Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-08-03
cen. The most diligent search failed

in discovering him; and it is supposed
that he escaped across the English bor-
der. Young Thirlestane was instanta-
neously taken violently ill, and such
was the force of the poison that he
swelled and burst within an hour
The news was Immediately carried to
Thurlestane, where large party of the
kith and kin of Scott had assembled to
do honor to the festival. But it NAV
easily be conceived what woful gath
ering it turned out to be. With one ac-
cord, the guests felt and said that the
young laird was poisoned, but were un-
able to conceive who could have done
SO foul deed to one so universally be.
loved. The old baron Immediately eau
sed bugle to be blown, as a signal tc
all the family to assemble in the castle
court. He then inquired Are we all
here p A voice from the crowd an
swered 'All but the piper, John Lally !!
This sounded like knell in the ears of
Sir Robert. He knew the confidence
which his lady placed in this servant
His eyes were at once open to the foul
deed, and the conviction that his most
dear and beloved son had been slain by
the Vaccinations of his wife, shocked
his feelings SO terribly that he was al
most deprived of reason. He stood very
long in state of utter stupefaction, and
then began to repeat the answer which
he had received. And this he continu-
ed to do for several days. 'We are all
here but JOHN Lally, the piper!' Sir
Robert lived in lawless time, Justice
was not rightly administered and it was
difficult to punish the C. lines of the pow
erful and noble. Moreover, Sir Robert
could not be induced to seek to make a
public example of his own wife. How
ever, he adopted singular and COM
plete, though most unjust method of
vengeance. He said that the estate be-
longed of right to his son, and that since
he..could not bestow it upon him while
living, he would, at least spend it upon
him when dead. And he moreover ex-
pressed great satisfaction at the idea Of
depriying his lady and her offspring Of
that which she had played SO foul part
to secure to them. The body of the
young Laird was accordingly empalmed
with the most costly drugs and spices
and lay in state at Thirlestane for year
and day; during the whole of which
time Sir Robert kept open house, wei.
coming and royalty teasting all who
choose to come. And in this way Of
reckless and wanton profusion he actu.
ally spent or mortgaged his entire estate
While the whole country, high and low
were thus feasting at Thirlestane, the
lady was kept shut up in vault of the
castle, fed upon bread and water. Du.
ring the last three day of this extraor-
binary feast, the crowds were immense
1t was as if the whole of the south Of
Scotland was assembled at Thirlestane
Butts of the richest and rarest wines
were carried into the fields /; their end
were knocked out with hatchets, ant
the liquor was carried about in stoups
The burn of Thirlestane literally raj
red with wine. The vault where The
young Laird was inferred, in a leader
coffin, is under the roof of the church
of Ettrick, which is distant from Thirle
stane upwards of mile; and SO numer
Gus was the funeral procession, tina
when the leaders had reached the church
those in the rear had not nearly left tn
castle gates. Sir Robert died soon afte
this, and left his family in utter destitu
ton. 1t is said that his wicked lady
died in absolute beggary."