The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1873-07-03
A Singular courtship,


Castle, near Aberdeen, is the portrait Of a
dark woman, masculine aud resoutc, noI
beautiful nor like the handsome race the
Hays, Of which she was yet the last dircCI
representative. This is the famous Conn'
tess Mary, one of the central figures Of the
family traditions, The Hays we're here
diary lords high constable OF Scotland
and also one of the few Scottish families II
which titles and offices, as well as lands
are transmitted through the female line
SO this Countess Mary found herself, al
the death of her brother, countess Of Grrol
in her own right and Ion} high constable
of Scotland. In Que Of the two pitcureS OF
her at Slams. il | remember right she is
represented with the baton of her olhco'
with which badge she also appeared at
court before her marriage (after this 1t was
borue by her husband in character of her
deputy, Her husband was commoner'
Mr.. FalConCr of Dalgathy, whose report
ed history in connection with her is Gu
rious and deserves to be told, though the
Old tradition is moulded into so many dif-
rcrent forms that it is very difficult to dis
entangle the truth from its manifold en-
beIlishments. Toward the beginning of the
eighteenth century this intrepid and inde'
pendent lady feIlin love with Mr. FaIconer'
who at FIRST did not seem eager to return
or notice her affection. Highstrung and
chivaric by nature, she did not droop and
pine under her disappointment, but vowed
to herself that she would bring him to her
feet. Mr. FaIConCr left the country after
some time, and went to London. The
Countess Mary also travelled south the
same year, and no news of her was heard
at Slams for some time. Meanwhile she
aud Mr. FaIcOner met, but unknown to
the latter, WHO about the same time be-
come acquainted with very dashing
young cavalier, evidently a man Of high
birth and standing ,rcsolulcly bent on mys,
tifying his friends as 10 his origin. The
two saw each other frequently, and were
linked by that dcsutory companionship OF
London life which sometimes indeed ri
pens into friendship, but as often ends IN
sudden quarrel Such was the end O
ibis atquaTamBcc; aOa'OdOdiy ssciat y
fling difference having occurred between the
friends cartel reached Mr., Falconer
coucbed iu very naughty though perfectly
courteous language. These things
we're everyday matters 10 such times, aOc
very nouclalantly the challenged went il
the carly morning to tho appointed place
to meet the challenger Here the versions.
Of the story differ. Some say that Mr.
Falccncr and bis antagonist fought, but
without witnesses; that the former got the
worst of tue encounter, and remained at
the others mercy; that then and not BE-
fwc, the Countess Mary made herself
known to him and gave him his choice
"a thrust from her sword or speedy
marriage with herself. Others say that il
was before the duel that she aStoni'hed
her lover by this discovery, aud that the
choice she gave him was between marriage
and ridicUle
The fact Of her marriage, and that il
proved n happy one, is certain Mr. Fal
coner dropped his own name to assume
that Of Hay
The aisle of the old church of Slams
contains the graves Of Cuot9ss Mary and
her husband, with an epitaph iD Latin, oI
which the following is translation: BE
meath this tombstone there are buried nel'
rher gold nor silver. nor treasures Of any
kind. but The bodies of the most chasi(
welded pair, Mary, countess of ErroII' and
Alexander Hay Of DaIgaty, who lIveC
peacefully aud lovingly in motrImoOy Tor
twenty seven years They wished to be
buried here beside each other, and pray
that this stone may not be moved nor their
remains disturbed. but that these be allow
10 rest in the Lord uOdI IIe SboilcaI' them
to the happy resurrection of that lite
which they expect from the mercy Of God
and the merits Of the Saviour and Lord
Jesus Christ. ."-Lippinco0's Magazine
A Panora Qown) man borrowed bug
gy ofa livery man, and when the buggy