The Washington herald., 1915-06-06
slowly, speaking

Upon your faith depends the fate
of your former masters house. Do
you remember a little lonely hut that
perches like a hermitage upon the
cliffs of Carron? Go you there and
stay there until you again hear from
me.
You will find there an old man
who spent his life in my fathers serS-
ice Tell him l sent you.
Say nothing of what you have
Just told me to any one. The child
who has so long called you father -
the son of Douglas and Sir Malcom's
heir Go now: be secret"
An Appointment with Norval.
Then calling to the attendants she
said: This man is not the assassin
you suspected, but the faithful bearer
of the Jewels to their rightful owner.
See that he is allowed to depart free
and unframed
"Ah, Anna" she said to her maid
who had been present at the inter-
view between her and the old man.
81 know why il was that Norval
caught my favor so suddenly.
81 must now see him privately and
tell him. what | shall soon make pub
lie. the story of his birth. How I long
to clasp his neck and tell him of his
father"
MeSStneeTS nuGrNlnS 10 lHS Cdstio
now brought the news of the landing
of the Danes. and Randolph gave Or
ders that his troops should be ready
to take the route for the royal camp
at daybreak the next morning.
Lady Randolph wrote hasty note
to Norval-or as should now call
him, Douglas, bidding him meet her
in secret at midnight. as she had
matters of great import to reveal to
he nIf he
Mother and Son Meet.
Douglas servant-he who had Ned
when the brave youth saved Randolph
from the assassins-was in the castle
and Lady Randolph bade him take
the letter to his master.
Now Glenalvon had privately suborn-
ed this cowardly fellow to keep watch
over his master and accuse him,
Gienalvon. of all that he did.
The fellow took the letter for Douglai
to Glenalvon. who opened 1t, read 1t and
showed 1t to Lord Randolph. He re-
sealed it and babe the servant keel
silent and carry it on to Douglas. whd
was in the camp before the castle.
In the observation-disclosures he had recetvs
ed the letter-chance threw Douglas IN
the way of Lady Randolph and they werS
able to have a short private interview
Lady Randolph hastily and with great
emotion told her son of the arrest OF hh
foster father with the jewels. and re-
vealed to the astonished youth the truth
concerning his parentase.
Douglas was overJoyed to md such Q
mother as was Lady Randolph to clasp
to her arms such a son.
Servants appearing. Lady Randolph
said to her son that she had sent nots
to him bidding him meet her privately at
midnight. when she would tell him fur
Their details of his birth and of what she
proposed to do in recognizing him as he1
offspring.
Lord Randolph. whose jealousy. as has
been said. had been excited by Glen
alvon, was filled with sorrow and rags
when the chieftain showed him the let
ter.
Matilda never loved me-" he cried
let no man, hereafter. wed a woman
whose heart he has not, though she
bring to him a kingdom for . dowry. Shs
will bring upon him the worst OF sor
rows and the worst of shanes.
And you tell me that this wife 81
mine has even freed. without eIplanas
ton. the man who was thought to b
one of my attempted murderers? ThH
passes ALL
Slain with One Blow.
Then his rage broke out against the
youth whom he had brought to the cas-
tie. and who had. as he thought, con-
spired against his honor.
Glenalvon urged him to keep an out
ward calm and to be hidden In a thicket
near the place which. in her letter Lady
Randolph had appointed for her mid
night meeting with the stranger youth
This advice was taken. That night
when Lady Randolph once more clasped
her long-lost son to her breast Lord
Randolph with drawn sword stepped
from thicket and fell upon the young
Douglas.
Lady Randolph shieked out for ha
husband to hold his hand, crying, Spare
my son.
But ere she could throw herself b.
tween the combatants. for Douglas had
also drawn his sword. the young man
had disarmed the older warrior.
But at this juncture Glenalvon. run.
ming up behind. passed his sword through
the body of Douglas. who, nevertheless.
turned upon him and slew him with one
blow.
All was done quickly that Lady
Randolph. bewildered and distracted with
horror. was helpless to prevent II.
Anna. who had been awaiting her mis-
tress at little distance. ran up to Lord
and. Selling his arm. rapidly
told him that his lady had been married
to Douglas before she had wed himself.
attacked was her son.
Glenalvon. the dark plotter, lay dead
upon the ground: young Douglas lay
swaying upon his sword before his agon-
lied mother. and Lord Randolph. crying
out that he had made a great mistake
was the stain of knighthood and Of
arms" begged his wife's forgiveness.
But she scarcely heard him. for just
at that moment, Douglas. crying out
My mother, o. my motherr' fixed his
eyes upon her. and. falling to the earth.
died at her feet.
Lord Randolph. still accusing himself
and begging forgiveness, knelt before
his wife. She turned upon him an eye
which had in it a strange, wild CLEAN,
and said:
What have / to do with you-or with
anything. This was my son. was
wife and mother once. What am
now?"
She gazed about wildly. and then cry
Ing sut that such a son and such a hus-
band drove her to fate" ran down one
Of the woodland paths.
Seeking Death.
Follow her Anna" said Randolph.
and see that she does no hard to her
self I would follow her myself but. In
her present state my presence would
be abhorrent to her, and but excite her
more"
Presently Anna came running back to
where Randolph stood Borrowing over the
body OF Douglas, crying out in terror: