Page:Jeanie Deans and the lily of St. Leonard's.pdf/20

 20 in possible for him to do justice to the unfortu- nate girl. Robertson escaped the gallows in the remarkable manner already mentioned ; and, to revenge the death of Wilson, he assumed a fe- male disguise, and took an active share in the riot by which Porteous lost his life. From But- ler's information it had been suspected that Ro- bertson was the person who was to meet Jeanic Deans at Muschat's Cairn, and he narrowly es caped from the officers sent by the magistrate for his apprehension. We now return to Jeanie Deans, who had been cited as a witness on behalf of her sister. On the day of trial she acknowledged that the prisoner had never said any thing to her on the subject of the expected birth of her child ; and accordingly Effie was found guilty and con- demned to be executed. But although Jeanie could not be prevailed on to swear to an untruth, even to save the life of one so dear to her, still she did not despair of being able to avert her impending doom. Convinced of Effie's inno- cence, she formed the romantic r solution of travelling on foot to London, and begging a par- don from the king. At an early hour on the morning after Effie's trial Jeanie packed up her little wardrobe, and set out on the road. It was necessary, however, for many reasons that she should see Butler; and accordingly she struck of the direct road, tak- ing that which passed through Libberton. Jeanie recollected that Reuben was in po-ses- sion of a document which might be of essential service to her in London. Butler's grandfather, while serving in Monk's regiment of dragoons, had on one occasion saved the life of Argyle: and that unfortunate nobleman, unable at that