The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-23
A STUBBORN DUCHESS.
She Had Her Husband Buried Secretly
Just to Spite the Queen.

London Cable Letter.
1t is long time since Queen Victoria has
been so futtered as by the extraordinary
proceedings of the dowager duchess OF Ar
gyle. That lady was a Miss MacNeill, one
of the Queens maids of honor, a handsome
woman and strong willed. The Queen
steadfastly opposed her marriage with the
late duke at the patriarchal age of seventy
one, but Miss MacNeill treated the royal
will with disdain In this the Queen, of
course. represented the feelings of the
Marquis of Lorne and Princess Louise. who
never spoke to the dukes third wife from
the time she announced her determination
TO marry her father-in-law.
When the duke died. the Duchess Ina, as
she is called, evidently thought that now
or never was the time for wiping out old.
scores. The story of the long and appar-
entity inexplicably deferred funeral of the
old duke is one of the strangest chapters in
recent aristocratic history, and 1t has not
hitherto been told.
Scarcely was the breath out of the dukes
body when the Marquis of Lorne and his
sisters, who had been summoned to their
fathers deathbed, left the castle posthaste-
The marquis named an early date as the
probable one for the interment But he
had reckoned without his stepmother. to
whom had been left the entire control of
the funeral arrangements.
Determined to make the most of her adj
vantage, the irate lady not only declined
to arrange for the day suggested by the
marquis, but absolutely refused to fix any
day for the ceremony at ali. Day after
day the family waited at Roseneath-the
Marquis of Lorne's residence on the estate
in the vain expectation of the invitation
which never came. Messenger after mes
senger was sent, reporters flocked to In
yerary castle, unofficial inquiries came
from Balmoral, always to receive the same
answer, 1.-THE bereayed duchess was too
cision.'
n. a. 49,, roorlx, xLroo x..oo,-. -. ~,
old gentlemans death. Every day brought
fresh battalions of tenants-Highlanders
and Lowlanders, crofters and clansmen-
all eager to pay their last respects to the
chleftain who had lorded 1T over them for
more than fifty years. Their gray tartan
costumes. combined with the inspiring
strains of the bagpipes. lent an unusual air
of festivity to the grim old castle. despite
the fact that the "black galley Of Lorne"
still fioated from the topmast tower in tok-
en- of mourning.
1t was getting past joke. The Princess
Louise appealed to the Queen Next day
down came a royal servant, the bearer OF
an autograph letter from her Majesty for
the widow of Argyle In sympathetic terms
her Majesty requested 10 be Informed as to
the arrangements made for the cbseuuies
and trusted the last wishes of the late
duke would be carried out in every particu-
lar
This time the bereaved duchess was fair
ly aroused from her prostration. The royal
letter required reply, and she felt quite
equal TO the task. With extraordinary
brusqueness the aged Queen was reminded
that the writer and mo one else had been
the wife OF the late Duke of Argyle;' that
neither instruction nor interference was
needed as to the conduct OF the funeral
which would be arranged when and how
IL suited her grace
There was seemingly nothing more To he
said, but the Queen sent a curt command
that her Majesty was to have timely notice
of the date appointed for the funeral, so
that IL should not clash with any state
The following Friday had been fixed for
the state drawing room at Buckingham
palace. 1t struck her as the most suitable
day in the world for the belated obseuuies
of the duke. Without more ado. the body
was removed from the castle to the parish
church Not a wreath, cross or symbol of
affection from any of his grace's kth or
kfn-only a simple crown of forget-me-n ots
from his devoted consort-decorated the
bier The funeral service was hastily read
in the presence OF the duchess, her house
hold and the rapidly assembled tenants
and the funeral cortege, consisting of the
hearse and single mourning carria ge, con-
veying the widow and her companion, set
of on forty-mile jaunt to the Campbell
When the news reached buckingham pal
| ace the royalties were already in the throne
| room and the elite of London society as
sembling in the ante-chambers. 1t was too
| late 10 postpone the drawing room. A hasty
| order was given, bidding the Guards band
| to cease playing in the quadrangle. and a
| telegram dispatched to Princess Louise di-
| recting her to await the arrival of her
father-in-law's remains at Rimun.
| 1t was late that night when the little pro-
| cession gained it's destination. and by the
| light of the twinkling' stars the McCallum
| More was at last consigned TO the tomb OF
| his ancestors. there TO sleep beside the
/ beautiful Cunning. the heroic Earl Archi-
| bald and the great marquis who gave his
| head for the faith in 1e61.
| The duke had left instructions that his re-
| mains should be cremated. But this could
| not be done without the Marquis of Lorne
| and his sisters becoming aware of the ar
| rangement and so giving them the oppor-
/ tunity of attending the funeral So the
| body was buried in the usual way
| The Duchess Ina, needless to say. Is out
| of favor at court. but she is a lady of indie
i pendent spirit. who orders her life In her
| own way. The present duke has the privi-
| Iege of paying her a handsome dover,
4 which, with her other charges on the es-
/ tate. amount TO such a sum that he has LEI
| Inverary castle-never before in the pos
session OF a stranger-to Mr.. Lawson john
stone, who made his fortune out OF Bovril