Page:Celebrated Trials - Volume 1.djvu/487

indulge his usual expenses and method of living, he was forced to have recourse to indirect measures, which ended in pawning every thing he had, not only of his wife's but of his own. Sawney laughed at his follies, and could not bring himself to believe he should ever want, while he had either hands or heart to support him. He was determined to enter upon business as soon as possible; we mean such business as generally brings so many unhappy men to the gallows. His wife, who was beautiful and handsome, saw this; and, with a prudence that became her sex, had some time stifled her uneasiness, till no longer able to bear the torment upon her mind, she entreated him, since all they had in the world was gone, to fall into some honest way of livelihood to support themselves, for it was much and more commendable to do so, than for him to give his countrymen every day so many instances of his riotous and profuse living. Had Sawney given ear to this remonstrance, without doubt, things had succeeded well, and we should never have read the miserable end he suffered. But all admonition was lost on a man abandoned to wickedness, and determined to support his usual extravagances at any rate. The poor young woman, instead of being answered civilly for her love and affection to him, met with nothing but harsh and terrifying words, attended with a thousand oaths and imprecations. The parents, on both sides, observing this, were in extreme grief and concern; and determined, after a serious consultation, to dissolve the couple; but the young and handsome wife would never consent to part from her husband, though so base to her.

It was impossible for Mrs. Cunningham to hide the charms of her face and person, in Glasgow, where there is a university, and, consequently, young gentlemen of fortune and address. Several immediately offered their respects, and money was not wanting to promote their suits; but she could not endure to think of dishonouring the bed of her husband, by a base compliance with the richest man in the kingdom; and always put off her suitor with a frown, and a seemingly disdainful air. But this only served to animate her lovers the more, who now seemed to attack her with a resolution not to quit the siege till she