The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-01-18
a Romantic Incident.


a Romantic Incident.
In work Of Typographical interest.
Astounding in beautifully printed wood
engravings, styled ''Rambles in Gallo
wav." by Macolm McLachlan Harper,
lately published. occurs q short &C.
count Of the picturesque Orchardton
Round Tower-the only tower Of this
kind in the southwest OF Scotland. lt
stands in q woody piece of country
near Castle Douglas. The writer says
that the tower, which is evidently the
relic of feudal keep, is schietiy in
/ teresting as being associated with
very romantic incident in the life of a
former proprietor of the estate OF Or
CHARLTON, whose history formed the
groundwork of Sir Walter Scott's
novel of ssGuy Mannering." The ac-
count here given of it is from Family
Recoilections, by Miss Goldie, and is
perfectly reliable. ''It is there re-
lated that is to say in the work of
Miss Goldie--.sthat soon after the bat
tie Of Culloden number OF prisoners
were one day brought in by party Of
military before Mr.. GOldie, then Com
missary of Dumfries, who had, alas
no alternative but to order military
execution to be done upon them, after
it was proved that they had formed
part Of the rebel army. They had con-
triyed to hide themselves, and get TO
the Galloway coast, nearest to the isle
Of Man, where they were skulking III
hopes of some smuggleI or foreign yes
sci enabling them to escape. AS they
were Just about to be led out to exccu-
ton. Mr.. Goldie observed one young
man, OF superior and interesting APP
pearance, attempting to tear written
paper. when he Immediately called
out to an officer who guarded him:
Seize that paper : which was lmme-
diately done.
Upon reading it, Mr.. Goldie said:
! 'tWhy, young man. you were attempt
ing to destroy yourself. This paper IS
, your commission from the King or
France as an officer in his army ; and
now detain you as a prisoner or war,
instead OF sending you off to be shot
as a rebel The young man was &C.
| cordingly put in place OF confinement,
and not very severe one, considering
!, what prisons then were, az he after
| wards related that his chief occupa-
| ton consisted in counting the large
: square stones with which his apart
+ ment was tagged, in every possible
direction, and thus trying what their
: number could be raised to. But he
| did not continue long thus employed.
A rumor speedily arose in the town
that this was the long-lost heir OF the
9 House Of Orchardton, an old Roman
!. Catholic family. An old female do
nestle, hearing the surmises, made
her way to his place Of confinement,
where q little conversation left no
/, doubt that he was indeed the only son
| of the late Sir Robert Maxwell, who
I had sent him at an early age TO the
!. College of Douay, the usual place OF
education at that time for young men
: of family or fortune OF the Catholic
! religion. Sir Robert himself being gu
. perannuated. his brother, who then
!. took the management OF his son and
y estate, wrote desiring that he should
, be educated for the priesthood.
The Young man, not relishing this
q destiny made his escape from college,
!. and enlisted in the army OF Louis XIV.
. and was one OF that part of it which
, was sent to Scotland to assist in the
4
= Young Maxwell had thus actually been
> taken wandering as an outcast, and III
I danger of FORGETTING his life, on the
= confines Of his own estate, unconscious
! of his rights, while his uncle was
> equally unconscious Of the danger Ia
: his unjust possession which lurlzed SC
near hin. The whole OF the facts
. were, however, so recent, and could be
. so easily proved. that Mr.. Goldie i'm
Il mediately proceeded to take all tho
: necessary steps fer the security Of the
q the young Sir Robert, and also to put
Y him in possession Of his estate, wher
= the death Of the uncle. removing the
! formidable obsticle, the usual lega
, formalities, after proving the identit,
= Of the heir, put him in possession Of
: his fathers estate and title. Sir Rob
J ert soon married Miss McClellen, 1
= niece or near relative of the last Lore
y Kirkcudbright, and took up his resi-
dence at OrchardtOn, where he cOntin
Z ued, while he lived, the ornament anf
: delight OF the country, uniting all TIT
|, gentlemanly dignity of the old schoo
:; with the bland and graceful gayety o.
e foreign manners. The intimacy which
= arose between Sir Robert and Dir. Col
: die and Lis family through this roman
/, tic beginning was long continued Oh
: very affectionate terms. Sir Robert
: being partner in the Ayr Douglas and
2 Heron Bank, lost large portion OF his
= estate when that bank stopped pay
!, ment. He died suddenly In September
y 1855, while on the road to visit thf
= Earl Of Selkerk.
III
Y Pennsylvania ID indeed having !