Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 10
General
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 10
Scottish Borders (Scotland) -- Fiction
He despatched me for aid to his antagonist,
with which I returned; and, as the captain's wound appeared to be
mortal, we left them, and proceeded over the hill. We scarcely
exchanged words. Passing up the valley, we stood upon the crest of the
height that commanded a view of Craigmillar Castle, and the distant
hills, with the level country between. Here we paused; and your father,
clasping his hands in agony, gazed around for a few minutes in silence.
My own heart was too full to speak, and I stood looking upon his mental
suffering, which I knew no mode of soothing, and reverenced too much to
interrupt. At length he said, as if unconscious of my presence,
'Farewell, sweet scenes of my happiness! my cruel destiny drives me from
you, and her who is dearer to me than life. But that thought is
distraction. Rose! my beloved Rose! in what a state am I forced to leave
you! Alas! I dare not even bid you farewell. My hands are red with
blood, and the avengers will soon be on my track; but in defence of your
honour it was shed, and Heaven will justify the act. Who now--who will
protect you when I am an outlaw?'
"He dashed his hands upon his forehead, and groaned. I could endure in
silence no longer, and at length soothed him into something like
composure. It was agreed that he should go to his father, inform him of
his duel, and act by his counsel; while I should return to my own house,
watch the progress of the captain's wound, and, happen what would, meet
him at Roslin Chapel at ten o'clock in the evening, to consult what was
farther to be done. We parted at St Leonard's Hill.
"In the forenoon nothing was talked of in the city but Captain Ogilvie's
duel; and it had become a party question. The Whigs had one version of
the cause of quarrel, the Tories another, I gave no ear to either; but
was rejoiced to learn that the captain was not dead, although his life
was despaired of.
"It was now past six o'clock--the quarter had chimed upon the clock of
St Giles. I had my hand on the latch to go once more to the captain's,
to know how he continued since my last inquiry, when the rasp was gently
moved. I opened the door, and your mother staggered into my arms, pale
as death, and swooned away. With difficulty Mary and I restored her to
consciousness. I told her of your father's safety; and she replied that
she was now, save for her husband, a destitute outcast; that her aunt,
who only waited a pretext, had turned her out upon the world; and that
the cause of her expulsion was her conduct in being the mean of her
aunt's favourite, Captain Ogilvie's death. I told her that the captain
was not yet dead, and would, I hoped, survive; and, leaving her in
charge of Mary, I hurried to ascertain what ground there was for any
hope. I found that the captain was still alive, but that his death was
hourly expected.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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