L'ENVOI.
Perhaps history can best remind the reader of what followed. How,
after some further but slighter peril, Charles Stewart was guided, by
other devoted friends, by way of Bowalder and Auchnagarry, to the
Castle of Lochiel and the longed-for sea-coast--one can read this
for himself. There rode at anchor--oh, sight of inexpressible
comfort!--the two French vessels _L'Heureux_ and _La Princesse de
Conti,_ sent by the exiled Chevalier from Morlaix Harbor, France, and
waiting until the fugitive's approach, so frequently despaired of.
In _L'Heureux,_ on the night of September 20, 1746, Charles Stewart
embarked for France, with one hundred and thirty other exiled
and beggared followers. From its deck, nine days later, did the
unfortunate heir to the throne of the Stewarts step to the beach at
Roscoff, near Morlaix--able, for the first time in weary months, to
draw a free breath and look about him in perfect safety; his hopes of
a kingdom broken at his back like egg-shells.
But history, which seldom has space for such trifles, does not state
that ever at the Prince's side, upon sea or land, from the hour of his
departure from Glenmoriston and its outlaws, there was a Highland lad,
toward whom the exile showed a quiet care and affection, never for
an instant relaxed, and of a sort that won the notice of all who
encountered them. Little was said of his antecedents or his story. The
Prince desired no questions upon the matter; but he and his gallant
looking _protégé_ seemed inseparable even in private.
And when the fugitive made that almost royal entrance to Fontainebleau
to meet Louis XV., in a carriage following his own, clad in
deep mourning, rode Andrew Boyd, usually spoken of as "that young
Scotchman--the special confidential secretary of the Prince."
With Charles, Andrew led a busy and somewhat varied life for the next
few years, while his noble protector flitted, now to one European
city, now another; until Charles succeeded, through the agency of some
Scotch acquaintances, in providing substantially for Andrew and, at
the same time, in having restored to him the lands of Windlestrae.
Thereupon, grown to man's estate, Andrew built again a Manor House,
and even collected about him some of the old servants. Thither, too,
did he bring home, not long after, a fair French bride. Never was a
cheerfuller wedding, or one that prophesied more truly of the calm
and happy years to follow it, for the bride and groom. But on the
marriage-day, as he stood proudly admiring his young wife's rich
costume, Andrew was heard to sigh; and when she demanded the reason,
he replied, gently, "Alas! dear heart, thy knots of white ribbon
mind me of so many White Cockades! Thou hast many fair white roses,
yonder--hide thy love-knots with them!"
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Obvious printing errors have been silently corrected throughout.
Otherwise, inconsistencies and possible errors have been preserved.