Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-08-12
the LAST VICTIM OF THE SCOTTISH MAIDEN,


on the northen moors could fail to be re-
minded by them of some bright-eyed
Highland lassie whom he has met at
early dawn of day crossing the mountain
streams barefoot, with her plaid thrown
over her fair hair, and her clear voice
singing out an old, sweet ballad of her
native land or haply, if be has had an
rec to the homes of the Scottish aris-
cracy, they will bring before him some
yet fairer picture of pure, pale face,
where eyes of blue, tender as the morn
ing sky, spoke of noble and truthful
soul within and he has learnt to love the
race that once had such deadly feuds
with his Saxon ancestry, because of the
" glamour" cast around himby the gold
en-haired daughters of the land.
But very different is the real picture of
that Scottish maiden of whom We are
about to speak; nor was she any vision
of the fancy, but terrible reality, whom
all men knew and feared throughout
broad Scotland, two hundred years ago.
A dark and stern lady was she truly, and
one who brooked no rivals--for they
whom she had once embraced were never
clasped to mortal heart again; and the
lovers whom she pillowed on her bosom
slept sleep that knew no waking. Few
there were, even of the bravest, who did
not shudder somewhat as they saw her
keeping her unchanging watch through
storm and sunshine, beneath the shadow
old ST. Giles, the principal church Of the
Northern capital: and oftentimes, wnen
they saw how the ground beneath heI
feet was stained with blood, they mutter
ed curses on the loathly maiden, tha
had done to death SO many gallant Scot
Yet to some this ghastly lady (Which wa
no other than the public guillotine) ap
peared to have attractions, such as man,
bright-eyed damsel would have envied
for it is recorded of the noble Marqui
of Argyle, the last who had died in he
embrace, when our story commence;
that he ran eagerly up the steps, and eS
claimed as he laid his head on the block
This is the sweetest maiden have eve
kissed This saying of his was ofte
cited, and the world wondered what hiC
den pang had so darkened the life of IL
gallant noble, whose homage was courte
by the fairest ladies, that he should d
with words of such bitter meaning {
his lips; but when, some few years late
the maiden pressed with her cold har
the throat of him, who proved to be h
latest victim, the strange and tragic CT
cumstances of his death obliterated
recollections of the Marquis and his d
ing words.
1t happened singularly enough, howe
er, that these two, the Lord of Argy
and Kenelm Hamilton who succeed
him on the block, had been in life
deadliest enemies; and by a pecul
chain of circumstances which we sh
now proceed to detail, the death of {
caused that of the other.
1t was about month after the exc
ton of the Marquis that Hamilton, VIII
race, SO closely allied to the kings
Scotland, was ever prouder than Argy
found himself compelled by political b
ness, to pass a night in the little tow
Inverary, close to which stood the MAJ
ticent castle of the same name, which
been the heritage of his dead rival.
Never, perhaps, did any one appro
that beautiful spot with gaeater i'll
than Kerelm Hamilton he was a 20
man of a peculiarly fiery and impetl
disposition, of whom it was often
that his love and his hatred were a
to be dreaded, so ardent and passIo
was he in either; he was the second
5. of that noble family of Hamiltons,
tween whom and the Argyles there
been deadly feud for many general
past. Never, however had it burnt l
fercely than in the time of which
write, when the families had been re
sented by the Marquis who had just
compelled to lay his lofty head a.
maiden's feet, and Kenelm with his
and angry temper; for bis elder br'
was an idiot, who bore the family
but lacked the wit to defend their
when assailed. Deep had been the
between Argyle and Hamilton,
even the new-shed blood of the fc
had not availed to quench; for, in
ton to the old clan feud, there was
yate quarrel between them which
fearfully embittered their traditional
tired. The Marquis Of Argyle had
betrothed almost from boyhood
cousin, the Lady Ellen Graham ar
n