THE GHOST
GHOST OF LITTLEMARK.

Littlemark is a small farm on the Eliock estate about three miles from Sanquhar, on the right bank of the Nith. The house is surrounded by trees, and is altogether a very lonely spot. For many years this place had the reputation of being haunted. The apparition was seen by persons passing near the house in the gloaming or hazy moonlight, and took the form of a bundle of goods, like a pedlar's pack, moving along the ground a short distance in front of the observer. On a nearer approach the pack disappeared, or rather mysteriously lessened and melted into space.

How Littlemark was haunted in this fashion is as follows:

About two hundred years ago the house was occupied by a family of the name of Graham, consisting of two brothers, Robert and Joseph, and a sister, Mary Graham. The men, although regular church. attenders, and apparently steady, industrious farmers, were in reality accomplished hypocrites, and, as this story will show, villains of the deepest dye. One dark winter night a pedlar came into the district with a large stock of drapery and other goods, which was carried by a pack horse. One of the Grahams met in with him, and, under the pretence of giving him

giving

lodgings, took him to their house, where he was cruelly murdered. Now, Mary Graham was rather an attractive, good-looking young woman, and she had a sweetheart in Sanquhar named Andrew Gourlay, and it so happened that on the night of the murder she had a tryst with her lover. When Gourlay arrived at Littlemark he was surprised to see the windows closely screened, which was something unusual, and, hearing sounds as of a violent struggle going on within, he cautiously approached. Observing that one of the window panes was broken, he put in the end of his stick and raised the curtain, when to his horror he saw the two brothers, aided by their sister, engaged in strangling the unfortunate pedlar. He hurried home as fast as he could, but said nothing of what he had seen to any one but his mother. He had cared a great deal for the young woman, and he did not wish to expose her. Of course he never went to see her again. Some weeks after this terrible night, however, she met him at a Sanquhar fair, when she began to rate him soundly for not keeping his tryst. Gourlay unwisely told her that he had been true to his promise, that he had been at Littlemark, and asked her what bloody business she and her brothers were engaged in on that night. He then turned round and left her.

Now all this time the pedlar's horse had been wandering about Eliock woods. No one knew to whom it belonged, nor did any one seek after it. It had been whispered that some foul deed had been committed; but the Grahams felt quite secure, thinking no one had seen them, and fondly hoped to enjoy unmolested their ill-gotten gains. But when the sister went home from the fair and told what had passed between herself and her former sweetheart, the brothers were

seized with alarm, and, being afraid that Gourlay would be a witness against them, the trio determined to waylay and murder him on the first opportunity. It was not long before their diabolical design was put into execution.

Andrew Gourlay followed the occupation of a shepherd, and was sent by his master with a drove of sheep to some place near Dumfries. It was in the

winter season, and, having a long road to travel, it was about midnight when he reached Mennockfoot on his way home. The Grahams were on the watch; and at a spot not far from Eliock Bridge came out to attack him. Gourlay, in desperation, sprang into the Nith, at the time in flood, where he reached a rock in the middle of the river and round which a strong current flowed into a foaming pool below. It was a dangerous leap, and could only have been effected under the impulse of terror. His cowardly assailants. dared not follow him. He hung on to the rock, but the Grahams threw stones at him until, bruised and bleeding, the unfortunate youth was forced to let go his hold, when he sank into the pool below and was drowned. The youth was socn missed, and on search being made his body was found near Glenairlie. plainly bore the marks of foul play. All his fingers were cut and smashed with the stones, and on the rock where he had so desperately clung were found marks of blood and shreds of his clothing. Gourlay's mother at once guessed who were the perpetrators of the horrible crime, and told the neighbours what her son had told her of the murder of the pedlar.

It

The indignation of the people was aroused, and a party at once set off for Littlemark to arrest the murderers. But they were too late; the birds had

flown, and left no trace behind.

Tradition says that

the horse of the murdered pedlar wandered about Eliock woods until it died, the people round about being afraid to go near it. The body of the pedlar, many years after, was found on Eliock Moor by some people who were casting peats. It was said to be in good preservation when found, but crumbled to dust after exposure to the air. It is told that many years afterwards one of the murderers, Joseph Graham, the younger brother, under the fictitious name of "Beggar Johnnie," visited Sanquhar. He was a feeble old man, and begging. Recognised at a house he called at, he was accused of being one of the Grahams of Littlemark and a murderer. He was seized with a great terror, confessed his crimes, and almost immediately afterwards fell down as if in a fit, and died in the greatest agony. Mary Graham, to whom, previous to the murder of Andrew Gourlay, had been brought home the crime of incest, committed with her brother Robert, survived her brothers. When far advanced in years she returned to Sanquhar parish, and took up her abode in a solitary hut on the moors, where, unattended and unlamented, she expired, much to the relief of every one in the district, all being glad that such an evil woman had gone from their midst.

If at night a wailing sound is heard to come from the Nith, or issue from the Eliock woods, it is said to be the cry of the spirit of the murdered shepherd.