Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-04

Marriage in the Scotch fashion. vhich a
simply An agreement between the contracting
parties to love, honor, and obey, without tbs
assistance OF priest or service, seems often 70 be
little more than respectable ooncubinaRe and
the recently-publisheda account Of one OF these
marrisges and its CONSCIOUSNESS goes TO show
their native heath. Mr.. George Wilson, Of lin
burgh, with An extensive and lucrative business,
was the father OF eleven children, thresof whom
Maggie, especially 90. Anon Ger Of her Majesty's
ninety third regiment, Major Stewart, son Of q
wealthy scotch baronet, saw Maggie in her
attracted by her graces of person and manner
that he commenced paying her special alter
ton, and soon became intimate with the family.
frequent rides, making her elegant presents and
ere long took up his quarters with the Wilson's,
becoming, as It were, member Of the family.
IL was generally understood that they were to
be married, but as the Major showed no dispo-
sltion to breach the subject, Maggie's father at
an ensuing party given in honor OF the Majors
birthday, spoke to him OF his anxiety concern
ing his rather protracted intimacy with his
daughter, and urged him to marry her. Major
Stewart said he was too poor to AIRY as befitted
his station, but 't0 shut peoples mouths" he
would marry Maggie Sin the scotch fashion,
He then knelt before her placed wedding ring
upon her finger, saying, I. Maggie. You are my
her arm around his neck, the two kissed each
other, and among all the guests present the
marriage was regarded as duly solemnized &C
COFdiDg 10 scotch law, WHICH 005e not req uire
q clergyman. With this simple wedding, which
was none the less merry because 1t lacked the
traditional marriage bell, the young couple
commenced living together as man and wife.
About year after, in April, 1861, q son was
born; the Major spoke of this child as his young
heir, and appeared very fond of it. In 1869,
Major Stewart, who was q very dissolute man,
and was suffering from delirium tremens. died
and his widow In due time married second
husband, this time lieutenant. The Baronet,
father Of the first husband, also died, and his
death was quickly followed by that Of her drst-
born, the Majors son. just before the childs
death, the widow had entered suit against the
second son OF the then deceased sronet, asking
that her marriage with Major Stewart might be
declared lawful, and that her son should be IN
stalled a. heir Of entail to the estate Of the far
ly. After the death Of the boy this action was
continued for the purpose OF securing the Wild
ow's share of the property, and the other day it
came up for trial ct Edinburgh. Numerous Wit
nesses were introduced, who swore to the fact of
the marriage, and others to show the Major had
introduced Maggie a. his wife; at the close OF
the evlde nee for the plaintiff her claim seemed
established But the defence astonished every
art had never regarded Maggie in any other
light than that of kept mistress A Catholic
priest swore that the Major had told him that
the witnesses had tried to entrap him into q
marriage, but he had foilsd them, and he spoke
of Maggie only as his mistress; the priest had
baptized the child, for its own sake, but had
entered 1t as illegitimate. Other witnesses sup
ported this by affirming that the sM ajor had de-
ciared, repeatedly, and in the presence OF wit
nesses, that he had never married Maggie, and
never intended to; altogether, it appeared that
their connection was not sound morality. After
protracted trial, the case was decided In favor
OF the claimant, the Judge declaring the parties
really and truly married and their issue legiti-
mate. The value of the estate in which this in
teresting young woman thus receives a widows
interest is very large.