Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

32 from her side. On the night of Prince Charlie's entry into Edinburgh, Lady Clanranald and her protegee were present at the civic reception and ball, and the young Prince at once was struck by her glorious beauty. " This dance," he said, " is mine." " Your Highness's lightest wishes are my commands," replied Flora. And so they danced and the night wore away, the two ever together. " Soft eyes looked love To eyes which spake again." " I dare swear that the sparkle in your eyes is the sparkle in my lucky star," said the Prince; and, taking a rose from her hair : " Let me keep that rose — for ever." They were alone in an alcove, away from the glad chaos of the ballroom. He took her hand and raised it to his lips. And it was at this moment the curtains behind them parted and Robert Frascr came before them. " How dare you, sir," cried the Prince, " invade our presence?" Fraser, cold and cunning, but with a smile that he forced into a certain graciousness, bowed low, made due apology, and then, strategist ever, drew his sword from its scabbard and raised it high. " In apology," he said, " May I hope that my sword be the first to make a thrust for our cause." " You have spoken -well, and are forgiven," said the Prince, bowing. Charles Stuart offered Flora his arm with his usual courtly grace, and Fraser watched them go with hatred agleam in his sinister eyes. With a sudden burst of fury he broke his sword across his knee, once, twice, and yet again. " Even so, Charles Stuart," he murmured, " yet will I break you." The news of the landing and the rising reached London in due course, but agitated the bosoms of the mighty there not unduly. England's king, George of Hanover, even smiled at the tidings; and when his son, the Duke of Cumberland, requested to be given charge of the opposing troop, he smiled again. " An unnecessary indignity, Cumberland," the king replied. " Sir John Cope is on the spot. He shall — er — cope with the situation." Daily the rebels' cause gained ground and Cope's advisers urged him to ask reinforcements of London. But : " Damme ! No. Charles Stuart, 1 tell you is a mere gallant. He is a nice boy for a ladies' party, but at fighting not to be feared. His cause? Bah! His ladies will soon make him forget that!" And so the days were spent in carc P/chures and Pichuretpver Flora's loyalty and faith never flagged for even a moment. lessly watching, and the nights with wine. And one .night was spent in the fiercest carousal yet, and it proved a grim night for Cope. It was the Eve of Prestonpans, and when the day broke there were very few English left alive. To Flora, in the little palace of Lady Clanranald, there was brought the news of victory, and a stirring of the heart such as she had never yet known came with the realisation that he who was sweeping the country with his glory, to-day's prince, to-morrow's king, was her lover, her sweetheart, her Bonnie Prince Charlie. And soon this came to be known, known and frowned at by the advisers and the staunchest supporters of the Pretender. Charles was a true Stuart, and the call of the white cockade for him sank to a whisper when Flora was near. Once, by her side wh an equerry brought a summons to the 'hief's conference : " Tell my generals," he said, embracing Flora, " that I cannot attend the conference to-day." And the message was taken. "His Highness carina attend. He's detained on most important business." But the chieftains shook their heads and were solemn. " Remember," said one, " lie's only a wee laddie, an' in love." But another brought his fist to the table in a mighty blow that FEBRUARY 1924 might have caused a throne to totter, but for the man's loyalty to the subject of his remarks. " Awa' wi' this talk of love at such a time. His only love should be the cause." The catastrophe of Prestonpans came like a cold wind to the throne in London. Cope was set aside in disgrace, and Cumber-< land at last permitted to test his strength. He went north, and he went north with grim seriousness, not to love, as Charles was loving, but to fight and to destroy. But it was not alone the determination of the Duke that turned the day. We may speculate on what might have been Scotland's history now, if Charles Stuart had not loved and been loved by the bewitching Flora Macdonald. And if this lady had not spurned the advances of Robert Fraser. Fraser was Cumberland's greatest aid to victory. Declaring loyalty to the Prince he was able to obtain possession of all the rebels' plans, and in this he was helped by a tough old Highlander of the name of Donald Macpherson. Macpherson, swearing loudest loyalty of the lot, had so impr-^se ' the Prince that immediatei) he was appointed to the position of Charles's personal bodyguard. From Macpherson all things leaked to Fraser, from Fraser to the Duke of Cumberland. Plot under plot was hatched. The Rebels were driven back and they were driven back into country which they found to be suspiciously foodless. Murmurs of discontent were heard. *' We cannot fecht wi'oot bread. We'll dee in battle if needs be, but we winna starve." Some food was found, offered atoutragcous price beyond the Rebels' means, for with the turn from success came a corresponding shrinkage of funds. Where should they turn for payment? Charles bethought him of his jewels. Macpherson waited whilst a search was made. Alas! The jewel case was empty. " Take this," the young Prince exclaimed drawing from his finger a valuable ring. " Give it to the miller in payment. 'Twill serve tor a few more loaves surely." The thought was good but the miller went unpaid, nevertheless. For Fraser intercepted Donald Macpherson before he had gone many hundred yards. " What do you with the Prince's ring?" he questioned sharply. The man repeated his instructions. " (.live me the ring and go your way." said Fraser, haughtily. " 1 will myself give it to the miller." lie watched Macphcrson's departure, then, with a low triumphant chuckle. slipped the ring on his own finger. " Xow, Charles Stuart, you are un