216 AxnpREW HERON AND HIS KINSFOLK. 
existed for all it tells.18 But the cupidity of Andrew Heron’s 
nephew, who now reigned at Kirrouchtree, had been excited 
by the ‘‘ Paradise ’’ as it was called, and his uncle’s lack of 
business methods and extravagance in planting afforded 
Patrick an opportunity of getting hold of this Naboth’s vine- 
yard. 
i Patrick Heron of Kirrouchtree, Andrew’s brother, fell 
sick and died in February, 1695,° and Patrick II. reigned in 
his stead. Andrew’s extravagance on his house and garden 
had resulted in his getting into low water financially, and to 
relieve his pressing needs he in an evil moment applied to his 
nephew for a loan of money.” It would take too long to give 
an account of the numerous deeds and mortgages made by the 
astute Patrick II. to obtain good security, and perhaps to get 
hold of the estate of his uncle. It will suffice to say that each 
‘ 
one was done ‘‘ without the intervention of any man of busi- 
ness ’’ to indicate that they may have been not all above 
board, but each successive one screwed down the wretched 
Andrew further, and made the ultimate possession of the 
estate more certain for Patrick. Andrew had quarrelled with 
his eldest son, as will be told later, and for certain reasons he 
left Bargally to his third son in return for a promise of a sum 
of money to be advanced to meet the importunities of the 
nephew. This son was a Captain Patrick Heron, and, in the 
event of his death, the estate of Bargally was to go to his 
second son, another Andrew, whom we will know as Dr 
Andrew Heron. Though Captain Patrick entered into an 
obligation to pay his father’s debt, he appears to have entirely 
ignored his promise, hardly a high principled action, however 
much he may have distrusted his cousin’s honesty. 
So matters stood till 1740, when poor Andrew died, no 
doubt worried to death by the troubles he had caused by his’ 
own folly. He was buried in the grounds, about twenty yards 
from the house, on the south-east side, in a stone tomb orna- 
mented with a small representation of a skull.!7_ The tomb is 
now surrounded by a shrubbery, and much overgrown with 
creepers. On this tomb is engraved his own initials and those 
of his second wife, Elizabeth Dunbar. 
2 r “2 “ ate . + = ane . 
Before narrating the story of the great litigation over the 
