Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-05
:. 1orurun LIFE
Truth Stranger than Fiction!
[CoNCLUDED.l
PART. III.

| Taunton and took up his residence at the Cas-
| tie Hotel, which stands in close contiguity to
the house in which she resided. He had had
| a good deal to do with the suhj ict of her sep
aration from Sir Edward. being, in fact. the
honorable baronet's solicitor, and she held
| him in great aversion. He remained here
some short time. it is said. and then left, but
not before his sojOurn had become known to
| her ladyship. On the 18th of June another
gentleman arrived in Taunton. and. calling at
| Clarke's Hotel. sent his card to Lady Lytton,
| with a request for an interview. This was a
! DR.. Thompson, and he was accompanied by a
I nurse from neighboring lunatc asylum
| After some reflection her ladyship consented
to his admission. hut took the precaution to
| request the landlady's presence during his
stay. Mrs. Clarke was present accOi dinghy,
and we are informed that the conversation
which ensued between Lady Lytton and DR..
Thompson originated and sustained by him,
referred wholly to subjects that were cacu-
lated to excite intense anger and Indignation
on her part. This interview lasted five hours
and at last she asked if he had not come from
Mr.. Loaden, Sir Edwards solicitor, to which
interrogatory he answered. II ann Her
ladyship, who had preserved unwonted calm
ness. then asked, SIS the farce played out :?
and If not. how much longer is it 10 last?'
DIR. Thompson replied. The farce is end d.
and your ladyship will not from this hour
hear any more upon these painful matters"
1t may be stated that during the interview
two police officers, solicitor and medical
gentleman were in an adjoining room. the
object Of whose presence it is not difficult to
Imagine. But Lady Lytton's calmness rem
dered their services unnecessary. Previous
to his departure DR.. Thompson requested her
to put upon paper what demands she wished
To make upon her husband, and she complied.
writing in substance as fnllows:-:'Sir Edward
to pay my debts, the claims of which swallow
up the greater part of my income, and in
crease my income TO $500 year. Upon his
doing this solemnly promise never in future
to modest him in any way. nor even to men
non his name" DIR. Thompson promised to
lay these requirements before Sir Edward i'm
inedIately on his return to London, and then
Withdrew. Lady Lytton giving vent on his
departure to her overweight feelings in a
Hood OF tears, which could not be restrained
for considerable period, Notwithstanding the
consultations offered by the landlady, whose
Kindness to her throughout these painful and
sal proceedings has been very great. aud
even of the nurse, whose opinion as to the
state Of her ladyship's mind had undergone
considerable change during the time she was
in her presence
Several days elapsed, and still no communi-
cation arriving from DR.. Thompson, Lady
LyttOn naturally became impatient, and she
wrote to him. reminding him of his promise
and requesting information as TO his success
with Sir Edward. No answer was received to
her letter; and she again addressed him. again
and again, with the same result Unable to
remain longer in suspense upon a matter of
such moment, she at last wrote to him to the
eff ct that she would 20 to London in the
course Of the following week and hoped to
be able to see him, with view to a final ar
rangement Unfortunately for her she carried
out her intention.
Accompanied by a cOusin-Miss Ryves-
and lady of Taunton, who has always TAX
en- great interest in her affairs, and will here
after b. found, it is presumed, capable of rem
dering her very important service in the pro-
cccdings which are contemplated with IA view
to prove her sanity. Lady Lytton took an
evening train. aud arrived in London short
ly after five o'clock in the MORNING. dreary
time to enter the great slumbering city, even
when ones business is of no such dreary
character as theirs. The chief reason of their
trav, Hing by night instead Of by day was the
inability of the female friend referred to re-
main away from home more than one day: but
another may have be a sudd II desire of
Lady Lytton TO know without further delay
what determination, If any. her husband had |
come to with respect to her written request |
taken charge of by DR.. Thompson-an insa- |
table craving for the answer which should !
place her in comparative pecunary ease, or |
doom her still to the shameful needs of pow |
erty." Entering hotel. they partook of re- !
lrrshment. and whilcd away. "a well AS they |
could, the tagging hours until what was deem !
ed an appropriate time to call upon DR.. |
Thompson came round. They then set out |
and on reaching his house were cOurtrOusly |!
received. 1t was remarked by the Doctor, |
however. that they had come rather early: |
would they do him the favor to postpone dis |
,ussion Of lh" subject which had brought them |
until five O'Clock in the Afternoon Assent |
was Of course given, aud at the hour specifi d !
hey were again at the door of his residence. !
On announcing their names they were shown |
INTO the drawing room, and DR.. Thompson |
waited upon them. lie had hardly closed !
the door, however, when it was again !
opened, and another gentleman entcrcd-''A !
friend of mine. ladies, who has casually drop
ped in" 1t was remarked that, nOtwith- |
standing the subject To be discussed and which
had been preached was quite of a private ma
turr. the friend kept his scat and that though |
h. took NO part in the conversation. he listen !
ed attcntivcly TO what was said. There being
signs that the interview near its close he !
withdrew. Lady LyttOn seemed to have on
the house a presentiment that there
was no favorable information for her, and aft |
or putting few questions To DIR. Thompson
which he answered hestatngly she said !
You have not consulted Sir Edward. Dr.
Thompsons tell me, is not that the case ?"
He owned that he could not give her any sa-
answer. and her ladvship arose with
her friends to depart DR.. Thomson eXprt =
scd desire that she would not hurry away;
nevertheless she proceeded, and on getting out
side the room was astounded to see before |
her two policemen. two women who had the |
appearance of nurses, and gentl man who |
il has since been found is the keeper of lu- !
matte asylum in the neighborhood of London. |
Diss emblance or concealmcnt being no longer !
necessary or possible, the purpose Of this as
sembly was in a few words explained.
There are not many persons in existence, |
mad or not mad. who on discovery of so |
lorritying nature would not instantly have |
become wild with excitement; but Lady |
Lytton maintained throughout these most |
trying and frightful circumstances II calm and |
lignifld demeanor. She was, indeed the |
,alm,st of the two-hersclf aud her Taunton |
'riend-for her atirighted cousin had rushed |
INTO the street. She was usher, d into another |
'OOm, on entering which she obs rived figure
ike that OF Sir Edwards hastily retrcating
~ a door ut the other end. At first she re-
used to yield up her liberty; but the police
men were called, and she then said-"Rrsis-
ance being vain, submit, but under COM
,ulsion." Her friend insisted upon accom-
)anying her, and she saw on table in the
Dom a paper which she presumed To be
certificate" OF Lady Lytton's insanity.
Upon this were the names of two medical
gentlemen, and, it is believed of Sir Edward
Her ladyship being requested To proceed to
he door, where, she was told, a carriage was
eady TO receive her. again refused compliance
Except under compulsiOn; and on TINS the
policemen, each taking an arm. led her for
sark. her friend the only person she could
n these moments of tremendous agony
appeal to--eudraT oring To console her, aad