The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

| lntth nun dEU <tAiiilc was DfNCAhb9 -
rlous. suddenly left Edinburgh and re
turned with his family to Maxwelltowr
| In Nithsdale. hoping thus to separate ih'
| lovers and end an unfortunate attachment
Had everything gone to the liking o
| the Baronet, the world would have miss
| ed the sweet old song. Douglas shortl!
| learned Of the whereabouts Of his inamo
lita and promptly followed. He renal 1et
secretly at Maxwelltown for months, ant
the love-making went on famously be
times among the giens, braes, woods an(
shadowy ruins with which the locality
abounds. Douglas possessed Jabcobite az
Miation and rumors suddenly coming from
the North Of an impending Stuart upris
Ing, he FASTENED to Edinburg to be neal
the scene Of action. But before quitting
The side OF his Nithsdale love he secured
"her promise true" In the elation OF
Joy upon this achievement he wrote. anc
left with his betrothed the immortal lines
as imperishable as any that Robert Burns
ever left to Scotland and the world, be-
ginning:
Maxweiltown's braes are bonnie,
Where early fa's the dew;
Ana twas there that Annie Laurie
cleo me her promise true;
Cleo me hire promise true
lhdt ne or gOrgOt Wad be:
And for bonnie Annie Laurie.
Ia lay me down and dee.
But, save In "Reminiscences. II was NOT
20 hanpen that ''her promise true ne'er
forgot wad be-" and William Douglas
uechned 70 Tie down and dee" on ac-
count or Annie Laurie or anv other
Scottish lady fair. Douglas adherence
20 the Stuart cause brought him under
the ban OF the authorities, and he was
"Jon compelled to escape 20 France
where he remained In exile for o feU,
years. until he could secure. through
the powerful bloomsbury family. hts mar
don from the government. There IA no
PROOF that either 'jilted" the other.
Pefhaps Annie Laurie was rs canny
as her father, Sir Robe-t. who was a
stannch Jec3bite hater. Perhaps Doug
las found interesting temporary attach
ments In Paris Perhaps each uncon-
sciously drlfted away from the other
through the deadly political and reliei.
Gus rancor of the time. II is doubtful
If Annie Laurie ever received another
missive from her imprisoned poet lover
after the one containing the ballad.
which must ever preserve the memory
or both. And IL IS certain that the
pair never a-aln met after the sadly
blissful parting which gave birth to
this sweetest and tenderest Of songs.
IL Is said that IL was first given 70 the
public by Lady John Scott, sister OF
the late Duke Of Bucceugh. who slight
ly rearranged the words and the music.
and who secured their publication for
the benefit OF some charity IN behalf
Of widows and orphans OF the Crimean
war; but there Is no substantial proof
that the words and the tune are not
now precisely as they came from the
soul and pen OF the ardent Jacobite
lover.
The portraits Of Annie Laurie. preserv-
ed at Craigdarroch and Mansfield, seats
Of her descendants show her TO have
been a woman Of slender physique with
peculiarly slight and willowy figure.
Upon this was set n head whose profile
is as markedly classic as ever was shown
upon ancient carving or modern coin.
The neck was long. with that graceful
swelling from breast TO throat so loved
OF artists: the chin was almost sharp.
though roundly pointed. the lips. though
closed. were beautifully rounded, full
and widely parted at their edges: the
nose. and the archings from It's bridge,
strong, full and as exquisltely moulded
as the most refined Grecian type; the
forehead high, wide and straight from
the nose-Hp; and the eyes large. full
and tender; while this remarkable face
and head were crowned by mass OF
wavy, goiden-brown hair With all her
impressive beauty she seemed 10 have
been most commonplace parsonage.
and while capable OF awakening sud
den and mighty flames in the breasts
OF ordinary Scotch folk as we'll as poets.
10 have been herself devoid Of any OF
those mental or spiritual qualities capa-
bic OF elevating her character 10 the
realm OF romance or heroism. She is
known 10 have placidly enjoyed, as
many young women now do before en-
tering matrimony, very great number
Of love affairs: all of which seem 10
have been turgid and rampant on the
part of her male admirers. and receiv-
ed and benignantly tolerated on her own.
her promise true" evidently having
been widely dis tributed In southwestern
Scotland until warned by advancing
years she became the wife OF man
with no poetry In him than kail-yard
wall. but with broad acres and plenty
Of "siiier" Alexander Ferguson. laird
Of Craigdarroch, Glencairn parish, Dunn
friesshire.
Pilgrlming from Dumfries a distance OF
bAA tNfAFE HlitfS ~ NiHt-NtAAAN ~a+t
home Of Annie Laurie from the time OF
her marriage 10 Alexander FERGUSON In
100, until her death In 17G1, at the age OF
seventy nine years, you cross the new
Brig" 10 the west and are at once among
the braes Of the DuEfries Maxwellt0wn.
The shore-slde Of this ancient hamlet
remind you OF scores OF other sleepy
"auld clachans OF Scotland" but the
streets upon the gentle heights are full
Of treeembowered villas. and have
sleepy. sunshinv look OF comfort and con-
tent. Once out upon the highway-the
ancient coach-road between Dumfries
and Glasgow-it winds over brae and
hill. through dale and dingie over beck
and burn. through shadowy evenue and
patches OF sunshine, past deserted clach-
ems and now silent old inns OF call. with
the songs OF streams and birds ever in
your ears. a long and winsome way.
When past the outlying Village habi-
tations. you will see down there to the
right the picturesque ruins OF Lincluden
Abbey. but a few moments walk from
the highway. as beautifully situated as
those Of Dryburgh on the Tweed. where
repose the remains Of Sir Walter Scott.
Beneath the shadows of Its majestic walls
lies Margaret, daughter Of King Robert
III. II Scotland. The fine old bridge near
by at which you tarry-for there 70 Z