me since
our marriage day, and IL l had ever con-
suited my own safety or sought after pri-
Natc ends. | believe ye would have been
the first TO cry shame upon me Surely We
have been a true soldiers wife. and We are
IN" same this morning and Drawer even
thar on our wedding day.
Do not make little OF yourself Jean be
cause your heart Is sore and ye Gamma keep
back the tears. 1t is not given to a man to
understand what a woman feels in your
place hut am trying to imagine. and my
love = suffering with you. sweetheart !
y" pity YOU and could weep with you but
t-ag~ are Strangr To my eyes-Ciod made me
soft without and hard withn-and | have
better medicine TO help YOU than pity
SUl, Gr was caressing her. but she felt his
body strengthening within the armOr.
When V proPhesy that the fanatics of
tie U-St Will bs at me in Edinburgh sus-
poet W are right but | pray you not to
trouble yourself Overmuch- They have shot
a. me before " th leadeu bullets and with
silver trying me first a man and next
rs d"vil. but no bullet touched me- and
now u they fall back upon the steel there
ARE two or three trusty lads with me who
r,r USE the sword fairly well. and though
your husband be not large man. Jean.
r"rr has had the better of him when IL
'.iur Co sword play. So cheer up. lass for
may tall some day. but It will not he at
liz hands OF skulking Covenanter in a
sJre-' brawl.
l.st il this should come to pass. Jean
ard -.' future Il known only to God-then
n'~"''rh you mat ye be worthy OF your
srit and show tA"m that ye are my Lady
buud-r Il / fall then ye must live. and
TAI" good care That the unborn child shall,
live. tn1. and II he he boy-as l am sure
L. viii be-tneu We have your lifework.
Tain MIN up iu the good faith and in 10y
aity fJ TIE king. tell him how Montrose
fought Tor the good cause and died for IT,
and how his own father followed in the
steI- of the marquis Train him for the
best life man can live and make him a
soldier. and lay upon him from ais youth
thar ye Will not die till he has aveng I'd
EJs fathers murder That Will be worthy
Of your blood and your rank. aye. and the
love which has been between us. Jean
to.Hraue and John Graham"
So" held him In her arms till the very
br-a~tplat- was warm. and she kissed him
twice upon the lips. Then she raised her
self to Ter full height-and she was as tall
ss Granam-and looking proudly at him. she
said
I'VE have put strength into me- as If the
iron which covers your breast had passed
INTO my blood We go today with my full
viii 60 serve the king, and God protect and
prosper you. my husband aud my Lord
Dundee"
For space the heat of Jeans high
courage Cheered her husbands heart but
the day wore on. and hour by hour M
rode through the col dgray mist which
covered Fife the temperature OF his heart
tel