Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-26

learned was this: She wag the only daughter of Major General Alexander Hamilton Lgight, who, during the mutiny in India, after distinguishing himself greatly, perished with Sir Henry Lawrence during the siege of Lucknow. His wife and daughter at that time were residing in Calcutta, but after the fathers death returned to Europe Her mother was daughter of Count Henri Ri- viere, who was one of the equerries in walt ing on the late Emperor Napoleon. Her father was first cousin of the Earl of Lans- downe, and for a time had been deemed heir presumptfve to the estate and title. Her ! mother, who had been born and reared in France, and who had indeed never visited England until after her marriage to General Laight, on returning to Europe, resolved to settle in France, where she had large estate on the banks of the Garonne, adjoining that of Baron RothschiId. For several years the child lived with her mother in perfect geclu- sion in the old chateau on the banks of the Garonne. When she was ten years of age her mother suddenly determined to move to Paris, and the old gloomy hotel on the Rue de Baronne was once more reoccupied. Soon after going to Paris she was sent to 8 convent to de educated. Consequently Ghe saw little or nothing of her mother, who viEited her but very occasionally. When she was seven teen years of age she left the convent, and her mother, who In the interval had married German banker residing in Paris, took her
 
 CTS welded life was not happy, her child proving, 1t seemed, continual bone of con- tention. After two years of this cat-and-dog life she determined to seek an asylum with her English relatives. This was in 1869. She remained with the Earl of Lansdowne'S fam! fly until the breaking out of tho Franco Prus- sian war, when Baron Lansert, h0r mothers husband, separated from her.
 "They returned to the old chateau, near Bordeaux, where they remained until the conclusion of peace. Soon after they travel ed through Europe, and the mother became engrossed in speculation, and was continually dabbling in mining stocks and such like. Of course she was victimized but the gambling mania had taken possession of her and neith- CT remonstrance nor advice were of the least avail. Meantime, their residence had first been taken up at Brussels, and afterward in Vienna. Here, in 1878, Miss Laight met the only son of Count Jacques dc Berante, whose father has since become famous in connec- tion with his scheme to cut a canal and con- nect the Mediterranean with the Desert of Sahara. After six months' acquaintance they wore engaged aud were to have been married in the early spring of 1879. Toward the end of December in that year the gambling and speculations produced catastrophe, and al- most everything that Miss Laight's mother possessed was swept away. Miss Laight pos sessed small fortune which fell to her from her father. In February last her mother died at Rouen. Before this a shadow had come between the lovers and owing to OCT tain of her mothers actions her proud En- glish relations refused to recognize her. The engagement between the young couple had not been broken of until after her mothers death. Then, without even going through the formality of breaking his engagement her quondam lover married another lady Miss Laight could not endure France after that, and crossed to England. Her reception there cannot have been cordial, for after 6 two or three months' stay she came to thjs country, the object being to forget all about her old home and surroundings. She lived very quietly at one or the uptown hotels, and judge made no friends" Two days after she had thus made the doctor her con fdant operation was performed. As the physicians had feared, it proved fatal, and she died ere the knife was withdrawn She was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. On her coffin, which was of rosewood, with dark handles, was plate with her name, Marie Hamilton Laight."