Page:Laird of Ardenoaige and the Ghost of Fenhaglen.pdf/5

5 Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white—then melts for ever; Or like the boralis race That flit ere you can point their place, Or like the rainbow’s lovely form Evanishing amid the storm.”—Burns.

While Colin was swimming amidst these domestic enjoyments, unconscious of adversity, death deprived him of an indulgent and loving mother; which had a great effect on his wonted agreeableness, and his father shortly after married a woman of a proud and haughty disposition, which still more rendered his state disagreeable both to himself and others. She soon had a large family to her husband, (the laird) which caused her to have a natural disregard for Colin, which he could not altogether conceal. This caused his father to do more to promote his welfare, and the more so on account of his mother, whom he had loved with fondness. This only tended to increase his wife’s hatred to Colin. She foresaw also that he would become sole heir of the estate at the demise of his father, as he was his legitimate son and heir, and she predicted that then, both she and her family would be abandoned, and abased by him, and put to open shame, and perhaps to death. Consequently she formed the barbarous design in her own breast, that she would be enabled at one time or other to effect some plan to take away his life. But how to put her atrocious design into execution, became a matter difficult and dangerous both to herself and family, as she knew his father and every other person that knew him, was most affectionately attached to him; yet she still made him the object of her hatred and cruel design, and remained in the expectation that she would be the means of puting death in his way some way or other. About this time a Ghost appeared in Fenhaglen (a lonley glen running between Ardenoaige, and the head of Glenlednick (which spread terror through Ardenoaige, and surrounding neighbourhoods. It was generally believed, when such appeared, or was seen, that it was the spirit of some