William Harrison Ainsworth

“ He gives his name as Atherton Legh, captain of the Manchester Regiment."
"Atherton Legh! ha!" cried the duke. Then fixing a stern look upon the young man, he said:
"You had better have remained faithful to the Government, sir. Now you will die as a traitor and a rebel."
"I am prepared to meet my fate, whatever it may be," replied Atherton, firmly.
"I might order you for instant execution," pursued the duke. "But you shall have a fair trial with the rest of the garrison. It must surrender to-morrow."
"Your royal highness is mistaken—the garrison can hold out for a week." ”

“ I would not have you forfeit the lofty position you have just obtained."
"I hope I shall not forfeit it," said Atherton, proudly.
"You will not long hold it," rejoined Sir Richard, in a solemn tone, "unless you withdraw from this ill-fated expedition. It will end in your destruction. Attend to my warning!"
"I cannot honourably retreat," said Atherton.
"You must," cried Sir Richard, sternly. "Why throw away your life from a fancied sense of honour, when such fair prospects are opening upon you? 'Twill be madness to persist."
Atherton made no reply, and Sir Richard said no more. ”

“ The group gathered round the body—the young baronet in his military attire—the Highlander in his accoutrements—and the old butler—formed a striking picture. That the guilty man should die there seemed like the work of retribution.
As the nephew he had so deeply injured, and deprived of his inheritance, looked down upon his dark and stern visage, now stilled in death, he could not but pity him.
"May Heaven forgive him, as I forgive him!" he ejaculated.
"If he has sinned deeply his penitence has been sincere," said Markland, sorrowfully. "Half his time has been spent in fasting and prayer. ”

“ I never saw a portrait of him," remarked Constance. "There is not one at Rawcliffe. Nor is there a portrait of his beautiful wife, who did not long survive him."
"There you are mistaken, Miss Rawcliffe," observed Father Jerome. "Portraits of both are in existence, for I myself have seen them. But they are locked up in a closet."
"Why should they be locked up?" cried Monica.
"Probably Sir Richard does not care to see them," said her mother, sighing deeply. "But let us change the subject. We are talking on family matters that can have no interest to Mr. Atherton Legh." ”

“ Charles looked at him for a few moments, and calling to Atherton, asked him if he recognised the man.
"I recognise him as the leader of the attack," was the reply.
"Such is my own opinion," observed the prince. "How say you?" he added to the prisoner. "Do you deny the charge?"
"No," replied the prisoner. "I am the man."
"You avow your guilt," said Charles, surprised by his boldness. "How are you named?"
"I am known as Captain Weir," replied the other.
"Have you aught to allege why you should not be delivered to the provost-marshal for immediate execution?" ”

“ Then came Erick, with Helen by his side, and attended by the chaplain.
The sergeant's deportment was resolute, and he held his head erect. He was in full Highland costume, and wore his bonnet and scarf.
All the spectators were struck by his tall fine figure, and grieved that such a splendid man should be put to death.
But Helen excited the greatest sympathy. Though her features were excessively pale, they had lost none of their beauty. The occasional quivering of her lip was the only external sign of emotion, her step being light and firm. Her eyes were constantly fixed upon her lover. ”

“ With Atherton's assistance he then once more mounted the cask, and the crowd seeing he was about to address them became silent.
"I have a few words to say to you, my friends," he cried, in a voice that all could hear. "Don't spoil the good work you have done by committing any excesses. Don't let the Hanoverians and Presbyterians have the power of casting reproach upon us. Don't disgrace the good cause. Our royal prince shoots every Highlander who pillages. He won't shoot any of you, but he'll think better of you if you abstain from plunder." ”

“ The Scottish chiefs, I know, refused to march further than Derby, but if they had been forced to fight, their conduct would have been totally different. Even if the prince had been worsted—had he fallen—he would have left a glorious name behind him! Had my own brave sons died sword in hand, I should have been reconciled to their loss, but to think that they have been compelled to retreat ingloriously, without striking a blow, because their leaders lost heart, enrages me, and sharpens my affliction. Then I consider that the Manchester Regiment has been wantonly sacrificed. ”

“ After another glass of wine, Colonel Townley said to the baronet—
"Now, Sir Richard, let us to business. I hope you bring us some recruits. We are terribly in want of them."
"I am surprised to hear that," replied Sir Richard; "and I regret that I cannot supply your need. All my tenants refuse to go out. 'Tis to explain this difficulty that I have come to Manchester. Money I can promise his royal highness, but not men."
"Well, money will be extremely useful to him. How much may I venture to tell him you will furnish?"
"A thousand pounds," replied Sir Richard. ”

“ What is life without honour?"
"Heed her not!" exclaimed Monica. "Listen to me! Till now I never knew how dear you are to me. I cannot—will not part with you."
Both Mrs. Butler and Father Jerome heard what was passing, but did not deem it necessary to interfere—leaving the task to Constance.
"Take him hence!" said Constance, in a low tone to Atherton. "She may shake his determination. Ere long she will recover her energies, and think quite differently."
After bidding adieu to Mrs. Butler and the priest, Atherton tried to lead Jemmy gently away. But Monica still clung to him. ”

“ Deacon. "But now I know not what to say. I will not delude the prince with any more false promises."
"'Twill be an eternal disgrace to Manchester if its inhabitants desert him at this critical juncture," cried the colonel, warmly. "Is this to be the miserable conclusion of all your plots and secret meetings? You have invited him, and now that he has complied with the invitation, and is coming hither with an army, you get out of the way, and leave him to his own resources. 'Tis infamous!"
"I still hope my fellow-townsmen may redeem their character for loyalty," said Dr. Deacon. ”

“ Summoned by this exhilarating clamour, multitudes flocked into the streets, decked in holiday attire, and most of them crossed the bridge into Salford in expectation of witnessing the entrance of the Highland army.
The weather was most propitious. Never was finer day seen in November, and the bright sunshine diffused general gaiety and good-humour among the concourse.
Good-looking damsels predominated in the crowd—Manchester has always been noted for female beauty—and they were all exceedingly curious to behold the handsome young prince and the Scottish chiefs. ”

“ Not wishing to take a prominent part in these proceedings, Atherton had kept aloof, but he now came up to Syddall, and shaking hands with him, told him in a whisper that he might expect to see him at night.
The brave little Jacobite barber was then borne off in triumph, surrounded by his friends—a tall man marching before him carrying the white flag.
The procession took its way up the lane to Deansgate, along which thoroughfare it slowly moved, its numbers continually increasing as it went on, while the windows of the houses were thronged with spectators. ”

“ Indeed, I think we all look remarkably well considering our position."
"Death does not terrify me in the least," said Jemmy. "Its bitterness is past with me. May Heaven have mercy on us all!"
"We die in a good cause," observed Captain Deacon. "I heartily forgive all my enemies—even the chief of them, the Elector of Hanover and the Duke of Cumberland. It has been falsely said that I was induced by my revered father to take up arms for the prince. ”

“ I pray your royal highness to accept it as an earnest of my devotion."
While uttering these words, which greatly touched Charles, she again bent before him, and placed the purse in his hands.
"Pain me not by a refusal, I implore you, most gracious prince," she said. "And think not you are depriving me of aught. I cannot live long, and I have no children. 'Tis the last assistance I shall be able to render your royal house—for which I have lived, and for which I would die." ”

“ This dangerous morass was then wholly impassable, except by those familiar with it; and, as Atherton's eye wandered over its treacherous surface, he pointed out to his attendant a distant spot on the extreme verge of the marsh, observing, with a singular smile:
"Yonder is Warrington."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Dickson. "Then we might shorten our distance materially by crossing the morass."
"No doubt, if we could cross it," rejoined Atherton. "But we should be swallowed up, horse and man, before we had proceeded far. ”

“ I am proud of my Jemmy's devotion—proud, also, of having gained the prince so important a recruit."
"You may well be proud of Jemmy, Monica," said Constance. "He has many noble qualities and cannot fail to distinguish himself."
"He is as brave as he is gentle," said Monica—"a veritable preux et hardi chevalier, and will live or die like a hero." ”

“ In the name of the Almighty Power whom I have so deeply offended, and before whose throne I shall presently appear to answer for my manifold offences, I hereby solemnly declare that the young man now known as Atherton Legh is no other than my nephew Conway, only son of my brother Sir Oswald Rawcliffe, whom I have wickedly kept out of his inheritance for twenty years, by carrying him off when an infant, as I shall proceed to relate. ”

“ Byrom and Atherton were ushered into the cabinet.
On beholding the Duke of Cumberland, whom both the new-comers recognised, they knew not what to think, but each made a profound obeisance.
"This is my nephew, Sir Conway Rawcliffe, your royal highness," said the colonel.
"Hitherto, I have only known him as Captain Legh, the rebel," observed the duke, rather sternly.
"Rebel no longer," said Colonel Conway. "He has come to deliver himself up to your royal highness, and to solicit your gracious forgiveness for his misdeeds."
"Does he acknowledge his errors?" demanded the duke. ”

“ Such was Tom Syddall, whose personal appearance and peculiarities rendered him a noticeable character in Manchester at the time.
His companion, it is scarcely necessary to say, was Atherton Legh.
As they rested for a moment upon their oars they both laughed heartily.
"We may be proud of the exploit we have performed," cried Tom. "We have served the prince, and saved the bridge. Three minutes later and the arch would have been blown up. The scheme was well-designed, and well-executed."
"You deserve entire credit both for plan and execution, Tom," rejoined Atherton. ”

“ You imagine we shall all be put to death, but believe me the Elector of Hanover has no such intention. He dare not execute us."
"Hush! Jemmy—not so loud. I have been wretched ever since the retreat from Derby took place, for I foresaw what it would come to. I have never ceased to reproach myself with being the cause of your destruction."
"You have nothing to reproach yourself with, dearest girl," he rejoined, tenderly. "'Tis a pity the prince did not march to London. 'Tis a still greater pity the regiment was left at Carlisle." ”

“ Atherton Legh did not absolutely pledge himself," said Colonel Townley; "and he is perfectly at liberty, therefore, to withdraw if he deems proper. But I hope he will reconsider his decision. I shall be truly sorry to lose him. What is your opinion of the matter, sir?" he added, appealing to Dr. Deacon. "Is Mr. Atherton Legh bound to obey his guardian's injunctions?"
"Assuredly not," replied the doctor, emphatically. "Duty to a sovereign is paramount to every other consideration. A guardian has no right to impose such restraint upon a ward. His authority does not extend so far." ”

“ What further proof can we give of our desire to serve his royal highness?"
"I will explain, gentlemen, in a word," replied the secretary. "The prince requires a subsidy from the town of five thousand pounds. War cannot be carried on without money, and our coffers are well-nigh emptied."
"I fear it will be impossible to raise that amount," said Mr. Fowden.
"We should grieve to have to levy the money by force, but we must have it. Consult together, gentlemen, and give us your answer." ”

“ The conduct of your leading merchants fills me with rage and disgust, and how they can reconcile it with the pledges they have given his royal highness of support, I cannot conceive. Still, I hope they will act up to their professions, and maintain the honourable character they have hitherto borne. How say you, gentlemen? Can the prince calculate on a general declaration in his favour? You shake your heads. At least he may count on a thousand recruits? Five hundred? Surely five hundred Manchester men will join his standard? ”

“ No sooner did the vast assemblage collected near the approaches to the bridge distinguish the tall graceful figure of the young Chevalier amid the throng of Scottish nobles and chiefs, than all heads were instantly uncovered, and a loud cry arose of "Long live King James the Third, and Prince Charles Edward!" ”