The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-07-15
HIS CRUELTY PUNISHED.
Sir James Stuart Haunted to His Grave by
Woman.
From the Edinburgh Scotsman.


From the Edinburgh Scotsman.
A correspondent sends for publication
the following story of "Pearlin Jean, y
taken from letter written by Larry John
Scott to the late Mr.. James Gibson
Craig in 1868:
Toward the end of the seventeenth
century Sir James Stuart, of Allanbank,
was travelling in Spain. While he was
at Madrid he saw, and fell in love with,
a beautiful nun. He withdrew her Sc
cretly from the convent and promised
her that she should go with him TO Scot
| land as his wife, and that he would new
er forsake her. She used to dress mag
nificently, and from wearing a quantity
of the old lace called "Pearlins," he call
ed her his "Pearlin JEAN"
After a time he began to think he
should have an awkward story to tel] if
he took her home, and he made up his
mind to get rid of her by leaving Mad
rid suddenly, without her knowledge.
(They did not inhabit the same house
His carriage and horses stood ready at
his door at daydawn, and he was just
getting i'll when ''Pearlin JEAN" who
had, for some reason suspected his
treachery, rushed to him and entreated
him to take her with him. He pushed
her away without speaking, and got into
the carriage. In her frantic despair she
threw herself upon her knees in front of
the horses to stop them. Sir James call
ed out to "drive on" They did so. The
horses trampled her under their feet;
the wheels of the carriage went over
her; but he, without even looking back
upon her, proceeded on his journey.
1t was dark winter night that he
drove up the avenue of Allanbank His
return had been sudden, and, as he knew,
quite unexpected to his servants.
Therefore his surprise was great when,
on looking toward the house, he saw
that every window was Illuminated AS
the carriage stopped the great doors
were thrown open, and in blaze of light
"Pearlin JEAN stood at the top of the
steps TO receive him.
From that time she haunted him. AS
soon as he lay down in bed she appeared,
and opening the curtains at the foot of
the bed stood looking at him. His life
became burden to him; he neither ate
nor slept, and he fell away day by day
In vain his friends tried to persuade
him that his terrors were imaginary.
He always replied, "she is thereI'
He had picture taken of her in Mad
rid. Some of his friends thought they
would try and cure him of his decisions
by placing this picture on the wall oppo-
site his bed, and opening the curtain Sc
cretly as soon as he had lain down,
hoping that if he declared again he had
seen the ghost they might show him the
picture and laugh him out of his fears.
Two of them hid themselves in his room,
and the moment his head was on his
pillow they drew back the curtains at
the foot of his bed, Sir James started
up with terror in his c0untenarca, and
exclaimed: "My God! There are two
Of them?' and instantly fell back in a
fit.
After this no attempt was made to ex-
plain away her appearance, and "Pearlin
Jean'' continued to haunt the house of
Allanbank as long as it stood 1t was
bought and pulled down by Lady Hous-
ton Miss Boswell or Blackadder), but
'Pearlin JEAN still wanders
about the site of the old house I do not
know