A PRETTY PRESENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1583, 1 September 1873, Page 4

A PRETTY PRESENT.

[pall mall gazette.] There is nothing which women appreciate more than unexpected little presents from their husbands or lovers, selected and bestowed with that tact which is the offspring, of true tenderness. Sometimes, however, the utmost care on the part of the giver fails to give satisfaction, and woman, "uncertain, coy, and hard to please," receives coldly the tribute of affection and in a very different spirit from: that in which it is laid at her feet. From a case which came before the High Court, Edinburgh, it seems that a certain Mr David Macrae, a contractor at Tain, lately met with a disappointment in this line. Having despatched by railway train a box addressed to his wife, who lives at Saughton Hall, near. Edinburgh, he playfully indited a letter purporting to be from that lady's mother, intimating that a box containing wearing apparel would be found by her at the railway! station. Mrs Macrae appears to have been fully awake to her husband's affec- ; tionate ruse, and, suspecting the box was; seat by him, obtained the assistance of . the railway officials to open it carefully ;• and,, indeed, some : carefulness was ad-i visable in handling the precious cadeau, i for on being opened, its contents were; found to be as follows:— One loaded 1 pistol, 4£lb of blasting powder, 2£oz of \ gunpowder, and a liberal supply of broken > bottle glass. To prevent the possibility of the value of these gifts being overooked in a hurry, the pistol was set at full cock with a cap on the nipple, and there was a string fastened to the trigger in such a manner that whoever attempted to open the lid could scarcely fail to pull the string, and thus, by firiug the pistol, cause the powder to explode. Mr Macrae would doubtless have given a full explanation of the reasons which prompted him to make this touching display of conjugal affection, bat he unfortunately failed to appear to answer to a charge of attempting tomurder his wife. His bail bond was accordingly declared forfeited, and sentence of outlawry was pronounced against him. Although perhaps he may not.be much missed in his domestic circle, it is impossible not to fell a passing regret that, owing to his having been let out pn bail, justice was not allowed the pleasure of further cultivating the acquaintance of this loving husband.