The state herald., 1920-05-25

booth. only to be compelled, on his ar.
rival 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 Libber-
ton, nor to communicate with any
member Of the family Of Efie Deans.
But II his experiences were to him
lncomprehensible they were by no
means 80 to the authorities. BY piec.
ing together his testimony with those
Of others, they rightly determined that
the stranger in the Kings park, the
leader Of the Porteous mob, and the
father Of Effie's child were one and
the same person; namely, GeordIe
Robertson, comrade Of Wilson the
smuggler, and but lately escaped from
the very prison In which Efiie Deans
was now confined. Accordingly, they /.
planned to capture him that night at
Muschat's Cairn. But before they
could reach that place. Robertson had
time to beg Jeanie to save her sister
at the trial by testifying that Efiie had
disclosed to her 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 Jeanie, steadfast.
", devoutly truthful, was utterly un-
able to placate her conscience In beaH
Ing false witness. Nor could the dis
appointment Of Effe herself, whom she
was at last permitted to visit In the
strong.room Of the prison, alter her
resolution. "He wanted that suld
be mansworn." she said. ~ told him
that daurna swear to an untruth."
At the trial. when Jeanie was
brought In to testify. Efie, In human
weakness. cried, 70 Jeanie, Jeanie.
save mel" But when the solemn oath.
-''the truth to tell. and no truth to
conceal. as far as she knew or was
asked." was administered 'in the name
Of God. and as the witness should an
swer to God at the great day Of judg.
ment," Jeanie, educated In deep rever-
ence for the name Of the deity, was
elevated above all considerations save
those which she could, with n clear
conscience, call Him to witness. And
when the advocate came Mt length to
the point Of asking her, "what your
sister said allied her when you In.
quiredr Jeanie could only answer,
nothing" When the sentence was
pronounced by the doomsman. Efie'a
own eyes were the only dry ones In
the court. God forgive ye. my lords"
she said. "and dinna he angry WI me
for wiehin' tive a need forgiveness"
The next morning found Jeanie
Deans travelling alone and afoot on
the long road to London "to zee the
Queens face that gives grace" and
beg for her sisters pardon. Her tar
ian screen served all the purposes Of
n riding habit, and Of nm umbrella a
small bundle contained such changes
0f linen ms were absolutely necessary.
She had few guineas. and n letter
from Reuben Butler to the Duke Of
Argyle, whose grandfather had been
under obligations Of the deepest to
the famous Bible Butler. grandfather
Of the poor observation-disclosures now
sick nt Libberton.
She passed luckily. on the whole.
through so weary nnd dangerous
journey, and at length. through the
intercession of the duke, secured the
pardon which she sought.
Before she reached Scotland again.
Efhe had eloped with her lover. who
was In reality George Staunion, s0a
OF an English noblcman. The sisters.
who had last met when Efiic wns sit.
ting on the bench OF the condemned.
did not meet agnIn for many years.
though Lady Staunton wrote some
times TO Jeanie-nOw Mrs. Butler.
wife Of Mr.. Reuben Butler. pastor Of
Knocktarlitie.
Finally. by chance. SIR George
learned that Meg Murdockson. who had
attended Fife In her Illness. had not
murdered the child. ms they had al.
why's supposed. He traced the boy TO
certain troop Of vngabonds, Of which
Black Donald was the chief. In an
nffrny with BInck Donnids men. Sir
George was shot by young Ind called
"the Whistler" who proved to be the
lost son. The lad disappeared. and
escaped 10 America. Lady stamton,
overcome by the tragedy. after vain
efforts 70 drown her grief In society
retired 20 convent IN France. Al.
though she took no vows, she remained
there until her death. But her In.
nuenec at court accomplished much
for the children OF her sister Jcanle.
who lived happily ON In the good pnr.
ish with which the bounty OF the
Duke OF Argyle had provided her hus
band.
The Heart Of Midlothian is notable
for having rather fewer important
characters. n smaller variety Of Incl
dents. and less description Of scenery
.bnn most Of Scott's novels. One Of
the most remarkable scenes In NIL iic-
tIon II the meeting of the two sisters
In prison under the eyes Of the jailer
Rntciiffe. The Interview Of Jcnnic
with Queen Caroline is also most note