Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland novel. A total of 570 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume I.by Various.PREFACE.This seri
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume I.by Various.PREFACE.This series of Tales, now so well known in this country and also in America, was begun by JOHN MACKAY WILSON, originally a printer, and who subsequently betook himself to liter
- 470 "Whaur fae, Charlie," had she repeated, still looking at him."The devil!" cried he, stung by her searching look, which brought back a gleam of the old rebellion."A gude paymaster to his servants," she said; "but I'm no ane o' them yet; and may th
- 469 "Somewhere about the pineal; and therefore we say impudence is moral, sometimes immoral, as just now when you d.a.m.ned me. No more of your old junk, I say, sitting here in my cathedra, which by the way is spring-bottomed, which may account for my moral
- 468 I looked on the countenance of the sufferer again. It was slightly distorted with pain, and all trace of the resemblance I had fancied was gone. An interval of ease succeeded. The real or imagined resemblance returned. Again I lost sight of it, and again
- 467 The narrative grieved and distressed him beyond measure; for, until I told him, he had no idea I stood before him a convicted felon; his first impression naturally being that I had come to the colony of my own free will.Unlike all others, however, he, my
- 466 Whether such a desperate attempt would have been successful or not, is doubtful; but there is no question that a frightful scene of bloodshed would have taken place; nor that, if the ruffians had managed well, and judiciously timed their attack, they had
- 465 How my friend Mr. Lancaster received this intimation of our former acquaintance I must reserve for another number, as I must also do the sequel of my adventures; for I have yet brought the reader but half through the history of my chequered life.THE CONVI
- 464 "The others?" he said."What others?" I replied. "I have only one name, and I have given it.""Pho, pho!" exclaimed he. "Gentlemen of your profession have always a dozen. However, we'll take what you have given in the meantime." And he proceeded
- 463 Terrified by the ferocious manner and threatening att.i.tude of the termagant, and beginning to feel that the getting safe out of the house ought to be considered as a most desirable object, I told her, in the most conciliatory manner I could a.s.sume, th
- 462 When he returned, he kept hovering about the entrance into the show, as if to prevent the egress of any one, but without making any sign to me, or even looking at me. My agitation during this interval was excessive; and although I strictly obeyed my frien
- 461 "Well, they were, 'See ma.'""The very words; and were they not enough for proof and belief?""Yes, sir; but there are words which have two significations. Ma' is the contraction, as you know, for mamma, but it is p.r.o.nounced the same as _maw_, wh
- 460 Left to themselves, the two remaining friends of the hour before, but now no longer friends, looked sternly at each other. The one considered himself duped; the other was burning under the imputation of being a cheat and a liar."Oh I don't retract," sa
- 459 "Never. I know no more of them than you do; and, besides, I give you your choice of mother, or not mother.""Ha! ha!" laughed Campbell, as he looked intently at Dewhurst. "Are you mad, Dewhurst? Has your last triumph blinded you? The woman is too old
- 458 In a few minutes afterwards M'Kay came forth from Lord Rae's apartment to perform the daring feat of securing two armed men by the mere force of physical strength; for he was now without weapon of any kind. When he came out, however, it was with an appe
- 457 The soldiers, who had orders to admit her ladys.h.i.+p and attendant to the prisoner at any time between the hours of nine in the morning and seven at night, offered no hindrance to her approaching the door and rapping for admittance. This she now did; an
- 456 As soon as she recovered from her meditation, she sought again the workroom of the artist, to whom she told the issue of the search for the will. Paul looked at first greatly struck, but under his strange philosophy he recovered that calmness which belong
- 455 "And why this suppression and secrecy, Walter?" she asked. "How could you know," she continued, as she held down her head, "that I would be adverse to your wishes; nay, that I was not even in the same condition as yourself?""Surely you do not mean
- 454 "Yes," rejoined the angry uncle, "lands, tenements, hereditaments, shares, dividends, stock, furniture, bed and table linen.""And table linen," echoed the entranced nephew."Yes; everything," continued the uncle; and calming down as he saw the whit
- 453 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.VOL XXII.by various.UPS AND DOWNS; OR, DAVID STUART'S ACCOUNT OF HIS PILGRIMAGE.Old David Stuart was the picture of health--a personification of contentment. When I knew him, his years must have considerably
- 452 "He is sae ill that I hae very little hope o him," said Mrs. Skirving. "Good G.o.d!" replied the man, "is it possible? I have murdered him." And he groaned in distress. "What do ye mean, James?" "Six o us wagered, three against three, and twa to
- 451 "You are weel forward the day, George," said Cowie. "Ye'll be in Cupar before your time. There's rowth a parcels for ye at John Sharpe's door, yonder. But, mercy on me!" he continued, starting and looking amazed, "what's the matter wi' ye, man?
- 450 "How do you explain this, doctor?" said Mr. Thomson mildly, although beginning--he couldn't help it--to think rather queerly of the doctor."Why, why," replied the crest-fallen and perplexed doctor, "if I really have been in your house, Mr. Thomson,
- 449 In mute surprise, the police, every one holding his lantern aloft, and thus surrounding the bed with a halo of light, gazed for a second or two on the sleeping Esculapius. They had never, in the course of all their experience, seen a burglar take things s
- 448 And there they were, to be sure. Half-a-dozen rattling fellows all in a lump. In they poured into Walkinshaw's room with hilarious glee."Ah, doctor. Oh, doctor. Here too, doctor. Hope you're well, doctor.Glad to see you, doctor!" resounded in all quar
- 447 PERSONAL APPEARANCE, CHARACTER, AND PECULIARITIES OF THE DOCTOR.The doctor was a little stout man, not what could be called corpulent, but presenting that sort of plump appearance which gives the idea of a person's being hard-packed, squeezed, crammed in
- 446 "Or forward with any hope of happiness," said he. "But I will brave all your father's anger, Isobel's revenge, and my loss of honour, if you will consent to be mine within a year.""Nay," repeated the maid with a sigh. "Out of my unhappiness may c
- 445 "Come, Marjory," she said, as she grasped the faint hand of the almost unresisting girl. "Come."And leading her by a half-dragging effort out of the room and along the pa.s.sages, she took her to the large hall, where servants were busy laying the lon
- 444 "Both points are of easy adjustment, your Grace," said Sir Robert. "Your Grace has only to intimate a wish to our host, when he returns, that you would feel gratified by his introducing his lady to you; and as to the matter of decision, I would, with y
- 443 "Really," said the old dame, with a continuation of the same sneer, and long ere this guessing what Willie was driving at. "And wha may they be noo, if I may speer?""They're gey kenspeckled," replied Mr. Buchanan; "but that doesna matter. If ye ca
- 442 It was not many hours after his arrival at the castle, that he summoned to his presence a certain trusty attendant of the name of William Buchanan, and thus schooled him in the duties of a particular mission in which he desired his services."Willie," sa
- 441 It was so. From that hour the image of the lovely nymph of the grove was to remain for ever enshrined in the inmost heart of the young cavalier.He had met with no encouragement to follow up the accidental acquaintance he had made. Indeed, the lady's relu
- 440 On this resolution being come to, Henderson returned to the window, and thrusting out his head, exclaimed, "Wait there a moment, and I will admit you."In the next instant he had unbarred the outer door, and had stepped out to a.s.sist the lady in dismou
- 439 Not five minutes elapsed, when Jones and the two a.s.sistants with the box arrived; when the officer cried-- "Jones, follow up an old woman, in a grey duffle cloak, Christian Anderson by name, who is this moment gone down by the Pleasance, to take St. Ma
- 438 "Go and look into her pails," said the lieutenant to Reid, as he hastened up to him. "Jones and I will remain for a moment here."Reid set off, and disappeared in the narrow pa.s.sage leading to West Richmond Street; but he remained only a short time.
- 437 "There is Abram's house," she said; "there's light in the window."And the officer, standing a little to see where she went, now began to examine the outside of Abram's premises. A c.h.i.n.k in the shutters showed him a part of the person of some on
- 436 This salutation was answered by a renewed discharge of musketry; and the darkness, which was relieved by the momentary flash, became instantly more impenetrable than ever. Men evidently pursued men, and horses were held by the bridle, or driven into speed
- 435 In religion, or rather in politics--in as far, at least, as they are interwoven with and inseparable from the Presbyterian faith--my mother was a staunch Covenanter. Nor was it at all surprising that one whose forefathers had suffered so severely in defen
- 434 The farmer was too happy to write an order for any amount within the limits of his last farthing, and getting pen and ink, he wrote the cheque."And you couldn't tell me the name of the woman with the mice; but I can tell you," he continued. "It is Mar
- 433 "Well, buy them yoursel'," said the woman."Done," said he; "there's five guineas for them, and you can gie them to Meg as a present. Now, are ye firm?""Firm!" she cried, as she clutched the money, and gave a shrill laugh, from a nerve that was n
- 432 "When was she here last?""About a month ago.""Anywhere near the time of the girl's death?""Ay, just about that time, or maybe a week before.""And you can give me no trace of her?""None whatever, except that I think I saw her take to the east,
- 431 said S----."We cannot get you people to understand these things," replied the writer; "but so it is, at least with me, and I rather think a good number of my brethren. We have a pride in getting off a guilty person; whereas we have only a spice of sati
- 430 "Edward," continued the grey-haired parent, "I have had deaths in my family--many deaths, and thou knowest it--but I never had to blush for a child but thee! I have felt sorrow, but thou hast added shame to sorrow--""O father!" cried Eleanor, implor
- 429 THE PRODIGAL SON.The early sun was melting away the coronets of grey clouds on the brows of the mountains, and the lark, as if proud of its plumage, and surveying itself in an illuminated mirror, carolled over the bright water of Keswick, when two strange
- 428 All in vain. At length the knurr of the clock, and the most solemn of all the hours, "one," sounded hoa.r.s.ely. Wearied, exhausted, and sorely troubled, Geordie fell asleep, greatly aided thereto by the eternal oscillation of that little tongue at the
- 427 "For her lover, nae doubt; for my master wasna expected hame for a week.And was I no guilty mysel', wha played into her hands, and was fause to him wha fed me?""Haud your peace, then, and say naething. The Lord will forgi'e you.""Oh G.o.d, hae merc
- 426 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume 21.by Alexander Leighton.THE BURGHER'S TALES.THE HOUSE IN BELL'S WYND.Some reference has been made by Mr. Chambers, in his _Traditions of Edinburgh_, to a story which looks very like fiction, but the
- 425 Tom now took the command, and it required all his exertions and skill to save him from the privateer; for the crew of the _Tweed_, regardless of everything else, had been looking at their commander like persons stupified, allowing the vessel to go as she
- 424 Tom lost no time in informing his father of the destination of his pa.s.sengers, and of the offer which he had made them."That's right, my boy," said the old tar--"it's our duty to a.s.sist our fellow-men as much as is in our power--and never have I
- 423 THE SEA SKIRMISH."The boatswain, piping, loudly thunders-- To your quarters fore and aft!The great guns sponge, prepare for wonders, While, my lads, the wind's abaft.With grape we can nine-pounders rattle-- Naval heroes, fight and sing-- He that bravely
- 422 "Hae ye heard ony news o' late?" began Carey."I'm no i' the way o' hearin news," replied Cubby, "an' care little for the warld's clavers besides.""But when things concern oorsels," said Carey, "we maun care aboot them.""What mean ye?" sa
- 421 "Ay, but ye're no tauld to brak open folk's doors, to force them to repent," replied Cubby. "Besides, Mr Willison, whar's the shoon Jamie Goodawl said he couldna mend, and sent ye to me wi'? Amang sins to be repented o', a lee is a very guid ane t
- 420 Some days afterwards, Cubby again made his appearance at the counter of John Monilaws; and there being no more old bread for him, he struck a long-contested bargain about some "fuisted" meal that had been long in the shop, and for which he offered far b
- 419 "By my right hand," said he, "I speak seriously, and the truth. She believes, and you believe that she is the niece of old Hastings, your master. She is his daughter--the only daughter of a fair but frail wife, who eloped from him while his child was y
- 418 Such was my father's letter, and every word in it went to my bosom as a sharp instrument. I took two hundred pounds from the two hundred and fifty that had been given to me to provide for my voyage, and transmitted them to my father, to relieve him from
- 417 When the stranger had put on dry raiment and partaken of food, his host ordered liquors to be brought; and when they were placed upon the table, he again addressed his guest, and said--"Here, sir, thou hast claret, port, and sherry--my cellar affords no
- 416 "'Sir,' said he, 'I know that to be the coast and s.h.i.+pping of Havannah.'"'All's well,' cried I; 'who is at the helm?'"'Bill Bowline, your honour.'"'Bill, lay your bows right upon the main-mast of that large vessel which you see looming
- 415 "To all appearance," said he, "there was nothing but solitude around me; only, I heard carts at a distance which seemed to be driven inland; and my curiosity was excited by a low rumbling sound which came from the other side of a small projecting promo
- 414 "'Well thought of, Elphinstone,' cried I; 'wring an answer to that question out of him, one way or other.'"Mary did her utmost to put a stop to further violence, but I prevented her from interfering, and encouraged William to proceed. Upon which, fi
- 413 The property of Whithaugh has been in the possession of the ancestors of the venerable and kind-hearted present proprietor for at least four centuries. Its produce has always been sufficient for the necessaries, and even some of the luxuries of life; and,
- 412 "This is now the sixth week that I have dwelt in this dreary place. Oh, happy they who lie beneath! they are covered, and feel not our privations, and pains, and sufferings; and yet freedom and home is offered to us, and accepted by many. G.o.d forgive t
- 411 replied his mother. "I'm aye blithe to hear o' his weelfare, for auld lang syne; but what mair is there aboot it?""I dinna ken, mother," said the boy; "but I've been thinkin that if he kent you were here, or kent whar to fin ye, he wad maybe let y
- 410 This done, she redoubled her exertions in general preparation, and with such effect, that in a few minutes, a little round table, spread with a clean white cloth, which she placed by the elbow of her guest, was covered with the homely but wholesome edible
- 409 Within a few hours after his liberation, he was on his way to England, in company with Lady Arabella. He had devoted the whole period of his imprisonment to writing letters to her, and venting curses against Scotland. Margaret Williamson was forgotten, in
- 408 "He's a braw knight that wha has come to the House o' Gordon," said Janet Hunter, one night when they were sitting round the fire."Ken ye wha, or what, or whence he is," inquired Adam, "atour the mere t.i.tle an' form o' his knighthood?""I ken
- 407 "You are a n.o.ble fellow," said the lieutenant whom he had encountered, "and if you will join our service, I guess your merit shan't be long without promotion.""What!" cried Peter, "raise my right hand against my ain country! Gude gracious, sir!
- 406 "A rescue, by Harry!--a rescue!" cried the old skipper."No, no," returned Peter--"no rescue; if it cam to that, I wad need nae a.s.sistance. Quit my arms, sirs, and I'll accompany ye in peace. Ann, love--fareweel the noo, an' Heaven bless you, dear
- 405 Next day, and every day, found Peter at the house of Captain Graham; and often as love's own hour threw its grey mantle over the hills, he was to be seen wandering with the gentle Ann by his side, on the sea-banks, by the beach, and in the unfrequented p
- 404 "Gilbert Walker," said I, calmly, "my intentions towards your dochter were honourable, and I am come here this day--little thanks to me!--to put you on your guard against one whose intentions are false, treacherous, and abominable. When I made love to
- 403 "It's just my way," said I; "we canna restrain our heart or our stamach."The mention o' the last word made the puir creature blush. It even stopped her tears. On hoo little springs do our pa.s.sions depend!This scene bein acted in the way I hae thus
- 402 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Vol. XX.by Alexander Leighton.THE DOMINIE OF ST FILLAN'S.CHAPTER I.PLEASANT REMINISCENCES OF MY FATHER.It is now about twenty years sin' I first raised my voice in the desk o'the kirk o' St Fillan's, in
- 401 On looking-up, Hume saw the Captain's bilbo thrusting manfully through the night air, as if it would pierce the night gnomes and spirits that love to hang over old battlements. Taking out his handkerchief, he wrapped it round his hand, and seizing the po
- 400 "Thank G.o.d!" cried William; "he is, I trust, then, still alive." And he pressed the stranger's hand with a warmth that surprised him. "Where do you mean to stay," resumed William, "until the vessel sails?""I have no relations," replied he, "
- 399 "My name is William Wallace," answered William, with a beating heart. "I never had the honour to see you until to-day.""Wallace? Wallace?" said the old gentleman, musing. "No---my friend's name was not Wallace; we were both of Monro's regiment--h
- 398 "Oh, how can you say so?" she returned, and bending down her head, became visibly agitated. And yet poor Christina knew not, even now, that she loved Charles Gordon: she understood not the true cause of the beatings of her disturbed heart. He looked at
- 397 On the 26th of August, the Duke of Newcastle, one of the secretaries of state, wrote a letter to the right honourable the lord justice-general, justice-clerk, and other lords of justiciary, of which the following is a copy:--"My lords, application having
- 396 "'Really, sir,' said I, 'I acknowledge that I must pay ye, though everybody said at the time that I was a very simple man for entering into ony such agreement wi' ye; but it is not in my power to pay ye just now. In the course o' a twalmonth I hope
- 395 "'Let me look at it,' says he."So, as honesty never needs to be feared for what it does, I handed him the bit paper. But after looking at it for a moment, he held it up between his finger and thumb, and wi' a kind o' sarcastic laugh, inquired--'Whe
- 394 'Weel, Mr Swanston, I have no objections to sign my name, if, as you say, that be all that is in it, and if my doing so will be of service to you.'"He grasped hold o' my hand wi' both o' his, and he squeezed it until I thought he would have caused t
- 393 Thrice a hundred tapers burned suspended from the roof, and on each side of the hall stood twenty men with branches of blazing pine. Now came the morris dance, with the antique dress and strange att.i.tudes of the performers, which was succeeded by a danc
- 392 "Let him die!--let him die!" she exclaimed. "Is not his doom inevitable?You will torture my Eugene by keeping in his life till the law demands its victim, and he may be carried--carried! O G.o.d!--to a second death, ten times more cruel than that which
- 391 "It is on Dr M----'s table!" cried the youth, starting to his feet, and again throwing himself violently on the chair. "I purchased it; paid the price for it; and recognised it only when the dissecting-knife was in my hand!" Every one started aghast;
- 390 When the party had seated themselves--"Shall I serve up some refreshment, sir?" said the servant to Mr Mowbray, with great respect of manner, but with that perplexing smile on his face."Yes, John, do," said Mr Mowbray; "and as quick's you like; for
- 389 Leaving the lovers in discussion on these very agreeable points, and others connected therewith, we will follow Mr Adair on the errand on which he went, after Mr Mowbray had left him. This was to communicate to his wife the unexpected and important propos
- 388 "Have you any objection to try?" said the stranger, with a gentle smile."None whatever," replied the hospitable yeoman."Well, Mr Adair," said the stranger, with more gravity of manner, "to convert jest into earnest, I have a proposal to make to you
- 387 XIII.--PORTER'S HOLE.In the west corner of the churchyard of Dalgarno--now a section of the parish of Closeburn--there is a small, but neat headstone, with two figures joining hands, as if in the att.i.tude of marrying. Beneath is written, and still legi
- 386 The old man's hairs gradually whitened and became more scanty, whilst this loss was made up for by an increase of wrinkles. The only change in his habits were not unfrequent visits which he payed to an old friend, he said, in Whitehaven, and from which h
- 385 "Come from thy langsettle, jolly Kate Webster," continued he of the red cravat, "and let us, as thou wert wont to say, have a little laughing and drinking deray in this last night of the old year. I see, by the very mouths thou makest, thy throat is as
- 384 And he held out the bottle to Rob, after having put it bodily to his mouth, and taking a long draught as an example to the latter, who was known to despise flasks. Rob turned up his eyes to the Virgin, and got from her some confidence, if not courage. He
- 383 "Hery, Hary, Hubblischow, See ye not quha is come now!"ringing in one's ears during the whole night. The young were out; the old were in; but all were equally up and doing the honours of the occasion. At auld Wat Wabster's door, one minstrel company w
- 382 "P.S." said his mother; "who does that mean?""Oh!" said I, "it means n.o.body. It means that we have not read all the letter.""Read it a', then--read it a'!" she cried.And I turned to the last page, on the fold above the direction, and read--
- 381 Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland.Volume 17.by Alexander Leighton.ROGER GOLDIE'S NARRATIVE.A TALE OF THE FALSE ALARM.Ye have heard of the false alarm, (said Roger Goldie,) which, for the s.p.a.ce of wellnigh four and twenty hours, filled the
- 380 M'Gregor went to the window, to see what he had no doubt was the last of his poor friend, Sullivan--and he soon had this melancholy satisfaction.In a few minutes, the party appeared proceeding down the avenue, with Terence in the centre, mounted on one o
- 379 "That's a question, father," said his daughter, "that relates to a part of the bargain I mean to drive with you which I have not yet arrived at, and which will seem to you the most unreasonable of the whole, I daresay. You must not ask me where I am g
- 378 "For Heaven's sake," she exclaimed, in the agony of her feelings, and seizing him almost convulsively by the hand as she spoke, "do not commit murder! Do not send the soldiers after him, captain. I will do anything for you--I will go on my bended knee
- 377 GRACE CAMERON.In the centre of a remote glen or strath, in the West Highlands of Scotland, stands the old mansion-house of the family of Duntruskin. At the time of the rebellion of 1745-6, this house was the residence of Ewan Cameron, Esq., a gentleman of
- 376 "That," replied he, "your brief, which is as clearly and fully drawn up as if you had done it yourself, will explain to you. In the meantime, I may state, that your client, the defendant, is a young lady of matchless beauty, great fortune and accomplis
- 375 As I rushed away, I turned round for a moment to exclaim, "Farewell, Jessy!--we shall meet again!" Me-thought, as I hurried onward, I heard the accents of broken-hearted agony following after me; and through all, and over all, her voice was there. But I
- 374 And, before I had time to question him as to the whereabouts of his home, and how or when I was to meet him again, he bounded over the gate, and disappeared.That same evening, I was sitting in Edward Thompson's comfortable parlour, reading my favourite,
- 373 Eh, but I thocht it a bonny sicht, when I lookit frae the rigging, where I was hauding on wi' a' my fingers, like a fleyed kitlin, to see the men a' lying oot on the different yards, loosening the rapes that keep the sails rowed up--(they ca' them gas
- 372 Now, though Geordie and I were baith keen to gang to sea, yet we wanted to choose oor ain s.h.i.+p; and, besides, we had resolved no to gang in ane o' the East India Company's s.h.i.+ps; for the lads on board the smack, coming frae Leith, had tell't us
- 371 THE ANGLER'S TALE.Never did boy long more anxiously for the arrival of the happy day which was to free him from the trammels of school discipline than I, a grey-haired man, always do for the return of bright and beautiful summer--that happy season when a