The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-02-01
AN OLD STORY NEWLY TOLD.
BY OLIVER j. BURKE.


borough, at fifteen years of age, to Caro-
line, sole daughter and heress of Richard
Fitz-Gerald, of Mount Ophaly, in the coun-
ty of Kildare, Ireland. The lady was
mental and personal attractions. She had
a brother to whom she was greatly attach
ed, who had died without any lawful issue,
but who had left natural son, Henry Ger
aid Fitz- Gerald. Plying his forlorn con-
dition, Lady Kingsborough had him reared
with as much care as if he had been her
own son. She saw to his wants, which she
invariably supplied, and did all in her pow
er to make him forget the unhappy situation
in which he was place. In word, she
brought him up with her own children
She obtained commission for him in the
line, and he soon attained, by reason not
alone of his great interest, but his great
talents, the position of Colonel of his regi-
ment.
Among the children of Lord and Lady
kingsborough, with whom he was, unfor-
natey, too intimate, there was Mary, the
third daughter, remarkable for her grace
full figure, for the soft and pleasing express
sion of her countenance, and for the beau
ty Of her hair, which grew in such luxuri-
ance, as to attract the notice of all who
saw her. Happy would it have been for
this thoughtless and innocent child if Henry
~ fIo
uncle, had never been admitted under the
shadow of her fathers roof. He was then
married; he had won the affections of a
lovely and accomplished girl, but forgetful
alike of his marriage vows, and of every
feeling of gratitude to his noble benefac-
tors, he fixed his eyes on her whom by the
laws of God and man he was bound to
protect At length he acquired such an
influence over her that it was impossible
she could elude his grasp. Wherever she
went Colonel Fitz- Gerald was sure to be
somewhere near at hand. At theatres, at
concerts, and at balls, his attentions were
unremitting; he danced with her, sat by
her side, saw her to the carriage, and did
everything that man could do to subdue
the mind Of her, little more than child,
to his own wicked purposes. Rumors
were soon set afloat that Colonel Fitz Ger
AIDS attentions to the Honorable Miss
Kingsborough were not those that might
be expected from married man to an I'M
married and interesting young girl These
rumors were UNDECIDED by Lord and Lady
Kingsborough.
at was impossible they said "that
man so benefited as the Colonel had been
should commit crime which, detestable
enough in any one, would in his particular
case imply degree of villainy almost be-
yond example,
Thus they reasoned with themselves,
and would hear of nothing that would
throw a shadow on the honor of Colonel
Fitz- Gerald, or on the fair name of their
darling child.
In the Summer, however, of 1895, the
Honorable Mary Kingsborough disappeared
from her home, to the horror of her father
A note left on her dressing table, had in
formed them that she had fled from home
with the intention of drowning herself in
the Thames. The river was dragged for
miles on both sides of where her bonnet
and shawl were found on the bank, but
the search proved unavailing. Her family
were now impressed with the conviction
that the unhappy young lady had commit
ted suicide; but as time wore on, his lord
ship began calmly to reflect on his daught-
er's disappearance. He could sec no rea-
son for her committing self-destruction,
and he therefore resolved to double his
efforts to get back his lost child. A cir
cumstance soon occurred which impressed
him with the idea that his daughter still
lived; he had met post-boy, who had in
formed him that, some short time ago,
while driving gentleman, whom he never
saw before, on the road to London, from a
town in his lordship's neighborhood, his
attention was attracted by the appearance
of young lady who was walking alone
The gentleman ordered the carriage to
stop, and invited the lady to take seat
beside him, who at once, as if it was pre-
arranged, accepted the invitation, and on
their arrival in London they parted from
him in each others company, but to what
part of the city they directed their course
he was entirely ignorant.
Lord Kingsborough now had the clue,
and he was determined to follow it up
Advertisements appeared in every paper in
England, offering great rewards for any
information that would restore the unfor-
tunate young lady to her parents: she was
faithfully described in the public prints,
especial attention being directed to the
profusion of her long and flowing har.-
The friends of the family were assiduous
in their attentions, and they failed not to
state their convictions that the young lady
had eloped with Colonel Fitz-Gerald. In
dignant at the charge, the Colonel joined
in the search, and when all proved fruitless,
no one was louder in lamentations than he
was.
"He could not rest" he said, "till she
was found, for in no other way could his
innocence of the deed be sufficiently estab-
lished''
The apparent sincerity of his protesta-
tions, his ceaseless endeavors to find her,
his numerous calls at the house, his IN
wearied attentions and agonizing protesta-
tions disarmed the most suspicious He
was admitted to the family councils, pro-
posed plans, and acted the part of loving
and grateful relative so admirably that
none could for one instant suppose that the
lady was at that very moment in his own
safe keeping.
The hour of retrbution at length came
A young girl waited one morning on Lady
kingsborough, and informed her ladyshp
that her attention was drawn, by the con-
timed advertisements she had seen in the
public newspapers, to the circumstance of
young lady having eloped with gentle
man from her fathers house. Now, she
was a servant at a lodging house in Clay
ton street KinuStoD tn which MA 90 q