John Leech and other papers

A Jacobite Family. 95
fixed on Lady Christian, daughter of the Earl of
Buchan, and widow of Fraser of Fraser ; but our
young Tertius liked not the widow, nor his cousin
of Pittoderie, though her father offered to settle his
estate on him ; Lord Forbes's daughter with a tocher
of 40,000 merks was also scorned. And all for the
same and the best reason. He was in love with his
cousin, Margaret Mackenzie of Ardross. It was the
old story, — liebend tend geliebt. But their 'bright
thing,' though it did not in the end ' come to con-
fusion,' did not for a time ' run smooth.' Thomas,
his brother, a sailor, was likewise bewitched by the
lovely cousin. He was refused, found out the
reason, and in his rage and jealousy intercepted the
letters between the lovers for three long miserable
years, James living all the time at Stoneywood, and
she far away in Ross-shire. The unworthy sailor
made his way to Ardross, asked Margaret and her
sister why they didn't ask for James, and then told
them he was just going to be married to Mis?
Erskine of Pittoderie, and to have the estate.
Margaret, thus cruelly struck, said, 'Thomas, ye
know my bindin', I have been aye true ; I have
angered my father, and refused a rich and a good
man, and I '11 be true till James himsel' is fause,' and
like a frozen lily, erect on its stem, she left them—
to pass her night in tears.
James was as true as his Margaret ; and his grand-