Motion Picture Magazine (Aug 1914-Jan 1915)

62 MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE bidden pranks — e'en in the shadow of death he unfurls his rainbow wings and lights his starry fires in the blood. "When Kate and -Richmond parted in Edinburgh, each to seek, or lose, a life, they knew that forevermore each would bear the other's image deep within their breasts. Old Dunner was ecstatic and vauntingly proud of his lady's triumph. He heard the tale of her adventures and misadventures with many a shake of the head and whispered praise. Shrewdly he noted that the warrant was not the only thing the Lady Kate had filched from the King's Own, and he greatly believed that she had made him a golden return. "And so I ride to Durham this night, Dunner," concluded Kate, "to offer His Majesty this price and to plead my case. I have little time to tarry, as Master Carthew is to make the journey again." "I'll have the steed at the door, my lady," old Dunner made reply. ' ' Eh, but she 's a bonnie, braw lassie ! ' ' he sighed, as the graceful figure ascended the winding stairway, i i and the heart of her is a heart of gold for you, Sir Harry Richmond. ' ' When Master Carthew emerged from the Lady Kate's suite, Dunner awaited her, his brow furrowed like a freshly plowed field. "Sir Harry Richmond has been arrested for high treason, my lady," the old retainer announced bluntly. "It seems his story of a highwayman was disbelieved by the Chief Justice and an investigation ordered. The innkeeper who dressed Sir Harry's wound followed him and saw him in converse with your ladyship after your disguise had — er — been disarranged. He seems to have spread the news abroad as some naughty prank of Sir Harry's." Dunner stopped and eyed her ladyship anxiously. She was very white, and her lips were rigid, scarlet lines. "Sir Harry was afraid of this," she said finally. "The penalty is death; I save one to lose — another. Dunner, praise God you haven 't got a woman 's heart, for the blood flows red and the wounds gape wide. I must be on my way, and I plead to His Majesty, James of England, for two lives this night. ' ' Once in Durham, Kate engaged lodgings at the inn and changed her male attire for the more fitting habiliments of brocade and lace. It was a lovely face that smiled back at her from the somber-framed mirror; a face that the candle-light caressed with the lingering, passion-soft tenderness of a lover. It was a face that even a king might covet — high-bred, provocative, wonderfully woman. She leaned closer, till the lovely lips of flesh misted the mirrored ones. ' ' You must give me these lives, King James of England," she breathed throatily — -"my father's and Harry— Harry Richmond 's. ' ' The King was with his retinue in the great hall of Durham Castle, when an officer came in with the request that the King see Lady Katherine Clanronald of Edinburgh. Jeffries remonstrated violently. "Why show any leniency, sire, to the daughter of the traitor?" he demanded, wroth. "Is she not of his loins, and comes she on any mission save the granting of her father's life?" "By this time, my Lord Justice, Sir Harry Richmond has delivered up the warrant and Clanronald is done to death." " 'Tis policy to see the Lady Katherine, sire," interposed the mild Bishop, and General Feversham gave added assent. "We will see the Lady Katherine at once," His Majesty told the waiting officer, and Jeffries subsided with a growl. The King's eyes lit with sudden, greedy appreciation of the lovely, timid figure halting on the threshold. He smacked his lips daintily, as might an epicure over some exquisite morsel, and flashed the partially roused Jeffries a leering, significant look. Kate advanced haltingly and kist His Majesty's hand with a blushing grace; then, still