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
"With a sorrowful heart I hurried out by Bristo Port, after getting the
word for the night from the keeper, that I might be admitted, on my
return, into the city. I was at the chapel some time before ten o'clock,
and found my master waiting for me. When I told him that the captain was
still in life, he took my hand--'Square,' he said, 'this has been a sad
and dreary day to me. It is a fearful thing to have blood upon our
hands, even in a just cause. I pray with my whole soul he may recover,
both for his own sake and mine.'
"I then told him what had befallen your mother.
"'I am happy it is so,' he said, 'I shall leave her under the keeping of
Mary and you with more confidence than I could in her aunt's. My mind is
relieved of a burden; my greatest difficulty was how to dispose of my
beloved until my return; for, by the command of my father, I set off for
France to-morrow--to St Germains, where I will remain until this
untoward affair blows over. If all go as we anticipate, you will,
perhaps, see me here sooner than you expect--ay, with a gallant band of
patriots, to redress Scotland's wrongs, and restore our rightful
prince. My father is not displeased at my conduct--would that he knew
the right I had to take my Rose's part! But the time will come. As I
know not how soon the officers of justice may be in quest of me, I must
depart to-morrow morning for England, on my way to France. I must
therefore see Rose, to bid her good-by for a short season. I shall be
waiting for her near St Anthony's Chapel, to weep our parting, where we
have so often smiled at our meetings. O William, William! these thoughts
unman me.'
"'My dear master,' said I, 'am I to accompany you?'
"'No, William,' replied he--'no; I leave my beloved wife to your care
until my return, when I will requite you as she shall report of you.'
"It was early in the morning before I reached Edinburgh. I found your
mother and Mary still out of bed, awaiting my return. The night was
spent in tears by the females, and a melancholy presentiment was on my
own heart. Before we set out to meet the fugitive, I caused them to
disguise themselves--your mother having my wife's maud, and she a dress
she had never before worn. They proceeded down the street by themselves,
while I went to inquire how the captain had spent the night. I found he
was still in life, but no hopes were entertained of his recovery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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