Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-16

peared for space of a week, and
then made her appearance before
her sister at Saint Leonard's in a
state that rendered Jeanne only too
certain of her misfortune. But to
all questions she had remained mute
as the grave, until the officers of JUS
tice had come to apprehend her.
Before Reuben Butler could see
her, the Tolbooth was closed and
before he could escape from the city
a crowd of rioters compelled him to
return with them to the Jail to adj
minister the last rites to Porteous,
whom they dragged forth to death
The leader of the mob, young
man disguised in woman's clothes,
seized moment in the midst of the
turmoil in the Jail to beg Effie to
escape. For Gods sake-for your
own sake-for my sake-fee, or
they'll take your life" was all that
he had time to say.
The girl gazed after him for a
moment, and then, family mutter-
ing, Better tyne life, since tint is
guide fame" she sunk her head upon
her hand, and remained, seemingly,
as unconscious as a statue Of the
noise and tumu1t which passed
around her.
In the morning, on his way to see
Jeanne and her father at Saint Leon
ards, Butler encountered in the
Kings park a young man of noble
bearing, but strangely agitated, who
babe him tell Jeanne Deans that,
when the moon rises, I shall expect
to met her at Nicol Muschat's Cairn,
beneath Saint Anthony's chapel"
After attempting in vain to in
duce Jeanie to explain the message,
he returned to visit Fife again, in
the Tolbooth, only to be compelled,
on his arrival there, to tell the whole
story, lest he be convicted of guilt
in the Porteous affair. And then he
was sent home, under bail not to
leave Libberton, nor to communi-
cate with any member Of the family
of Effie Deans.
But if his experiences were to him
incomprehensible, they we're by no
means so to the authorities. By piec-
ing together his testimony with that
Of others, they rightly determined
that the stranger in the Kings park,
the leader Of the Porteous mob, and
the father of EfTie's child were one
and the same person; namely, Geor-
die Robertson, comrade of Wilson
the smuggler, and but lately escaped
from the very prison in which Efie
Beans was now confined. Accord
ingly, they planned to capture him
that night at Muschat's Cairn. But
before they could reach that place,
Robertson had time to- beg Jeanne to
save her sister at the trial by testi-
flying that Effie had disclosed to her
condition. Then he escaped.
Merely that slight falsehood would
have removed the case Of Effie Deans
from under the letter of the cruel
Scotch statute. But Jeanne, stead
lastly, devoutly truthful, was ut
terly unable to placate her con-
science lin bearing false witness. Nor
could the disappointment of Fife
herself, whom she was at last per-
mitted to visit in the strong room of
the prison, after her resolution. rHe
wanted that 1 sud be mansworn, -
she said. II told him that I daurna
swear to an untruth.'
At the trial, when Jeanne was
brought in to testify, Fife, in human
weakness, cried, 20, Jeanne, Jeanne,
save mel" But when the solemn
oath, 1.-The truth to tell and no truth
to conceal, as far as she knew or was
asked'-Was administered Sin the
name Of God, and as the witness
should answer to God at the great
day of judgment" Jeanne educated in
deep reverence for the name of the
Deity, was elevated above all con-
| sideration save those which she
could, with a clear conscience, cal
| Him to witness. And when the ad.
| to 90 Of -
of asking her, what your sister SAID
/ allied her when you inquired?" Jeanit
| could only answer, "Nothing." Wher
the sentence was pronounced by the
! Doomsmah, Efie's own eyes were
| the only dry ones in the court. Goo
| forgive We, my lords" she said, "ant
dinna be angry wi me for wishin' il
| we a. need forgiveness"
| The next morning found Jeanne
Deans travelling alone and afoot on
the long road to London Ito see the
! Queens face that gives grace" and
beg for her sisters pardon. Her tar
tan screen served all the purposes
of a riding habit, and Of an umbrel-
| la; a small bundle contained such
changes of linen as were absolutely
necessary. She had a few guineas
and a letter from Reuben Butler to
the Duke of Argyle, whose grand
| father had been under obligations of
the deepest to the famous Bible But
| Ter, grandfather of the poor assistant
| schoolmaster, now sick at Libberton
She passed luckily, on the whole
through so weary and dangerous a
| journey, and at length, through the
tntercession of the duke, secured the
| pardon which she sought.
| Before she reached Scotland, Effie