The Washington times., 1912-06-30
CHAPTER XIII.
The Prince of Pretense.

= The Prince of Pretense.
4 T MIDNIGHT the moors we're
~ bathed in a clear, white light.
n The skies were cloudless, and
the great September moon hung
motionless in the zenith. Underfoot the
heather was dry, although the peat be-
meath 1t was still soft from the recent
rains. 1t was a splendid night for
travel, and Charles Edward Casimir
found much that was pleasant in his
wanderings.
Before him hung the Polar star. The
finger of the plow seemed to have
Travelled upward and around it, but
the finger still pointed. Casimir fol-
lowed as confidently as the three wise
men pursued their star.
Beyond the consciousness that the
star was directly before him, Cas!mir
walked on, half obvious of his &C
tons and OF his surroundings After
the suppressed passion of mis- inter-
view with Fitzwilliam and the long
train Of fierce memories stirred by it,
he awoke to realization of his own
position.
Fitzwilliam knew him. Fitzwilliam
was in possession of his cecret. At
least, the major was aware of his
identity. How much more he might
surmise was a matter worthy Of much
speculation. OF one thing Charles was
confident: His mission was at an end,
ana II nad 1alled.
Still, he had achieved something. He
had created a stir in Scotland which 1t
would take weeks of military activity
to repress. And the plot which he had
started sizzling would cause the Eng
iish government anxiety for months.
That was all he had hoped to effect.
He had known, of course, from the
outset that his scheme must fail. He
struck the Antlers that it had faiTsd
already. What followed had been good
fortune more than anything else. He
had seized his opportunity when he
found 1nverlachie receptively inclined
1t hurt him terribly to think of the
deceit he had practiced upon jamie
Dalgleish. He had grown to love the
while he .pitied him for his lack of
practical insight Poor old dominic!
1t made Casimir writhe in his soul to
think of It.
20 Liberty" he groaned aloud to the
silent moor, what crimes are COM
mitted in thy name!'
And Margaret The sweat of con-
science stood out upon his own brow.
williams. Was he any better than
Fitzwilliam? Fitzwilliam had deceived
q woman and abandoned her. But by
the act of abandonment he had con-
fessed his true character.
Hhe. Charles Edward Casimr. had de-
ceived a woman in another way-a
less forgivable, If less serious, way.
He. too. had abandoned the woman.
but in the act of abandonment had he
professed his true colors?
No! Worse than that. he had left
her with the lie stronger on his lips
than ever it had been. He had stolen
her love under false pretense.
She was there in Inverlaohie pray
Ing at .his very moment. pernaps for
the safety and welfare OF her prince.
Her prince! Had he been ablG to see
aH haE N,rN l.a NJ a
have sunk down upon the moo and
covered his fece from the moon In an
agony of vain remorse. Tie little ra-
I triot was riding hard to the northeast
on foam-hecked horse-riding to save
him!
Yet his crime had not been dehber-
ate-the crime of stealing her love.
The other matter was part of his
he served. 1t had never troubled him,
the ethics of it, until now. Indeed, he
had looked upon it as rather a humor-
Gus, daredevil kind of adventure.
But his growing love and respect for
the dominic. his realization of the in
tensity of the fame with which he had
played. his self-discovered love for
Margaret, and her affection for him,
Put matters in a new and less playful
Yet he could not wholly blame him
self for Margarets loving him. save
that had he forethought he might
aged It. He had allowed her to indulge e
in hero-worship, as he had allowed
others to do the same. 1t was part
of his plan.
But he mad thought her worship
merely that OF the Scotswoman for all
that was the embodiment of Scotland S
history and glory and tradition. Per
haps even yet her love was no more
than this. A woman might we'll love
a prince and cease to love him when
he became q man. 1t was almost a
certainty that the Granddaughter of
James palgleish, the dreamer OF ro'
nance, would love Bonnie Prince
Charlie Perhaps when she learned the
truth her love would turn to contempt
and hate.
In his heart he prayed that this
sweet cup OF woman's love might
pass from him, and that the bitter CUP
which his actions had brewCd for her
might be placed in his own hands. lie
would drink II to the bitter dreGs, hap
py in has pain II she were spared IT.
For he loved her asa man'-an honest
man.
The mission had failed-the mission
which was still his own secret. 1t was
the fault OF circumstances, and mons
of his making His own part he had
played with CALLING success At frst
Il had amused him. Then--it was wher
! ne saw himself in the mirror In all tho
glory Of the Stuart-the spirit OF th'
! Character entered his soul and he play
ed his role on the stage with a whole
minded forSetfulness Of realities.
That night, when he stood In the door
way and heard the mighty blacksmith
thunder forth the war cry OF the Bruce
when ne saw the ready, blazing eyei
that turned to him In Jacohite frenzy
he had almost felt for the moment tha