The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-06
A NOMAD'S SECRET.
Pathetic Romance of the
Blythe Case.
A Mothers Daughters Disown Her
Because She Was a Gypsy
on the Cheviot Hills.


bobbed up into notice again has changed
the whole course of a great many lives
since the millions we're abandoned to the
scramble OF tribes from all over the world.
The world has been ransacked for years
to solve in seven different ways the mystery
of the life of Thomas FL. Blythe. and scores
of people have lett homes of contentment
to cross oceans and plunge hopefully into
the fierce fight for the millions. Some have
reaped years Of Encouragement and final
disappointment aud few, mainly lawyers,
have made 1T pay in one way or another.
There is one sweetfaced woman claimant
who wishes with all her heart that Thomas
II. Blythe had never been born or that he
had left family or that he had died poor.
The Blythe case has poisoned and en-
FILTERED her life. The story is romantic
and pathetic.
She is one of the gypsy Blythes who are
still asserting their claim as strongly aud
confidently as ever in spite OF the recent
Supreme Court decision.
In 1885, when Boswell nj. Blythe of Texas
and John Blythe Of Kentucky were Begin
ming their long hunt for evidence that
Thomas III. Blythe was their kinsmau and
a gypsy, though they themselves were not
some old uncle or grandfather SAID, "Whv
don't YOU hunt up Betty Blythe in Illinois?
She was Scotch gypsy when she was
girl and will know great deal about the
family"
Betty Blythe was soon found to be Mrs.
Elizabeth Shelton of Paxton, H.. and she
did know good deal.
Her early life was as romantic as any OF
Walter Scotts novels. She was born a
gypsy in the Cheyiot Hills. on the Scottish
border. and during her girlhood sac lived
the nomadic life OF the gypsies of the border
counties of England and Scotland.
In winter she lived with her people in
some town or settlement, and then she went
TO school. In the summertime she roamed
with her family about those border counties
and ali through Scotland and England.
The folk she Travelled with were tinkers
traders and peddlers OF everything suited
TO the business. She often walked forty
miles day behind the loaded carts. and no
red-froeked gypsy maiden in all Scotland
could more deity build a campfire along
the Feviots banks, or serve from big
eampkettle more SayOry stew.
When she was about 20 years old John
Shelton, an industrious young Englishman.
made her acquaintance at big gypsy fair
Ia one OF the northern counties OF England
and married her. Her wedding was one of
those Peculiar BORDER marriages." which
constitute an old and well-known legal and
social custom of England and Scotland.
John Shelton al once emigrated with his
young vile to America and about thirty
years ago they settled down to a frugal, in
dustriOus life in Northern Illinois. Two
daughters were born. and as they grew up
savings accumulated and little investments
grew in value until John Shelton bee anne
well liked" tn ugh he held onto his rail-
road job as indusiriously as ever.
The girls grew 10 womanhood and mar
riei. Tie bard-w drkng and economical
mother found wrinkles deepening in her
thin face, which retained the light of an
honest and gentle nature, and the gray in
creased in her dark full tresses.
John Shelton was worth $50. 900, the
daughters were well married and the family
had OF course old and warm friends where
they had passed the best part OF their lives.
During all these years the secret of the
mothers race and early life was closely
kept Only she and her husband knew ii.
Tie daughters and friends who had known
them for a generation thought that she was
simply Scotch and her looks did not suggest
the truth. for there was Highland blood in
her veins. No one ever heard her speak
word OF RomaDy or mention the gypsy race.
Gypsies the world over always carefully
conceal their race when they go out from
their people and Elizabeth Shelton tremb-
lingly shrank from the repr0ach 10 herself
and her family.
But there were millions in sight and
family skeletons did not count Then If
the gypsies won she would get about one
twentieth Of 0ne-f0urth of the estate.
a letter To her about the case from
gypsy relative in Scotland was opened in
her absence by one IF her daughters, who
was visiting her, and the long imprisoned
family skeleton stalked forth with horrible
grinning. That was in 1885.
The result seems strange. One daught ter
had been married to ST. Louis banker
with whom she happily lived. He was
Mortified and proposed TO leave her. He
was angry. he had been deceived. lie
had never proposed 10 marry a gypsy.
Friends interpoSed and he finally remained
with his wife, but he forbade her to even
recognize her mother again.
There was similar family row in Chicago
where the other married daughter lived.
That mother has never seen or spoken to
or heard from either daughter since the
family skeleton was revealed. Some friends
grew more distant Her heart broke under
the strain aud the wrinkles and the gray
hair came on with quicker pace.
When the case was tried here strong In
huences brought her as witness On The
stand she appeared an intelligent, sweet
hammered but sad-faced Scotch lady. but
she felt every drop Of gypsy blood IN her
body tear with cruel pain through her
heart. When asked about her happy, care
less and romantic girlhood she broke down
and burst into agonizing tears. She re-
membered lifetime of love and devotion
that had gone for Daught. and a virtuous.
industrious life that could not hide from
her the finger OF scorn.
A few days ago she wrote to a San Fran
cisco correspondent begging never to be
sent a word regarding the Blythe case
again.
She is the one Blythe claimant in the
world who has no interest in the Blythe
millions.
THE SCIENTISTS.