Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 21
General
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 21
Scottish Borders (Scotland) -- Fiction
While the first was in progress, Sir James was informed by the young
lady of the reasons for her concealment. On this and the part Sir Robert
Lindsay had acted towards her being made known to him, he lost no time
in opening a communication with that gentleman, riding repeatedly into
Glasgow himself to see him on the subject of his fair charge; at the
same time informing him of the attachment he had formed for her, and
finally obtaining his consent, or at least approbation, to their
marriage. The bet, we need hardly add, was a concerted joke between the
Provost, Sir James, and his lady.
When we have added that the circumstance of Sir Robert Lindsay's delay
in returning for Jessie Craig, which excited so much surprise at
Woodlands, was owing to the unlooked-for prolongation of the king's stay
in Glasgow, we think we have left nothing unexplained that stood in need
of such aid.
THE BRIDE OF BELL'S TOWER.
Some time ago I made inquiry at the editor of _Notes and Queries_ for
information as to the whereabouts of an old mansion called Bell's Tower,
and whether it was occupied by a family of the name of Bower; but my
inquiry was not attended with any success beyond the usual production of
surmises and speculations. There was a place so called in Perthshire;
but then it never was occupied by people of that name,--the Bowers being
an old family in Angus, whose principal messuage was Kincaldrum. Yet I
cannot be mistaken in the name, either of the house or the family, as
connected with the occurrences of the tradition, the essentials of which
have floated in my mind ever since I heard them from one to whom they
were also traditional. Then the story has something of an antique air
about it, as may be noticed from the application of adjectives to
baptismal names, as Devil Isobel and Sweet Marjory,--by no means a
modern usage, but easily recognised in analogues of our old poetry. We
may say, at least, that whether the Bowers were a very or only a
moderately ancient family, Bell's Tower was an old structure--the name
being applied to the mansion, which was an addition to a peel or
castle-house of many centuries--not without its battlements and barnkin,
and all the other appurtenances of a strength, as such places were
called.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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