TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 July 1901, Page 4

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Lord Dalmeny. the eldest son of James, second Earl of met in London some years previous to his death in 1755 a lady with whomhe fell violently in love, and whom he persuaded to marry him and accompany him on a Continental tour. Tho marrsage, though concealed from the relatives on both sides, proved to be an extremely happy one, the pair living together in the greatest harmony until the lady was overtaken by a mortal illness. When assured that she was dying she asked for a pencil and paper; and she then wrote the following message :—"I am the wife of the Rev. Mr Gough, rector of Thorpe, in Essex. My maiden name was C. Cannon, and my last request is to be buried at Thorpe.' In what circumstances she had deserted her bus* band does not appear, but Lord Dalineny protested that he knew nothing of her former marriage, ar.d immediately set about fulfilling her last wishes. Ha had the body embalmed and enclosed in a chest, and then, under the assumed name of Williams, he brought it to England, landing at Colchester. Here the chest was suspected by the Custom-house officers of containing smuggled goods, and was opened by them, to tho great distress of the bereaved husband, who grew almost distracted under the darker sus picions which arose when its real contents were revealed. However, after infinite difficulty he succeeded in conveying the body to Thorpe, and when it had been p:aced in the church in an open bier, took his seat beside it, evidently absorbed in grief, the scene having reminded a bystander and Juliet." At length he gave a'full explanation of the circumstances of his marri ( ge, and Mr Gough was sent for to come and identify his wife, which the latter gentleman did without a moment's hesitation. The meeting between the sorrow-stricken young man and the indignant husband was described as a most moving one, but neither seemed inclined to waive his right to the other, though of the two Lord Dalmeny was the most anxious to do honor to the deceased. He had a splendin coffin made for her, and followed her body to Thorpe, where he was met by Mr Gough, and in their presence the burial was performed with all due solemnity, thus probably furnishing the only instance on record of a woman being attended to her grave by two husbands at the same time. Immediately after the ceremony Lord Dalmeny left for London, apparently inconsolable at his loss. In the peerage he is described as unmarried.