The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-24
A Wicked wife.

A Wicked Wife.
Here is terrible story. from Burke's
Family Romance. showing how .'the
Scots of Thirlstane came to beggary.s 1t
is an Ainsworth's novel in half column. I
"Sir Roberts second wife was an unprin.
cipled woman, of vindictive temper and
fierce passions; and by her he had several
children. This woman had all the quail
ties calculated to make an oppressive step.
dame; and accordingly her jealousy was
excited by the fond affection which Sir
Robert displayed toward his eldest son.
She knew that his rich inheritence would
descend to him. while her own sons would
receive very slender provision; besides,
her husbands excessive attachment to his
eldest son gave her no hope oi his being
persuaded to ALLEVIATE from him any por-
ton of the family property. Her jealousy
accordingly grew into . disease, and her
mind was distracted with rage aud mort.
6cation. These feelings were Still further
aggravated when Sir Robert built the Tow.
er OF Gamescleugh, adorned that property
with all manner Of embellishments, as the
future residence of his eldest son, who was
now about TO come of age, and for whom
he had arranged suitable and advanta-
geous matrimonial alliance with beauti.
full young lady Of high birth. The step
mother now lost all patience, and was
firmly resolved to compass the destruction
of her hated step-son. The mason work
of the new castle Of Gamescleugh was
completed on the young Laird's twentieth
birthday. which was held as high festi-
val at Thirlestane. The lady resolved
thai his hours should now be numbered;
and she accordingly prepared, on the in
tended festival to execute her horrid pur-
pose. She had already secured in her in.
terest the family piper. whose name was
John Lally. This man procured three
| adders. from which he selected the parts
| replete with the most deadly poison, and
having ground them to q fine powder, La
| dy Thirlsstance, mixed them in bottle oil
4 wine. Previous 10 the commencement oil
the feast al Thirlestane, the young Laird
went over the Et,rick riverto Gamescleugh
to inspect the flashed work. and to regale
the masons aud other work-people who
had exerted themselvesto 10 have the castle
walls completed by his birthday; he was
attended by John LalIy. In the midst Of
the entertainment Of the workmen, the
young Laird called for wine to drink their
heal.hs; and John filed his silver cup from
the poisoned bottle, which the ill-faied
youth hastily drank off. The piper i'm.
| mediately left the castle as if to return
home. But he was never more seen. The
most diligent search failed in discovering
him; aud il is supposed that he escaped
across the English border. Young Thir.
lestans was instantaneously taken violent.
| ly i'll, and such was the force of the poison
that he swelled and burst within an hour.
The news was immediately carried to
Thirlestane. where large party Of the
kith and kin of Scott had assembled to do
honor 10 the festival. But il may easily
be conceived that woful gathering il
turned out to be. With one accord, the
| guests felt and said that the young Laird
was poisoned, but were unable to conceive
who could have done go foul deed to one
50 universally beloved. The old Baron
immediately caused q bugle to be blown.
as q signal to al the family to assemble in
the castle court. He inquired. Are we
all herel A voice from the crowd an.
swered, 'All but the piper. John Laly!'
This sounded like knell in the ears OF
Sir Robert. lie knew the confidence which
his lady placed in this servant. His eyes
| were at once opened to the foul deed, and
| the conviction that his most dear and be.
loved son had been slain by the machina.
tions Of his wife, shocked his feelings so
terribly that he was almost deprived ol
reason. He stood very long in state Of
utter stupefaction, end then began to re-.
peat the answer which he had received
And this he continued to do for several
days. We are all here but John Laily.
the piPerv Sir Robert lived in lawless
time. justice was not rightly administered,
and ii was difficult to punish the crimes OF
the powerful and noble. Moreover, Sir
Robert could not be induced 10 seek to
make public example of his own wife
However, he adopted a singular and com.
plete, though most unjust method of ven.
geance. He said that the estate belonged
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, expressed great
satisfaction al the idea Of depriving his
lady and her offspring of that which she
had played so foul a partto secure to them.
The body Of the young Laird was accord
ingly embalmed with the most costly drugs
and spices, and lay in state at Thirles,ane
for a year and day; during the whole of
which time Sir Robert kept open house,
welcoming royalty feasling all who chose
10 come. And in this way of reckless and
wanton proiusion he actually 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 a vault Of the castle.
fed upon bread and water. During the
last three days OF this extraordinary feast,
crowds were immense. II was as If the
whole Of the south of Scotland was assem-
bled at Thirlestane. Butts Of the richest
and rarest wines were carried into the
fields, the ends were knocked out with
hatchets, and the liquor was carried about
in stoups., The burn OF Thirlestane liter
ally ran red with wine. The vault where
the young Laird was inferred is under the
roof Of the church of Ettrick, which is dis
tant from Thirlestans upwards of q mile;
Ins> ~ - -5al. L