The Red Cloud chief., 1878-02-14

preceived the shore Ut her nauve lsod
recedinG fast from her view. BY an
agreenent between the English and
Flemish courts, all English rebels hed
been excluded from the low Countries.
Perkin. though born in England. was
a Fleming by extraction. and might
therefore, claim admission into tlan-
ders.
But. as he must have dismissed his
English retainers, the brave companions
Of his dangers, and a. be had to appre-
bend a cold reception from a people
who we're determined to maintain an
amicabse 1ooting With tbs EnGlish COURT
be resolved not to hazard the expert
ment, but repaired to Ireland, where he
remained some time in insecure ana
comfortless exile.
| It is not to he expected that We shati
! follow the historian in a detail OF his
subsequent attempt upon England. OF
his landing 1t Cornwall, being joined
by the populace, and taking upon nm
self for the first time the title OF kich-
| ard w, King of England.
II was al this period that his too faith
| full wife, following the fortunes OF her
unhappy husband. fell into the n
of the enemy.
This was a fatal blow to the adven-
turer. =,
In all his ~wandcrings she had shared
his fortunes. :,
With all his faults he had still adored
his lovely, his Inflated bride, his fair
and s~potiess white Rose"
We shall not depict the humiliating
scene of his surrender to King Henry,
or the exposure Of his fictitious claims,
of his ipnOminiOus treatment and close
confinement, of his repeated efforts to
escape, and lastly, of his arrangement
and condemnation, but pass on TO the
scene of execution.
The last morn that ever broke upon
the eyes of the unhappy ~pretender to
royalty dawned heavily and slowly.
AT IN early hour the roads and lanes
adjacent to the hill Of Tyburn, the
place Of execution. were thrOnged with
anxious and expectant thousands.
As the procession approached the
fatal spot, Perkin threw his eyes upon
the gailows that frOwned on the hill,
and observed to his ~cOnfessOr, with a
smile of bitter disappointment.
'.YOnder is the throne to which my
ambition has exalted me-"
The father e~ntreated him to dismiss
from his thoughts everything that might
distract him from the awful duty OF
preparing to meet his Maker, adding,
that though disappointed Of an earthly
throne, the present place was to be a
stepping-stOne to an eternal one.
"Were not these arms piniOned,"
cried the prisoner, II would embrace
the tree; and, since my tongue is not
restrained, l thank thee for the blest
assurance"
He was now urged to . public con-
fessiOn of his impOsture.
as not, then, your master ~content?'
said he, adding, ''But l consent, and
thus proclaim my infamy. Urged on
by restless ambition, but more by the
ready tool of others designing, l have
disturbed the quiet of these realms. and
sought a crown to which l had no claim.
Father" he added, lowering his voice,
..Heaven is my witness that had l not
been bound by oath, l had long discOn.
tinued this iniquitous and futile enter.
prise. My unhappy Catherine! how
does my heart bleed at the thought OF
her. She long, long entreated me to
resign the ambitious claim. That angel
woman, father, in the flower of youth.
in beauty's hour of pride, resigned her
fate to my keeping; the descendant OF
a line of princes, she brOOked alliance
with q wanderer, an OutcaSt.
"She loved me-she welded me-
she chung to my misfOrtunes-she join.
ed in all my miseries, to prove the fer.
vor of her truth. Oft has she wiped
my burning brow. streaming with drops
of anguish-Oft has she cheered, with
sounds of hope. my sinking heart
But now, now, father, she pines in bit.
ter restraint. the captive of your master
Heavens curse light on him, if he give
her gentle bosom aught of pain! Twas
we'll for both we were spared the mis-
ery of a last adieu. I deemed it, in
nv king. refinement of hatred TO deny
a final interview, hnt my heart now
! tells me he did it more'i in mercy than
lin anger. But no more. / have done
with earth-I have done with Cathe'
fine r'
n He knelt, and crossing his hands on
his breast. calculated q silent prayer.
At that moment a stir was perceived
among the crowd, and q female broke
through the soldiers that surrounded
the drop, aud threw herself into the
arms of the criminal.
mot yet ! not yet! Spare him a little
longer! Tear him not so soon from my
arms!' she ejaculated.
my poor mOurner, tits too late" re.
piled the condemned.
"Oh, no, no, no % replied Catherine,
lit is never tool late for mercy. Take
him back to his duRgeOn-respite him
but a few hours. / will again to the
king, throw myself al his feet, mol
cease till he fOrgives"
Nature could do no more.
She sank insensible into the arms Of
her husband.
snow is the time" cried he, print.
ing a last kiss on her pale cheek, as he
consigned her to his cOnfessOr, direct.
ing him to remove her from the spot.
The bitterness of death is passed.
calculated he. as he threw ON her one
lingering look, IND calmly.s submitted
to the hands of the executioner.
The motion attending the removal OF
the Lady Catherine restored animation,
1nvoluntarily she turned her eyes to-
ward the fatal spot.
What she saw may be conceived from
the sequel GEEE
The fends have murdered himr'
she shrieked.
They were the last words of expiring
treason thatburst from the lips of the