The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-02-28


| morney and all his people passed through
the ordeal, with the exception of Bon
thron, who refused to touch the corpse
and demanded that his innocence be
proved by combat.
This was declared to be his right Oliver
Proudfute's widow at once chose Harry
of the Wynd as her champion. A space
| of ground near the church was cleared
at once. The two men, in buff jackets
I and steel caps and armed with Scottish
| axes, attacked each other at the word
| Bonthron Immediately put all his strength
into one fearful blow. The armorer leaped
aside barely in time and swung his ak
like lightning, striking Bonthron on the
side of his cap and telling him.
Instantly he forced the spike of the ak
! at his throat and Bonthron yielded Lying
there, with the smiths foot pressing him
down, he confessed that he had killed
Oliver having mistaken him for the ar
morer.
Pressed to tell who had ordered him to
do it, sudden idea came into the slow
brain of the assassin. He knew that 1t
was the custom to carry away man who
had been worsted in the trial by combat
was one chance for delay and he took
it. "He is too great for mo to name,"
said he and pointed to the Prince.
THE Villains tale is not truel" cried
the smith at once. His Royal Grace the
/ Duke of Rothsay would not give aim to
| such bad practices'
Let the fellow be gaggedw exclaimed
the Duke of Albany. Hurry him to the
gallows forthwith.
His quick wit had seen the assassins
design and he seized the opportunity to
| have him silenced SO that he might not
tell the truth at the end.
The people still believed Ramorney to
| be the guilty man. But they cast dark
looks at the Prince, whose evil reputation
laid him open to even such a foul sus-
! picion as this, unreasonable as 1t was
He was forced to endure the humilia-
tion under Albanys advice, of being re-
stricted to the house OF the High Con-
stable, a prisoner in everything except
| in name.
A few days after tho trial by combat
Sir Patrick Charteris the Provost, rode
| hurriedly into Perth and warned Simon
| Glover that warrants of arrest had been
prepared for him. scores enemies having
charged him with ofenses against the
| state. They are savorites of Albany"
| said Charters, who want to seize your
wealth If you can but lie in hiding a
few weeks till Douglas returns from his
district you will be safe, for he will
| uphold US and Albany dares not defy
him."
Glover Immediately gathered his money
and prepared to set forth into the wild
| highlands, where his erstwhle apprentice
would, he felt sure, give him protection.
The Provost promised to take Catherine
to his own estate and thence send her to
the castle of Falkland, where the Lady
Marjory, the Douglas daughter and the
Princes neglected wife, was dwelling
alone, She would fling bailiff or King
one under her protection" said Char
teris
Simon Glover knew that there was
no time to lose. Before another half
hour, Catherine, cloaked beyond recog-
milton, was riding out of Perth with
Charteris. and Simon was on his way
into the highlands. So hastily did they
flee that he did not even send word to
the smith, promising Catherine that he
would do so at the first opportunity.
Since the Highlanders were in con-
slant feud with the townspeople this
was no easy matter. particularly as the
doughty armorer could not read. There
fore when wild clansman finally
brought him message 1t was not very
Ineligible. and Harry of the wynd
gained the belief that Glover had taken
his daughter to the highlands to the
abiding place of Conachar. whose faith
er had died, leaving him to be chief