The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-03

fate I'm INV choice between two evils, but at once
put on my bonnet, followed her instructions, and
found FTeyanion outside waiting to receive me. We
left the street with all possible haste and secrecy,
which we might have spared ourselves rs ho opSI cor.
tDent, and for two years after this time lived TO-
gether as man and wife on the coast OF Normsndy,
under the assumed name OF Monsieur and Madame
Aubin."
This elopement, Medora says, was connived at
by her sister, who wanted to get rid Of her hus-
band (and no wonder), and did in fact apply for
a divorce, but it was not granted. We pass over
the life of the guilty pair in France. There the
daughter Marie, whom we have already men
toned, was born--the only solace OF the
wretched existence of this thrice unfortunate
child of sin. She corresponded with her mother,
who sent her what little money she could spare
but the Leighs were always in pecuniary en-
barrassment Other relatives did something Tor
her and in 1888 shs left her paramour-1t ii that
name could be applied to man she never loved
and went to neighboring town. At last, in
1910, she received an affectionate letter from
Lady Byron, with offers of assistance and pro-
lection, and an invitation to go with her TO
Paris She accepted the offers with joy. What
followed she must tell in her own words;-
"At FOntalnebeau where she was detained by i'll
ness, Lady Byron informed me OF the cause OF the
deep interest she felt, and must ever feel Tor me-
Her husband had been my father. She implored aud
exacted my confidence TO the most unlimited extent
Twas willing and anxious, in any and every way
1 could, to prove both my gratitude and the desire
sincerely felt to repay by my affection aud devo
tOn any pain she might have felt for circumstances
connected with my birth and her separation from
Lord Byron. Her only wish, she said, was TO pro-
vide for me, according to Lord Byrons intentions
respecting me, and according to my rank In life She
evinced much anxiety for my health and comfort,
expressed Indignation for all had suffered, spoke
of the comfort would be to her, and of the neceS-
sity that should be a devoted child to her."
She went with Lady Byron to England. She
was treated by her, and by Lord and Lady Love
lace, with the greatest kindness. ! was taught,
she says, to regard Ada as my sister. For
while it seems as if her life must have been
smooth and happy. But dlsagreements followed
with her protectress, in which, though Medora
lays the blame upon Lady Byron's temper, it Is
not difficult to perceive from tEe Autobiography
traces Of the wild and ungovernable nature OF
which evidence enough has already been shown,
and something perhaps of the suspiclousness
| which is so characteristic of insanity. There
was a lawsuit for the possession of deed of
| appointment executed by Mrs Leigh and Lady
| Byron by which the sum of $4,000 was to be
paid Medora after the death of those ladies; and
| this suit apparently was the main cause of the
| trouble. At any rate it was arranged that
| Medora should go with her daughter to Hyeres,
| accompanied by maid and valet husband and
wife), to whom Lady Byron intrusted the dis
bursement of the sums she allowed for her niece's
| maintenance.
Here the autobiography becomes obscure; in
| some places unintelligi6le; in some irrational;
| filled with details about money-dealings. COM
| plants of the maid and valet whom the writer be-
lieves to have been Lady ByrOns spies, and angry
| illusions to Lady Byron, Mrs. Leigh, and Mrs.
latter part of the manuscript is not in the hand
writing of Miss Leigh, but was apparently die
tated to an amanucnsis of very imperfect educa-
tion. We learn from it, however, that she
| offended Lady Byron very deeply by removing
to Paris, but her ladyship afterwards offered to
| settle upon her se300 year on certain condi-
| tions, which were not accepted. The deed of
appointment and box of other important
dora Leigh sent the maid to get them, purposing
to raise money by selling her reversionary in
terest in the deed. Lady Byron, however,
refused to deliver them except to Medora in
| person. Here Captain de B appears upon
the scenes Miss Leigh goes to London, and the
| autobiography closes.
What finally became of the papers is not
! shown. When the French maid left the house,
| the bcx disappeared, and it was supposed that
! she had stolen it-not for her mistress, with whom
she had quarrelled; but to be used in extortins
money from the Byron family. At any rate, we
| find her husband the valet soon afterwards
making demand of some kind of Lady Byron,
and threatening to publish the story of Medora
| Leigh to all the world. Yet in the negotiations
between Mr.. S and Lady Byron's represen-
tatives to which we now return, the principal
! condition exacted of Miss Leigh was that she
should surrender that deed to the custody of
| trustees, the money being intended not so much
! for her personal use as for the benefit of her
I child. 1t was also required that she should
| make a written confession of her sincere
contrition for her conduct to Lady Byron" and
consent to return TO her secluSiOn in France.
| On lneBe Terms Slr george stephen virtues LuaU
| he is confident her friends will secure for her q
comfortable and permanent home. II person.
| ally know" continues Sir George "the motive
/ as well as the extent of the kindness that she
! has shown to Miss Leigh and there are very
! few, certainly not more than three, who know 1t
as well. She has deserved all that is grateful
and all that is respectful at Miss Leigh's hands;
and, therefore, till h.: feelings are consulted and
satisfied, so far as under the present unfortunate
circumstances they can be, i will never approach
| her or any of her family, as an intercessor for
further assistancA" To the second and third
stipulations Miss Leigh made no objection;
but she was obstinate about the deed,
| and SO negotiations were broken off. Mean
/ while she had written to several of her
relatives, most of whom took no notice of her
| letters. She sent to her klnsman the Duke OF
Leeds, an abstract of her autobiography Git is
given in the book, and received no answer.
She went to her mothers house, and was denied
admission. She wrote to her, and the letter was
not acknowledged Thereafter the unfortunate
woman seems TO have passed out of the know
ledge of the mysterious Mr.. s. from
whom we have all these particulars; but
If Mrs. Stoves account is correct she
must have made her peace with Lady
of September "a, 1861 ascertained that
the so-called secret was known to very many
persons besides DIR. LushingtOn and Sir George
Stephen, and do not know how to reconcile
this fact with the 'dgnihed and magnanimous
silence claimed as merit for Lady Bryon; for il
she did not impart the knowledge, who else can
have done so z" This agrees with the state ments
of Mr. John Robertson, of Brighton, and the
Rev. Francis Trench whose letters some time
ago in the London papers represent Lady Byron
as distributing her condolences on this subject
during the latter part of her life to great nun.
Der OF her relatives aud friends.
The Autobiography of Medora Leigh, judged
entirely by itself WOuld probably impress mos