River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-07
THE COUSINS LOVE.
The Daughter OF the Earl of Kingston
Eiopes with Her COEsfn-Search For
the Eugitfye-A BiOodiess Duel-Murder
of GoIones Fffzgeraid.

/ he NO0S SIMS 1O Ls
The Daughter OF the Esri of Aingsfon
EioPes with Har Constn-Searsn -
| the Fugitive-A BIoadiess Duel-nurdel
of Colonel Fitzgerald
Toward the close of the last century
the family of Lord Kingsborough resided
at Bishopsgate, on the banks of the
Thames. Bisbopsgate is now crowded
with ware houses all busy centers o.
trade and industry then blooming mead
ows stretched away from the Kingston
ough mansion to the edge of the historic
river. Lord Kingsborouh was son and
heir to Earl Kingston, the owner OF extern
sive estates in the richest valleys OF Cork
and Tipperary, in Ireland. Kingston
Castle, the ancestral seat, was splendid
prize to fall to any man by the accident
Of birth. Nothing could be more pictur.
esque than its situation, and its architec
tural beauty has been the theme OF every
| traveller.
Lord Kingsborough married when only
fifteen years of of age. His wife, Caroline
was wealthy, and an only daughter----hel
brother died in early manhood. Upon
his illegitimate son Caroline lavished
nothing less than maternal care.
This young man entered the British
army, and by ability, address and family
influence, worked his way to the rank Of
Colonel He was married, to all appear
ance, happy, and had become the father
of numerous family.
Lady Kingsborough's object IN resid-
ing at Bishopsgate was TO perfect the ed
ucation of bia children. She spared nc
pains to this end.
The services of Mary Wcolstonecroft--
afterward well known to the world as
Mrs. Godken, and later on, as the wife OF
Percy Bysche Shelley-weres secured, and
the effect of her admirable training was,
in few years, noticeable in all the chIl-
dren, particularly the eldest daughter,
known as the Hon. Mary King.
Miss King was not beautiful, IN the
strict sence of the word. Her features
were, however, well-rounded, pleasing,
and full of kindly. gentle telling. Her
figure was graceful, and her manner
charming and artless. She was the soul
| of festivity, and at balls and Touts had no
compeer.
The Honorable Mary had not seen
long in the glinz of society before scandal
began to be busy with her name. 1t was
said that the eyes of Colonel Fitzgerald,
her mothers illegitimate nephew, were
necessarily upon her. Her chaperons
were accused of being in the plot. I ese
rumols had not been long upon the -four
winds before they reached the ears OF tn
Kingsborough family, and by them they
were rejected as false and malicious
stories.
They thought that human nature was
not bad enough to allow one they had
protected and fostered, and from whose
escutcLeon they had all but blotted out
the tint of illegitimacY, to entertain the
idea of blasting the prospects of their
idolized daughter. The idea seemed too
demoniacal.
The Colonel met these charges in such
a manner as to fully reassure the family.
lie affected t despise the rumor. Iney
were, he said. too ridiculous to be ever
answered. He redoubled his visits TO
Bishopsgate and his attention to lady
Mary. Thus he completely disarmed the
suspicious of the family. Meanwhile he
completed the details of plot as villain
Gus al ever was connected.
Lady Mary played her part equally
we'll Her sentiments, as whispered into
| her cousis's ear, are expressed IN Percy
Relinques," and were formerly sang in
| Northumbrean halls to the air of
! elbow THE WIND, HETGH no"
| There is a horse in my fathers stable
He stands beside the thorn;
He shakes his head above the trough,
| But dares not prize the corn.
There is a bird in my fathers flock,
| double comb he wears;
He claps his wings and crows aloud,
But capons crest he beals.
There is a flower in my faith er's garden,
| They call 1t marigold
The fool that will not when he may
He shall not when he void.
On bright morning in 1897 the Hon
orahle Mary disappeared from the fam
ilv mansion. She left note ON hel
dressing-table stating that she Had gone
TO drown herself in the Thames" Con
sternation spread through the house
hold, and diligent search was at once
organized. Her bonnet and shawl were
found upon the banks of the river, bu
no traces of her body was obtained
After some weeks the Kingsborough'
generally convinced themselves that thu
last had been heard OF Lady Mary.
! Lord Kingsborough, however, neve
altered his view that his daughter haC
eloped. Among the most interchangeable
of the detectives employed was Colone
Fitzgerald. But his success in obtaininl
lues was by no means equal to has in
ustry.
The first light thrown upon the mys
tery was the story of Jones, cockue.
letter carrier He had seen lady on tn
roadside waiting for gentleman. II
had seen her enter carriage ard driv
off. He saw no more. 1t was the hrs
thread toward discovery, and 1t stlmu
lated further inquiry.
The interest of London became cxcite'
excited in such a manner as it has no
been since, except, perhaps, by the Water
loo bridge mystery. There were myraid
. of French outcast loyalists in the metro
polls at the time All of them had tai
Of blood and woe to tell. Yet the disar
pearance from home Of the belle of Lon
t don was the only subject discussed q
clubs and at bar-rooms.
When the failure to find the runawa
seemed extremely probable. "help
! arrived at Bishopsgate with informato
to give.
: She bad been working a. the doorstep
$ of a house in Clayton street, Kensingtol
D early one morning about the time of tn
g elopement, and had seen lady and ger
! tleman arrive at house close by. Sh
= described the lady. 1t wat Lady Mar.
] The gen leman she was about 10 describ
n when Colonel Fitzgerald entered the room
1 With feeling of evident wonder, II
: woman cried out, ''there's the very gentl
; manln The Colonel's GOODNESS and sci
n possession at once deserted him. His hea
began to reel, his eyes swan and b
heart beat quickly; but be spoke no wor
@ A moments delay was dangerous, an
Il might be fatal. Quitting the hall, he i
a stantly disappeared in the woods.
81 His guilt was evident.
& The indignation of the Kingsborougl
II knew no bounds. They not only hi
/ been betrayed and wronged, but dece
n and trechery had been sporting Wi
d their finest sensibilities for month
2 They felt all the bitterness which M
e and women feel when they discover III
re they have been hugging viper to the
" bosom.
"a The cYnicism Of the scandal monge
i. of London added much to the bltterne
s. of the disgrace of the family. 1t was ho'
i ever, to be avenged. Colonel Kin
IF Lady Mary's brother, forwarded host
i message to Fitzgerald, through Maj
Il H.. r.