The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-07

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 Jeanne, steadfast-
~, devoutly truthful, was utterly un-
able to placate her conscience in bear
ing false witness. Nor could the dis
appointment of Effie herself, whom she
was at last permitted to visit in the
strong-room of the prison, alter her
resolution. "He wanted that I suld
be manswOrn." she said. 81 told him
that l daurna swear to an untruth."
At the trial, when Jeanne was
brought in to testify. Fife, in human
weakness, cried, 80 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 Gin the name
of God, and as the witness should an
swer to God at the great day of judg-
ment," jeanne, educated in deep rever-
ence for the name of the deity, was
elevated above all considerations save
those which she could, with a clear
conscience, call Him to witness. And
when the advocate came at length to
the point of asking her "what your
sister said allied her when you in
quired:" Jeanne could only answer,
nothing" When the sentence was
pronounced by the dcomsman, Effie's
own eyes were the only dry ones in
the court. "God forgive We, my lords"
she said. "and dinna be angry WI me
for wishin' five a need forgiveness"
The next morning found Jeanne
Deans travelling alone and afoot on
the long road to London "to see the
Queens face that gives grace" and
beg for her sisters pardon. Her tar
tan screen served all the purposes of
riding habit, and of an umbrella; 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 grandfather had been
under obligations of the deepest to
the famous Bible Butler, grandfather
Of the poor observation-disclosures now
sick at Libberton.
She passed luckily, on the whole,
through SO weary and dangerous a
journey, and at length, through the
intercession of the duke, secured the
pardon which she sought
Before she reached Scotland again.
Fife had eloped with her lover, who
was in reality George Staunton. son
Of an English nObleman. The sisters
who had last met when Effie was sit
ting on the bench of the condemned,
did not meet again 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 Eff1e in her illness, had not
murdered the child, as they had al
ways supposed. He traced the boy tC
certain troop of vagabonds, of whicl
Black Donald was the chief. In az
affray with Black Donald's men, 81
George was shot by young lad calle'
''the Whistler" who proved to be tn
lost son. The lad disappeared, anf
escaped to America. Lady Stauntor
overcome by the tragedy, after vail
efforts to drown her grief in society
retired to a convent in France. Al
though she took no VOWS, she remained
there until her death. But her in
fiuence at court accomplished much
for the children Of her sister Jeanne
who lived happily on In the good par
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, a smaller variety of Incl
dents, and less description Of scenery
than most of SCOTS novels. One Of
the most remarkable scenes In all fic-
lion is the meeting Of the two sisters
n prison under the eyes of the jailer
Ratcliffe. The interview of Jeanne
with Queen Caroline is also most note
worthy. There is much humor at the
expense of the Cameronian wing of the
Presbyterian faith in Scotland. In this
work. also appears the strange charac-
er of Madge Wildfire, daughter of the
old crone, Meg Murdockson. Into her
mouth is put the famous song, "Proud
Maisie is in the wood"
Copyright, 1919 by the Post Publishing O.
CThe Boston PosD.