Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second SeriesBottrell, William
General
Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second Series
Bottrell, William
Cornwall (England : County) -- Social life and customs; Legends -- England -- Cornwall (County)
The doctor's advice tallied with I'an's inclination. He had
often thought, and at length determined, to leave the wreck of
his property for his creditors, as it was deeply mortgaged, and
the accumulated interest of many years unpaid. He would seek
a home for himself and his sister in Brittany, where he had
formed acquaintances, and where no fancied requirements of
sham gentility and beggarly state would impede his endeavours to
push his fortune by land or sea. Being assured that a trip across
the Channel was likely to prove beneficial to Beaton, who had
often been to sea and enjoyed life on the waves like the sea-bird
after which the smuggler's craft was named; wearing apparel,
bedding, and a few heirlooms, of no great value, were soon
packed so that they might be ready to leave when the Mur next[111]
made sail for France. Their moveable furniture was placed in
Beaton's portion of the house, where two old servants were
installed to keep possession for her of that, and also of some
garden ground and pasture land in which she had a life interest.
It was feared there might be some difficulty in persuading the
poor demented woman to embark; yet, when the vessel was
ready, by a harmless deception she was led to connect the
proposed voyage, somehow, with going to meet her lover and
hastening her bridal. So, one day, about a month after Willy
was laid beneath the turf, I'an had a stone placed to mark the
spot, and—following a very ancient custom in St. Levan—planted
rosemary, box, lillies, and other garden flowers on the grave, over
which he and his crew shed many tears. The following night
I'an, with his sister, bade farewell to the ancient home of their
forefathers, now rendered doubly sad to him by the remembrance
of Taskes's ill-fated death, and his sister's melancholy plight.
Little more was then heard of either brother or sister.
Penberth men, belonging to I'an's crew, purchased his share of
their vessel, and before they left port, Beaton was lodged at a
farm house, where she was kindly nursed; and it was hoped that,
ere long, maternal cares might tend to restore her reason and
somewhat relieve her anguish for her lover's untimely death.
I'an was well known at the port, where they had long traded, as
an expert seaman and good navigator, and he soon obtained the
command of a ship. For a long while the old servants lived in
Beaton's part of the house, hoping for her return, and cultivated
the small quantity of ground that belonged to her. But no
tidings ever reached them of either sister or brother; and when
the two old servants died—it being supposed that their mistress
was also dead, and her portion fallen in hand—I'an's creditors
took possession of it.
Unexpected Visitors.
With fairest flowers,
Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele,
I'll sweeten thy sad grave.
Cymbeline.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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