Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-12-08
THE BRIDE OF BALLOON.
THE ORIGINAL OF THE BRIDE OF LAMMER
MOOR.

1869, Aug. "a. The marriage day of
the unfortunate Bride Of Balloon. The
story Of the lady had been related with
all the graces of fiction in the tale of the
bride OF Lammermoor but in its actual
circumstances it is sufficiently impres
sive. She was the honorable Janet Dal
rymyle, daughter of the first Lord Stair
SO distinguished as lawyer. and the
part he took in the politics OF the day
When still in youugish years the young
lady contracted passionate attachment
to Lord Rutherford, the distant relative
and heir of that noble champion. An
drew Rutherford, Earl of Teviot. Th-
young nobleman returned this affection.
and the pair plig their trolh in the usu
al manner. by parting a coin between
them, and impreca,ing dismal evils up
on whosoever should withdraw from or
violate the compact.
But This alliance did not suit the views
of the parents whether from defcien,
fortune 10 the young Lord, or from con
trarious politics does not appear. They
favored new suiror. who appeared in
the person of David Dunbar, younger of
Balloon. in Wingtonshire.
On learning that Dunbar was advanc-
ed in his suit, Lord Rutherford wrote TO
his mistress TO remind her of her engage.
m ent. but received an answer from her
mother TO the effect that she was now
sensible of the error she had committed
by entering into an engagen ent unsanc
toned by her parental authority. and
this engagement it was not her intention
to fulfil. The lover refused 10 take an
answer which did not come directly from
his mistress and insisted on an interview.
1t tot K place, but in the presence of the
mother, woman whom public report
represented as master of her husband
and whole family. and indebted for this
influence TO witchcraft, though for no
reason that can be discerned beyond her
uncommon talents and force Of character.
1t may be readily supposed that even
The resources of love would be of poor
avail against the skill and resolution OF
such a person. When Rutherford was
introduced he found her ready to meet
his arguments with what was an unan
| sweIable defense, a text of Scripture
(Num. Xxx, 2, 8. 4, 5. clearly absolv
ing woman from a bond entered into in
youth, if her father disallow The fulfil
ment of it, and promising them in the
case. 'the Lord shall forgive her. The
poor girl herself sat mute and overwhelm-
ed, while the lover vainly pleading
against the application of this test; and
the scene ended with her surrender of
her portion of the broken coin, and his
flying distracted from the house. after
telling her she would be worlds won
der from what she had done and was yet
to do.
The union with young Balloon went
on. but entirely under the management
of the mother, for il was inconceiveable
that The young man could have pressed
his suit ii he had known the extent TO
which the blids was under constraint.-
The wedding was celebrated as wss GUS
tomary in those days. in the presence ef
the relatives of both parties. and with
great festivi'y; but the bride re-
ma;ned like enc lost in a reverie.
and who only moves aud acts mecban-
ically. A younger brother lived long
enough TO state to lady who commu-
nicsted it to Sir Walter Scott, that be bad
the duty of carrying her on horseback