A Daughter of Raasay: A Tale of the '45 Read online

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  A DAUGHTER OF RAASAY A TALE OF THE '45

  By WILLIAM MacLEOD RAINE

  Illustrated by STUART TRAVIS

  NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS

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  Copyright, 1901, by Frank Leslie Publishing House

  Copyright, 1902, by Frederick A. Stokes Company

  All rights reserved

  Published in October, 1902

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  AILEEN]

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  TO MR. ELLERY SEDGWICK

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  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I. The Sport of Chance 1 II A Cry in the Night 19 III Deoch Slaint an Righ! 39 IV Of Love and War 60 V The Hue and Cry 79 VI In The Matter of a Kiss 99 VII My Lady Rages 116 VIII Charles Edward Stuart 133 IX Blue Bonnets are Over the Border 151 X Culloden 159 XI The Red Heather Hills 180 XII Volney Pays a Debt 202 XIII The Little God has an Innings 223 XIV The Aftermath 231 XV A Reprieve! 251 XVI Volney's Guest 266 XVII The Valley of the Shadow 278 XVIII The Shadow Falls 297 The Afterword 309

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  THE LADIES OF ST. JAMES'S

  The ladies of St. James's Go swinging to the play; Their footmen run before them With a "Stand by! Clear the way!" But Phyllida, my Phyllida! She takes her buckled shoon. When we go out a-courting Beneath the harvest moon.

  The ladies of St. James's! They are so fine and fair, You'd think a box of essences Was broken in the air: But Phyllida, my Phyllida! The breath of heath and furze When breezes blow at morning, Is not so fresh as hers.

  The ladies of St. James's! They're painted to the eyes; Their white it stays forever, Their red it never dies: But Phyllida, my Phyllida! Her colour comes and goes; It trembles to a lily,-- It wavers like a rose.

  The ladies of St. James's! You scarce can understand The half of all their speeches, Their phrases are so grand: But Phyllida, my Phyllida! Her shy and simple words Are clear as after raindrops The music of the birds.

  The ladies of St. James's! They have their fits and freaks; They smile on you--for seconds; They frown on you--for weeks: But Phyllida, my Phyllida! Come either storm or shine, From shrovetide unto shrovetide Is always true--and mine.

  _Austin Dobson._

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  FOREWORD

  When this romance touches history the author believes that it is, in everyrespect, with one possible exception, in accord with the accepted facts.In detailing the history of "the '45'" and the sufferings of the misguidedgentlemen who flung away the scabbard out of loyalty to a worthless cause,care has been taken to make the story agree with history. The writer doesnot of course indorse the view of Prince Charles' character herein setforth by Kenneth Montagu, but there is abundant evidence to show that theYoung Chevalier had in a very large degree those qualities which werelacking to none of the Stuarts: a charming personality and a gallantbearing. If his later life did not fulfil the promise of his youth, theunhappy circumstances which hampered him should be kept in mind as anextenuation.

  The thanks of the writer are due for pertinent criticism to Miss Chase, toMr. Arthur Chapman and to Mr. James Rain, and especially to Mr. EllerySedgwick, whose friendly interest and kindly encouragement have beenunfailing.

  Acknowledgment must also be made of a copious use of Horace Walpole'sLetters, the Chevalier Johnstone's History of the Rebellion, and othereighteenth century sources of information concerning the incidents of thetimes. The author has taken the liberty of using several anecdotes and_bon mots_ mentioned in the "Letters"; but he has in each case put thestory in the mouth of its historical originator.

  W. M. R.

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