AN OLD STORY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8736, 9 February 1907, Page 4

AN OLD STORY.

► V recent Loudon cablegram a»3 nounced thr- tleadi of the H»--chioness of Hastings, who was famous m the sixties bceause of her clopenuD* while betrothed to the ltignt Hon. Mr Chaplin. The Marchioness retain.d that title by courtesy only, her proper title being Lady Florence Chetwyml i the name of her second husband. Siio , 1 was 04 years of age. When 22 years ] of age she was engaged to Mr Chaplin, now the Eight Hon. Henry Chapun V C who has been a member of several Conservative Cabinets. The day for the wedding was lfixed, and on the day before it the intending bride and bridegroom went shopping together. The lady went into a shop, and her lover remained outside. She did not return. She passed through the building to another street, where the Marquis of Hastings awaited her, and . together they lied to a church, where , \ tiey were married. That was in lbo'l. , Three years later Mr Chaplin owned j I Hermit, a candidate for the Derbj. j

He backed his horse heavily, and, then, a few days before the race, it \ broke a blood-vessel. The Marquis , laid heavily against Hermit, and a | lar"c portion of his wagers were held | bv his old rival for the love of Lady , Florence Paget. Though starting at j 60 to ] against, Hermit won. lhe | popular idea is thnt M.r Chaplin hud a j plot to get even with the Marquis for ! I robbing him of his bride, but it is said i on good authority that before the race I he offered to call off part of the wagers laud that this offer was indignantly refused. His losses over Hermit were I a great blow to the Marquis, but his j ruin was not complete until next year I (18G8), when he plunged heavily on Lady Elizabeth for Blue Gowns Derby, and lost. His death soon fol- | lowed, and two years later the widow | married Sir George Chetwynd.