Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-05-27
The Revenge of a Wcman.

Scottish family Of Kerr. who reduced In her
circumstances, had married a law agent by
the name Of macfalane. She was extreme
" beautiful, and, therefore. much pestered
by the advances of the dssolute young no.
blemen in Edinburgh. This was in 1851
A young Englishman. by the name of Cay
ley, became so deeply enamored of her, that
he threatened her, if she would not elope
with him, to utterly blast her character by
avering that he had an intrigue with her
She could no believe that he would do so
dishonorabie and unmanly an act; but he did
throw out hints at public coffee house.
which conveyed what he had threatened.
The next forenoon she went to pay visit In
a distant part of the town but she could not
help remarking. that while she seemed TO
have become an object of additional interest
to the male sex, the ladies' even those with
whom she had been on terms of civil recog-
milton. averted their eyes from her, with an
expression, as she thought Of contempt.
The lady upon whom she called received
her in the coolest manner, and on an expla-
nation being asked, did not hesitate to mem
ton what she had heard as the town talk
thar morning; that Mr.. Cayley professed
himself 10 be favored lover. The unfortu-
nate lady burst into a passion OF tears and
lam entations at this inte lligence. protested
her innocence thousand times, and declar-
ed herself TO be only the victim of profii-
gate: but still she saw that she did not pro-
duce an entirely exclupatory effect upon the
mind Of her friend. She went home in a
state of distress bordering on despair. Her
ea,Iy misfouunes through the severity Of the
government; her depende Mt situation in the
house Of her kinsiolk her unhappy MARI
iage to a man she could never love; and IT,
nally the cruel GOODNESS with which she had
been treated by her former friends in the
days of her depression. all recurred upon
her mind for the most desperate resolutions.
Early in the afternoon she sent note to
Mr.. Cayley. requesting in her usual terms
the favor Of his company. The receipt ol
the bill threw him into transports oil JOY; Tor
he believed his scheme had already taken
effect. and that she was now prepared TO ac-
cede TO his proposals. He therefore dressed
himself in his best style; and at the proper
hour The felt too secure of his prey TO 60
sonneD walked across the street to his ap-
pointment He was shown into a room at the
back OF the house, where he had never before
been, and where there was little furniture be-
sides picture Of Mrs. Macfarane, painted
by Sir John Medina, an Italian artist, who
long pracised his trade in the Scottish cap
ilal. The portrait, which he began TO gaze
upon with all the enthusiasm OF a lover, ie-
presented his mistress in a style and manner
stiikingly beautiful. The utmost serenity,
united with the utmost innocence, shone IN
those sweetly noble features. The fair, open
brow glowed like the summer sky. cam'y
and clondlessly beautiful. The eye shone
with the lustre OF gladness ard intelligence,
and the whole expression was resolved into
an exquisite and killing smile The lover
stood in transport before the image ofall he
held dear on earth, as il he was yielding TO
an doIatrous contemplation of its extraordl-
nary loveliness, when the door was opened.
and behold the original instead ofthe volup.
tuous smile which shone on the canvas OF
Medina, a beautiful fury stood before him-a
Hecate not yet grown old. He started with
horror: for not only did she bear in her coun'
tenance the most threatening ensigns of pas
sions, but she carried in her hands two large
pistols, one Of which she held extended TO
him. while she locked the door behind her,
at the same time keeping watchfui and
garing eye upon her victim.
one who never did you wrong. You have
destroyed me as completely as if you had
stretched me heless beneath your hand
More than this, you have rendered others
who are dear to me unhappy for ever. My
child, you have deprived her OF the nurture OF
mother; you have fixed upon her name a
stain which will never be washed out, And
yet for all this, society, cruel as 1t is to the
victims, provides no punishment-hardly
even censure--to the cTilninal. Were u not
my will to prevent you. you might walk away
scathless from the fair scene you had ravaged,
with nothing to disturb you triumph, bu; the
lamentation OF so many broken hearts. You
shall not. however, enjoy this triumph, for
here you shall die,
Cayley had stood foi few minutes, gazing
alternately at her face aud at the weapon she
held extended towards him. He heard her
address as il he heard il not. But at the last
words he recovered little Of his presence of
mind, and made an effort to approach her.
She at that moment fired, but without effect.
The effort Of drawing the trigger had depres-
sed the muzzle Of the weapon, and the ball
entered the floor at his feet She lost not an
instant TO present and fire the other, the shot
Of which penetrated his breast, and he fell the
next moment before her, with but one indls-
tinct murmur Of agony-and then all was
still.
One briet embrace other child-a moment
at the toilet to arrange her travelling dress
which she had previously prepared, and the
beautiful murderess was ready to fly. She
instantly left town for the South. and receiv-
ed shelter and concealment in the house OF
her distant kinsman. Sir John Swinton.-
How long she was there protected is not
known; but it was probably as long as the
search ofjustice continued to be in the least
eager. Il was always understood by those
aged persons who knew her story, and from
whom the preceding facts have chiefly been
derived, that she ultimately escaped to some
remote continental State, where she was sup
ported by contributions from her relations.
So closes one Of the most tiagical tales that
stain the domestic annals OF Scotland during
the last century.