The Farmington times., 1917-03-23

bravest Scotch lassie who ever drew
breath.
He, his fair protector, the faithful
O'Neil, and six sturdy boatmen put out
to sea, their object being to reach
France eventually. 1t was anything
but a pleasurable junket for the deli
cate girl. There were a number OF
vessels lying around, Ill armed to the
teeth, and everyone of them looking
for the young Pretender.
The first distance they had to make
in order to reach safety was fully 40
miles. They were obliged to pull out
under cover of the night-a night as
black as ink. To add further to their
troubles, the heavens dropped rain in
! torrents. The boatmen openly sulked,
but they said nothing.
AS the dawn broke, Flora was the
first to see lights in the far distance.
That meant that their enemies were
pursuing them. Flora Macdonald's
first thought was for Charles Edward
Stuart, and she pushed him without
ceremony down into the fiat of the
boat, and furthermore declared that
she would upset the whole craft if he
did not promise to remain there until
she gave him the word to move.
They made Ia safe landing at a
place called Mugstat, where lived Sir
Alexander Macdonald of Pingsburgh.
Flora knew him and made straight
for his house, leaving the rest on the
beach.
On arriving there she requested the
servant to tell Lady Margaret Mac
donald she wished to see her. When
favorable opportunity presented it.
self she disclosed the identity of her
distinguished companion to Lady
Margaret.
She was staunch upholder of the
house of Steuart, and Immediately
went out to see him where he lay hid
den in the bushes at the landing. At
ter Flora had been wined and dined
at her friends house, as if nothing
unusual was happening, Lady Mac
donald provisioned their boat to its
full capacity and they set sail again
and shortly after reached the friendly
freedom of France.
Flora Macdonald had kept her
word. Her mission had been accomp-
lished. She must return to England.
The farewell between this hunted
young man and this brave girl was
pathetic.
"Ah, madame" he said, "for all that
has happened, | hope we shall meet in
st. James yet" He proposed mar
riage but she only shook her head.
This was the last time he ever saw
his deliverer, and Flora, with a heavy I
heart, made preparations for her re-
turn to Scotland. No easy task this,
for it was as difficult for her to re-
turn to her country as it was to land
him in safety in foreign one.
One of her boatmen made a full
confession of what had happened. Flo
ra was arrested and placed in the
Tower of London, where she remained
for nearly three years, suffering the
tortures of anxiety and suspense. At
the end of that time the government
thought better of it's harsh treatment
If its fair prisoner and released her.
She left five sons. One of them, in
owing remembrance of so heroic a
mother, sent a marble tablet to be
placed upon her tomb in the church.
yard of Kilmuri. 1t was accidentally
broken. Tourists took advantage of
his to carry off pieces, so that to-
lay the grave of heroic Flora Mac
lonald remains without distinguish
ng remark-she who had fought so
veil for the unfortunate "bonnie
Prince Charlie, without thought of
eward, even in remembrance.-Phi
delphia Press.