Love And Loyalty.

know why you have thrown in your lot with the armed rabble who have joined Charles Stuart and the cause of that spawn of a warming pan , the Papist . lames Y " " The armed rabble , as it pleases you to designate flic brave troops of Prince Charles , gave a good account , of themselves afc Preston Pans and Falkirk Mine , " calmly returned the young man . '' 1 am u prisoner in yonr hands , friendless , powerless , and therefore yon have

the power to treat me as you will . Alethinks , however , ' tis not the act of a gentlemen and a soldier to insult the defenceless . The slander that you have uttered against Prince James , my- uncrowned king , is not only a slur on the memory of his father , who once ruled these realms , but-a-libel on the fair name of his gracious mother , ( Jueen Alary of Modena . " Wharton spoke those few words in a quiet yet impressive manner .

His interrogator bit his lips nervously ; his face ( lushed , ami for a moment or two his eyes wore a dangerous look . Presentl y he gave vent to a short- laugh , and said'' Young man , you are playing with dangerous tools , hut I suppose Ihatyou know ifc makes very Utile difference whether ' you speak fairer foul . The issue will be the same . Although you arc a rebel and no

doubt have shun soldiers in the service of my— , of His Alajesty . yet I admire your courage . 'Tis not every prisoner wtio would have exhibited such temerity . I have heard that yon fought against us today . Ifc is a pit y that such bravery had mil been shown in a better and more lawful cause . You have soldierly qualities ; your speech

and manners , also , bespeak gent le birth ; i hercfore . under these circumstances you shall not experience the common lot of traitors , but shall have a soldier ' s death . 'Twas my first intention to have had you luiugcd like a _ ja . il bird , aud as a prospective feast for carrion . Have voir aught to say Y "

the unfortunate young- man for a few moments exhibited signs of deep distress , and appeared about to faint . One of the ollieers rompussionally gave him a drink of water which revived him , and with a wonderful exhibition of calmness , considering that practically lie was at the point of death , he said :

'' Sir , 'lis hard at all times for ( he young to die , but I shall quittin ' s beautiful world of which , alas . I have seen but little , with a feeling in my heart , fhal my blood was shed in defence of a cause that 1 and thousands of others think is a lawful and gallant one . The time which you have given me is but brief wherewith to take farewell of all filings earthly , and lo prepare I ' or a spiritual awakening . Alay I crave an extension of grace Y "

" Tis but a short shrift 1 allow , ' mused the olher , " but if might have been far shorter . 'Twas a p ity that Ensign Jiradley in a lit of misplaced humanit y saved you from being dispatched when lying unconscious on the field . His act onl y saved you for a time . 'Tis well I ' or him that he is past worldly punishment . Ha'l hc lived , he would have shared in your fate to-morrow for wilfully

disobeying ordeis . Treason and disobedience have to be dealt with in a drastic maimer . You and . your friends have promoted bloodshed , have wrought strife iu Ibis fair kingdom , and had ye not been checked would have carried lire and s . vord throughout the land . However , you shall have a little longer to relied on thc enormity of your olfencc iu taking up arms against your anointed sovereign ,

and to make yonr peace with heaven At sumet , instead of sunrise , to-morrow , the sentence of death will bee irried out . Sergeant , you will see lo the comfort of the prisoner . Let him have every attention . If he seeks religious consolation , let him be gratified . I would not have soul as well as bod y destroyed , farewell , young man , ' tis to be regretted that evil counsels and faint irisni hive brought you lo this shameful and iintiniclv end . "

Ou the way back lo the guard-house . Wharton remarked lo Ihe sergeant — '' 1 presume thai it was ( he Duke of Cumberland we have inst left Y " " Yes , your honour . " was ( he reply . " 'Tis not for me to speak about my superiors , but he is a very stern man , and has a devil of a temper . I have heard say . that he isa bit touched iu the braiii-paii ;

is too fond of French brandy , ami when over p lied s .- 'cs blind . JI lie had his way , ' lis said , I hal he would search out and s ' ay every Jacobite , man , woman and child , between band ' s End and . lohn o' Groats . Once or twice , sir , when you were speaking , I noliced iiim playing with his pistol . I was afraid Hint he might use il . I was in the icserves to-day and look no pari iu the light , but sonioof my comrades who were in the front , have told mc thai lhc hulelicrv after Ihe battle

w ^ s . sickening . Although the rebellion is crushed , lhc troopers have orders lo pursue the poor wretches night and day , and ( i > give no quarter . If any of the country people give shelter or food lo any of lhe rebels , their houses and ellecls will be raided and destroyed . 'Tis an awful p iece of WOI-K , sir , and I am afraid that it will bc many a long day ere

Cullodcn ' s slaughter will be forgiven and forgot . ' I lc ( lieu added m a whisper lo prevent his words being overheard b y lhe escort who were inarching inl ' roul , ' •Although , in lhe pay of ( he king , yonr honour , ye ! my heart is with lhc Scottish lads . I was born in London , hut hot li my parents came from the land of heather , mountain , and loch . They were reared in Inverness , and lheir forefathers have borne

| "ke , claymore , and target , in marry a fray . I am sorry that it has 'alien lo my lo ! lo have you in custody , and ' twill be still sadder if I have to be with the platoon to-morrow evening . The Duke said that I was to give yiHI every attention , and my own inclination prompts nie to do all 1 can to soothe your last hours . If ye have any letters or trinkets to forward to your- relations , J . will lake charge of them wut of course you will not entrust me with anything that might

Love And Loyalty.

bring a poor fellow to harm . Soldiering is not only my bread and butter , but is the means of my being able to look after the wants of an old and widowed mother . " Wharton was deeply touched by the good fellow ' s solicitude , and hc whispered a few broken words of thanks . The unhappy young man was conducted to a room having one small casement that

overlooked a wall-enclosed yard . The sergeant shortly afterwards placed food and drink upon the table , locked the door , arrd left the prisoner to his melanchol y reflections and subsequent restless slumber . * # # # # On the following evening at the hour of G .-15 , and when the sun was fast sinking in a golden glory , a company of soldier's silently

formed up in the vicinity of the hut where Wharton was in durance . The air blew keenly across the frowning moor with a moaning sound . A number of camp followers and idlers attracted by the arrival of the soldiers , and the news that a prisoner was about to be shot , stood in groups chatting gaily , apparently indifferent to the

fact that in a brief space of time a gallant soul would be released from mortal bondage . Hy command of tlieir captain , the troops silently but firmly forced the spectators back . They then formed three sides of a square in rear of the guard-house . Outside the low stone wall of the house , facing west , there fluttered a small red

flagto mark the place where the nnlortunato man for the last time would look on earth . A score of yards farther was another flag to distinguish the spot where ihc squad of men—drawn by- lot to form the tiring party would take post . About a quarter of an hour before the time fixed for lhc execution , the ollicer gave the order'" Firing party lo the front !"

Wilh grave' stern faces , twelve men accompanied by a sergeant and a corporal , '' wheeled into line , " and stood silently at "attention . " Another command was given , and thc ominous roll of inuflled drums was heard . The crowd ceased to chatter and became as interested as if they were at a p lay , liy this the sun was low down in the horizon .

All ( he preparations being now completed , the ollicci-gavc asignwith his hand , and the door of the guard-house was opened . Preceded b y a , corporal with a lile of soldiers , there came the condemned man , supported by a priest lowly chanting the prayers for the d ying . Then followed the kind sergeant with live files of men . Wharton was

uncovered , and his rich brown hair was stirred by tho wir . d that wailed over the moor with a melancholy cadence , and sounded like a requiem for the soul of the living-dead . His face was pale , but there were no signs of weakness nor fear . His tall and symmetrical form was perfectly creel . The elyardy-out features were in quiet repose .

The delicately-formed hands were clasped in prayer , and the eyes raised to heaven , appeared to the spectator to he tired with au enthusiastic religious light . The whole demeanour of the poor young fellow was one of touching resignation . There wero a few women present , and Ihey sobbed audibly ; whilst the male spectators , as if

actuated by one coininoii impulse , reverentl y uncovered , and took no pains to hide their emotion . A . low command Was given , and tho drums ceased to beat . The ollicer approached , and saluting the prisoner , asked if he wished to speak . Harold , in firm tones replied

" Sir , I thank you for your cjurlcsy . I have nought to say bufc this , lhat 1 leave thc world with no bitter feeling in my heart against him by whose orders I die .. I regret that a momentary feeling of weakness led me last night to convey to him b y missive , a matter which I now wish had remained unrevcaled till all was over .

'Twas fhe outcome of a natural desire to live , a yearning to behold once more ( he faces of ( hose beloved b y inc . I have laid down my life iu a cause which I shall bless with my dying breath , and bequeath to the loyally of those of my countrymen who think as I do . The censorious world hereafter , when my- story is told , will , perhaps ,

stigmatise my action as being a bid for posthumous notoriety , brought about either by mental weakness or a romantic desire for self-immolation at the shrine of a misplaced partisanship . Adieu , sir , I am ready ! " " Will yon not havo your eyes bandaged or turn yonr back ? •'