Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 07
General
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 07
Scottish Borders (Scotland) -- Fiction
Wonderful, unsearchable passion!--the electric fluid does not more
universally penetrate nature herself, than does this passion the whole
framework of society; and yet the ethereal agency is not more remote and
inscrutable in its workings and doings, than in love--
"Sae, lang ere bonny Mary wist,
Her peace was lost, her heart was won."
It was the employment of Miss Walker, on warm, yet refreshing evenings,
to sit in her open verandah or balcony, playing on the harp, and wooing
all the sea-breezes with the witchery of sweet sounds. To George Smith,
who had never been accustomed to such refined and overpowering
entertainment, this performance and exhibition (for what is there in
nature so graceful as a fine female hand and arm sweeping the strings of
the harp?) was perfect magic. A thousand times, as he sat and gazed,
trembling all over, he felt inclined to grasp the fair performer, harp
and all, to his bosom; and to squeeze them incontinently into himself.
Again and again he has arisen, and partly withdrawn, as one would from a
house on fire. Nor was Miss Smith, on her part, insensible to the
presence of a youth, uncommonly handsome, who had so early recommended
himself to her good graces. Her walks and rides over the plantation were
frequent; and she took particular pleasure in observing the progress of
that part of her father's property over which George Smith more
immediately presided. Her questions and inquiries were truly
astonishing; and she seemed as anxious to learn all about the process of
cane-cutting and sugar-boiling, as if her own happiness had depended on
this knowledge. But George was conscientious; and although loving the
"bonny lassie" (as he said) to distraction, he understood it as a crime
worse than that of witchcraft--namely, of ingratitude--to disclose his
feelings. For some months, matters were in this position--the young
lady's health manifestly suffering, and George evidently visited by
strange and unaccountable fits of silence and mental absence. The
overseer, who happened to be more quick-sighted than even the father,
from repeated observations, guessed at the truth; and, thinking it his
duty, immediately apprised Mr Walker of his suspicions. As Mary had been
destined for some time to another--to a neighbouring planter, whose
property was adjoining to that of Mr Walker--steps were immediately
devised to prevent the lovers from coming to any more definite
understanding on the subject; and, one night, when George had just
fallen asleep, after having penned a few lines to "Mary, flower of
sweetest hue," &c., he was forcibly seized upon, manacled, and carried
on board a ship, which was lying at some distance from the harbour. By
daylight the vessel was under weigh, and, ere noon, not a blue hill of
Jamaica could be seen from the deck of His Majesty's ship Spitfire. It
was needless to remonstrate or grumble--his fate, and the cause of it,
were but too manifest; and he almost felt inclined to justify an act,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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