Year: 1875

A MODERN ROMANCE.
from the Chicago Times


Lady Blanche, the eldest daughter, though
| yet young, of the naughty English Earl of
Gainsborough, is resident of Chicago, earn
| ing livelihood in the fields of magazine
literature. You may see her passing through
the streets or riding in the horse-cars, from
her home to the suburbs, with roll of manu-
script in her hand; or you may find her in
the dingy Office of the magazines or the
weekly papers trying to dispose of her pro-
| ductiOns


Her mother, the deceased wife of the Earl
of Gainsborough, was lady Augusta, the eld-
est daughter of the Earl of Enroll. Her two
brothers are Viscount Campden and Lord
Edward, and her two younger sisters are Lady
| Georgiana and Lady Frances. The Earldom
of Gainsborough belongs to the proudest
aristocracy in the kingdom of Great Britain.
Noel, the founder of the family, with Celes-
tria, his wife, was one of the mobiles who
entered England with the Conqueror, who
granted him immense estates for his services
and many of his descendants were men of
great note and magnifcence. The family
were raised to eardom in 1882; but it is
within century that the title passed to the
present branch of the family, whose living
representative is therefore known as the
second Earl of Gainsborough. BY referring
to that part of ''Burkes Peerage," which
contains the history OF the earldom from
which Lady Blanche sprang, the following
line, which involves the history and mystery
of her career, will be found Immediately after
her name:


NJ. Thomas 7. Murphy. 9th March. 1870.
The simple meaning of this line is that
Lady Blanche married the Murphy who is
| referred to, at the date which is here indi-
Gated. The few people hareabouts WHO are
acquainted with ''Mrs. 3. Murphy" or the
editors who have received notes signed
''Blanche Murphy" are not all aware that
the name of their acquaintance or correspon-
dent can be found under the coat-of-arms of
the Earl of Gainsborough in ''Burke's Peer
age" The Earrs ancient motto is tout bie1a
on rien, which, though not easily put into
English, may be translated, "All we'll or moth
ing; and this motto has application to one
living member Of the family which probably
was never dreamed of in any previous gener-
alton of its existence


1t was not ''all well'' in the sight of Lady
Blanche's father when she decamped from
Exton Hall, where she was born, to marry
MIR. Murphy, and so she has since been to
him as ''notning." This marriage or mesal
lance of the eldest daughter of so great
to her father, then in his fifty-second year.
The Earl, who is Roman Catholic, has q
private chapel at Exton Hall, in which divine
worship is celebrated daily, and some seven
years ago he engaged young Irish musician,
named Murphy, as organist. AS q member
of the family Lady Blanche sang in the SER
vice to the organ accompaniment, and thus
became familiar with the organist. She was
in her twenty first year, intellectual and hand
some, though unassuming and petite, while he
was modest young Irishman of about the
same age Standing near him every morning
at mathis and every evening at vespers, sing
ing daily in harmony with the solemn or JOY
Gus tunes which he performed so finely, it
was no wonder that the affections of the twain
were awakened toward each other, though
She was lady of high degree,


And he but an humble swain.


Often, when the services were over, and
the rest Of the family had retired from the
chapel, she would remain with him for hours,
he playing, she singing, and both practicing
so as to perfect their musical skill. The sound
of the instrument and her voice, or both of
their voices, could be heard at such times
swelling out of the chapel windows and
trembling among the foliage of the ancient
woods.


The old Earl himself thought nothing of
all this, and ihe watchful eyes of Lady
Blanches mother had recently been closed in
death. So matters went along for the greater
part of u year. At last, upon time, one of
the Earls relatives, who happened to be Wis
iting Exton Hall, asked him if he was not
surprised that his daughter should spend so
many hours every day with the organist in
the chapel after the close of service. The
Earl was astonished that such a question
should be asked about his daughter s musical
practice, and when the observing relative was
about to go step further in his inquiries, the
Earl forestalled the hint by laughing at the
thought OF such an idea. 1t was, however,
on the very night after his suggestive inquiry
that Lady Blanche and the organist took their
flight together from Exton Hall. 1t would
be impossible to tell how the naughty Earl
was overwhelmed at his daughter disappear
ance, and when she sent him word soon after
ward from London that she had been married
to her Murphy, the Earl in his wrath dis
owned her, forbade her return to the ances-
trail halls, and cut her off from all the heri-
tage of the family.


Lady Blanche had, of course, known that
it would be impossible for her to form such
an alliance with her fathers consent, or to
mention such subject in his presence,
though she had probably never imagined that
such a stern penalty would be visited upon
her for marrying out of her rank. Lady
Blanche was not a silly girl, nor ignoront of
the world at this time. She was twenty -one
years of age; she had been great deal i'll
high life; she had been two seasons in Lon
don society: she was devotee of art and
literature; she was woman Of cultivated in
o,,1 hill toIn AR. and NrS
Murphy very soon experienced the trial of
npn.lrX and al varsity in IAndOn