The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-08-08

y
md broke down his never very robust
physical constitution, accompanied for
The twelyemonth preceding his death by
q young man belonging to the medical
profession. of the name of Chiffon. Mr..
and Mrs. Gosford had been separated a.
few DAYS less than three years. when the
husband died at the village Of Swords, in
Ireland, and not far distant from Dublin.
The intelligence was first conveyed to the
widow by paragraph in the sFreeman's
Journal Dublin newspaper; and by
the following most letter arrived from
Mr.. Chiffon, inclos,ug ring which the
deceased had requested should be sent to
his wife, and note. dictated just previous
to his death hour, in which he expressed
regret for the past, and aGmitted that be
alone had been to blame for the unhappy
separation. A copy. of his will. made
nearly twelvemoBth previously, was
also forwarded, BY which he bequeathed
his property amounting to about three
hundred pounds per annum, to distant
relative then residing in New Holland.
By memorandum OF subsequent date,
Mr.. Chiffon was to have all the money
and other personals he might die IN actual
possession Of, after defrayiEg the neces-
sary funeral expenses. This will, MT.
Chiffon stated, the deceased gentleman
had expressed wish in his last moments
to alter, but death had been teo sudden
for him to be able TO give effect to that
good, bu, too long delayed intention.
1t cannot be supposed that the long
before practically widowed wife grieved
much at the final breaking of the chain
which bound her to SO ungeDial mate;
but as Lady Seyton was entirely silent
upon the subject, cur supposition can only
rest upon the fact that Arthur Kingston
who had some time previously, in con-
sequence of the death of the Earl Of Sey-
ton and his only son, an always weakly
child, preceded a few months by that of
his own father, the baronet, succeeded
to the carbon and estates-hasteDed home
en- seeing the announcement of Gostord's
death III the Dublin paper, from the con-
tinent, where he had continued to reside
since his compelled departure six years
before; and soon afterward found bis way
into Devonshlre, and so successfully
pressed the renewed offer of his hand,
that the wedding took place slightly
within six months after the decease of
Mr.. Gosford. Life passed brilliantly and
happily with the Earl and Countess-to
whom three children Ga boy and two girls)
were born-till about five months prevl-
Gus to the present time, when the Earl,
from being caught when out riding ia a
drenchipg shower of rain, was attacked by
fever, and after an acute illness of only
two or three days duration, expired. The
present Earl was at that time just turned
of five years of age.
This blow, we comprehend from the
sudden tears which filed the beautiful
eyes of the Countess as she spoke of the
Earl's decease, was severe one. Still,
the grief of widowhood must have been
greatly assuaged by love for her children,
and not inconsiderably, after while, we
may be sure, by the brilliant position in
which she was left-as, in addition to
beng splendidly jointured, she was ap-
pointed by her husbands Will sole guard
ian of the young lord, her son.
A terrible reverse awaited her. She was
sitting with her father, the rector, and
her still unmarried sister, Jane Hayley,
in The drawing-room of Seyton House,
when note was brought to her, signed
Edward Chiffon" the writer of which
demanded an immediate and private inter-
view, on, he alleged, the most important
business. Lady Seyton remembered the
name, end Immediately acceded TO the
mans request. He announced in brusque,
insolent lcne and manner that Mr.. Cos
ford bad not died at the time his death
was announced 10 her, having tnen only
fallen into state of syncope, from which
he had Unexpectedly recovered and had
lived six months longer.
The truth is, aided Chiffon, "that,
CHANGING the other day to be looking over
a 'peerage, | noticed for the first time the
date oil your marriage with the late Earl
of Seyion, and | have now to inform you
that it to ok place precisely eight days pre-
vious to Mr. Gosford's death that it was
consequently no marriage at all, and that
your 500 is no more Earl OF Seyton than |
am"
This dreauIul announcement, as one
might expect, completely overcame the
Countess She tainted, but not till she
had heard and comprebended Chilton's
hurried injunction to secrecy aud silence.
He rang the bell for assistance, and then
left the house. The mental agony of
Lady Seyton on recovering consciousness
was terrible, and she with great difficulty
succeededed i'll cencealing its cause from
nC1 duAlVuo anu WOuQCltHS ACidOiFCS.
Another inter view with Chiffon appeared
TO confirm the truth of his story beyond
doubt or question. He produced for
mally drawn up document, signed by oHe
Pierce Cunningham. grave-dlgger of
Swords, which set forth that Charles Cos
ford was buried on the 18th of June, 1864,
and that the inscription on the tombstone
set forth that he had died June 23d of
that year; also a written averment of Pat
rick Mullins, Of Dublin, that he had let
tered the stone at the head of the grave of
Charles Gosford IN Swords urying-
ground in 1864, and that its date was, as
stated by Pierce Cunningham, June, %,
1864.
Have you copies Of those docaments?"
asked Mr.. Flint.
Yes, | have brought them with me,
the Countess replied, and handed them to
Mr.. Flint In my terror and extremity"
continued her ladyship, land unguided by