The state herald., 1920-05-25
ME Heart Of Midlothian, b!
many called the finest Of IN,
WnyerleY Novels. XaG nuh

HE Heart Of Midlothian, by
many called the finest Of the
Waverley Novels. was pub
lished anonymously In 1913. II takes
Its name from the Tolbooth. or old city
jail. In Edinburg tpulled down In
1sl5). the STONY heart" Of Midlothian
which reared Its ancient front In the
very middle Of the High street Of the
city.
On the afternoon Of September 8.
1873. Reuben Butler, assistant-master
Of the school at Libberton. and licensed
minister Of the gospel, found himself
In unexpected trouble. First OF all.
he had become entnngled with the
crowd Of good citizens OF Edlnburg
In the Grnssmnrket. murmurIng nj the
posfpOnement Of the execution Of Cap
tain John Porteous Of the City Guard.
They were sflll In the heat Of anger
from the events Of the preceding day
when Porteous Ind ordered his men
to fire. and had fired himself. upon
the crowd. some Of whom were Mt
tempting to cut down the body OF
"Scotch" Wilson. the famous smuggler.
Several innocent citizens had been
killed. Now that the chief offender
seemed likely TO escape. there was no
knowing what the mob might do The
quiet young pedagogue would gladly
have returned to Lihberton. Then, 10
his CONSERVATION. he learned that Eiile
Deans. the younger and more charming
II tssA ~ blu - - yAaal~
wns imprisoned In the TolbOoth.
when he had last seen Efie, more
than year before. she had been q
beautiful and blooming girl. the lily
Of Saint Leonard's. Many traveller
past her fathers cottage had stopped
his horse on the eve OF entering Edin.
burg. TO gaze at her as she trlpped by
him. with her milk-p poised on her
head. bearing herself 70 erect. md
stepping SO Hight and free under her
burden that II seemed rather nm ornn'
ment than an encumbrnnce. Now the
poor girl. scarce eighteen years Of aEe.
lay In the Toibooth. charged with child
murder.
The facts were that after WORKING
for time In shop In EdInburg. the
unhappy prisoner Ind disappeared tot
the space OF week. and then mndr
her appearance before her sister n,
Saint Lconnrd's In stnte that had
rendered Jcnnic only too certain Of
her misfortune. But to NIL questions
she had remained mute MS the grave.
until the officers OF Justice had come
TO apprchend her.
Before Reuben Butler could see her.
the Toibooth was closed: and before
he could escape from the city crowd
Of f,o,ers compelled him TO return with
them 10 the jail and administer the
last rites 10 Portcous. whom they
drnHged forth 10 death.
The lender Of the mob. n young man
disguised In womnn's clothes. seized
n moment In the midst Of the turmoil
In the jnil 10 beg Efiic 10 escape. For
Gods snke-for your own mke-for
my snkc--iicc. or they'll take your
lIfc," was NIL ,hat he Ind time TO say
Tho giri gnxed after him for n mo
ment. and then. family mutiering
"Bottrr tyne life. since tint ~ guide
fnm~." she sunk her head upon her
hnnd. ana remained. seemingly. ~ m
conscious M q sfntuc. Of the noise nnd
tnmult which pnrscd around her.
In the morning. on his way to see
Jcnnic md her father nt Saint Leon
ards, Butler encountered In the Klng'a
park n young man NJ nohlo bearing
but strangely aeiiaicd, WIN bada hlm