Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15
THE WHITE COCKADE.
4 s

Since. in the opinion of all reasonable
mon no further attempt is ever likely
to be made to place one of the stuart
family on the throne of Great Britain. at
least by force of arms. / can now, without
preiudice to any one. tell the story Oh the
strange adventure which brought me lace
10 face for the first and last time Will
Charles Edward Stuart, commonly known
as the Young Pretender.
Late in the afternoon of September =,
1150 l received the following letter:
Dear Friend: BY the time this is placed
in your hands shall be at sea on my way
to Antwerp. 1t is all over. Under the
name of John Douglas the prince has been
in London for nearly a week, and nothing
has come of it. There is no prospect of
rising Gentlemen of quality and infiu-
ence however devoted TO the prince, nave
no mind to risk their lives and estates by
marching on London unless supported by a
strong body of regular troops, believing
that exile or more probably the scanoid,
would be the sure and certain end OF any
such rash undertaking. To speak the PLAIN
TRUTH | am much of that way of thinking
myself, and. having wife and child, will
not draw my sword until l perceive some
fair prospect of success.
Il write to warn you Of that which con-
Germs YOU nearly. The other day the prince
came unexpectedly to a party at Lady
Primrose's. greatly to the CONSERVATION OF
her ladyship and of most OF her guests.
Indeed. he met with but cold reception
from auy but your betrothed, Miss hate
Gordon, and her cousin, Andrew Macin-
tyre who were both present.
Miss Gordon went down on her knee
before them all and kissed his hand IL
was very bravely done and moved MIN
greatly, but. indeed. it was scarcely pru-
dent Macintyre followed her example
and 1 heard him whisper to the prince that
if his royal highness would deign TO hohor
his poor house with visit this evening I'VE
ODD he would meet with very dlHerent
kind of welcome. Learning that Miss Cor
don would be present the prince con-
scented.
Now. a word in your ear This Macin-
tyre is not to be trusted. / nave lntor-
nation from a sure source tnat ne Is
spy in the pay of the government anu
creature. Donald Fraser. who follows MIN
about like a shadow, is, If possible, Il more
Infamous wretch than himself
THE house is in lonely situation, ana
I am convinced that these scoundrels are
connecting some plot to betray the prince,
and are making use of Miss Gordon's grace
and beauty and well-knoWn devotion W
the Jacobite cause to entlce MIN ihto a
trap l tried to give the prince hint OF
this but he listened to me coidiy, anu,
indeed of late. he has become VIGOROUSLY
impatient of advice from his best anu
truest friends
sccompIice in this villainous scheme Will. l
know. be hateful TO you. and l doubt not
you will do what lies In your power 10 pre-
vent it. Yours, most faithfully.
..MATTHEW FIELDING.
Nv blood boiled as I read this letter. L
was no friend to the Stuarts. and, indeed,
cared little whether the pretender was
taken or not: but that Kate should be IN
yoIyed in this Infamous plot was lnde-
scriuably painful TO NE, and resoluteiy de-
tcrmined that she never should be if word
or act of mine could prevent it.
Yet it was no very pleasant task for me
to interfere in the matter. for there had
already been a sharp quarrel between Kate
and myself with regard to this Aaclntyre
and her passionate devotion to the cause
of the unhappy Stuarts. She was an or
phan, and Macintyre being her cousin. had
undertaken to act as her guardian. d piece
of presumption which l bitterly resented,
for | had good reason TO believe that he
hated me. and meant. by fair means or
foul. to supplant me in Hates affections,
and win her and her small fortune for him
self. But he had been out with the High
landers in -, and the courage he had then
displayed. and his hypocrtical professions