The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-20
The Romance OF Mrs. Laughton.
Washington Correspondence Detroit Fr,



The story of this much Dereaved lady's life
is fascinating romance. The only child
of one of Philadelphia's most brilliant
lawyers-Charles McAlister-her mother
dying when she was quite young, she be-
came her surviving parents all. She
worshiped him with wild idolatry, shared
his condolences and pleasures, knew all the
friend and companion in all his tastes and
pursuits. She was the chosen friend of
Miss Harriet Lane during the last DAISY of
southern social supremacy in Washington,
and by her singular beauty and elegant ac-
complshments as finished linguist was a
central attraction in that brilliant society
whose memory even is still a theme of
wonder and admiration. The name of Lily
was exceedingly appropriate delicate
blonde, with great shower of pale, golden
hair, and eyes beautifully blue"
Her father. anxious to know that his
daughter would have a kindly protector
when he had gone over to "the great ma
jority," thought that the Chevalier Bergh-
mans, secretary of the Belgian legation was
the proper party to undertake that charge,
and to wish on the part of the parent was to
be obeyed by the daughter, although the
proffered husband was as old as the papa
They were married. Mr.. McAlister died
and the daughter came into actual possession
of magnificent property. Like the Lady
Geraldine, she had everything mortal could
desire. A town house in Philadelphia, n
country seat on the Delaware River, called
"Glengarry," a cottage by the sea at Cape
May, winter home in Washington on H.
street, a summer home In the mountains of
Pennsylvania. and coal mines, and railroads
on which snorting engines tore over the
country.
The cheyalier and madame lived the
happiest of lives. He was scholarly and
good, with no end of Flemish phlegm to enjoy
the honey another bee had garnered for him,
but alas for all human happiness, the chew.
Her died also, leaving as sweet widow as
ever donned weeds to mourn for him, and a
little daughter named Camille. In due time
madame emerged from her self imposed Sc
clusion into society, where she was always
an idol. She entertained In all the sumptu-
Gus detail her wealth and station permitted,
and even royalty had its regal limbs under
her mahogany. AS regent of the Mt. Yer
non Association, her name has become a
household word.
At last madame met with her fate-and
loved. The grand passion that does not
come to all-and only once in q life time If
at alias the coal from off the altar laid upon
the lips of those who truely loved, touched
hers. Her copqueror was an EDglishman, q
clerk in the Alabama claims commission,
young; not "a and as handsome as-as Luci-
fer before his fall. Madame was nearly
double his age, her beautiful life filled to
repletion with gentle charities and generous
actions. That charm remained; neither
could age wither or custom stale the in
finite variety" Of her graces OF mind and &C.
comphsbments. He told his love, and they
were married Christmas week, 1876, the
president and Mrs. Grant being among the
guests at the wedding. What fiutter it
created in the dove cotes of younger
beauties!
In her bridal dress madame paid such a
delicate compliment to her lover, that showed
the genuine depth of her passion. Ii
was robe of white satin over which played
the faintest flush of lavender. and the garni-
ture was clusters of the loYellest white
lilacs. frt
They had not been many months welded
before the pail of a terrible illness fell upon
the husband. When he rallied the physi-
clans ordered his native air as a recuperative
remedy, and hither they went. But he died
in Algeria, Africa, on the 2Sth of January.
A year and month OF welded life, shad-
owed with suffering, was all that fate had
for this sweet, gentle lady, so good and
kind To others