Bella's Tale.
CATHERINE DOUGLAS.
"'THEY have not discovered him! Heaven be praised!' exclaimed the Queen of Scotland, as, after vainly searching the apartment in which she stood trembling, surrounded by her ladies, Robert Graham and his ruthless band hurried away to examine other parts of the palace."
"'Oh! how my heart throbbed,' cried the youngest of the maidens, 'when the murderer had his foot on the very plank which we had raised to let the king * down to his place of concealment!'"
"'Are they gone?' murmured a low voice which seemed to come from beneath them."
"'Oh! hush, my liege lord! Rest in safety and in silence—they are not distant—they may return—they—'"
"'Hark!' cried Catherine Douglas, with her finger on her lips, and there was a stillness like that of death in the circle. Then sounds wore heard in the distance, the heavy tread of many feet, the clanking of armour, and the terrified ladies caught the words, 'The vault! we have not searched the vault!'"
* James I., King of Scotland.
"The queen stood like a monument of terror, her quivering lips apart, her eyes wildly fixed, every drop of blood banished from her agonised face. 'They come!' she gasped forth."
"Catherine sprang to the door, and closed it in a moment against the approaching murderers."