CUPID IN A MOTOR CAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 138, 10 June 1905, Page 9

CUPID IN A MOTOR CAR.

Three years ago Colonel Edward Holmes Bakioek- the wealthy t-oaiman-iler of the 3rd County of London Imperial Yeomanry, an<! a Leicestershire county magnate, gave his daughter Miss Sarah Frances Constance Lilian (who is a niece of the Countess of Kilmorey) a motor car as a birthday present. Thp chaffeur he selected to initiate his daughter into the mysteries of motoring was a very good-looking young man bearing the hy no means plebeian name of Cyril Duvall Bishop. Miss Baldoek knew nothing about motoring- to start with, hut very soon became an enthusiast. Day after 'day., accompanied by the chaffear, she wonld indulge in long country driven, and golf, tennis, hunting, in their seasons, lost all attractions for the young lady. j Xot one of her family or friends snsi peeted that the delights of swiftly rushj ing through country lanes were not j the only attractions the car provided j for Miss , Baldock until ahont a year I ago. Then it suddenly datrned upon j the colonel that his daughter had fal- | leu Violently in love with the chaffe'.ir- ; and. his eye- being opened, he very I soon di.-frovered that not only had toe i young couple plighted their troth, but ! had made alLi arrangements for an earjiy marriage. Tlie colonel wa* furious and. with one exception, the feminine element in the Baldoek family <ez to work to try to cure Miss Baldotk of her infatuation. The ehalfeur was approached, and a .very considerable sum of money dangled before bis eyes as an inducement for him to take himself out of Miss Baldoc-k's life. But Bishop refused firmly to do anything of the kind, and ail the family's efforts to "h-ing Sarah to her senses" were aiike le?s. .ihe wanted her chaffeur for j iier husband and she meant to have ! him. However, at that lime she wa3 j not of age- and the fortune to whien j .->he was heiress wa- not under her eonI troi. The family, therefore, decided to see what a separation ol the lovers would effect, and sent Miss Ba!do.-k j fir-t to France and then to Ceylou in j the hope that -he would forget her j lowly lover. When they imagined a cure had been effected Miss wa~ allowed to come home again, nay- ( ing meanwhile "i-ome of age.' Beinrr a free agent. M3sss Baldoek at oner sought her lover, and without loss of time ihe I pair arranged for an immediate marj riage at St. Peter's. Katon Square, and on Thursday. April 28th. Miss BaWock. society belle and heiress, became Mrs Bishop. The family's opposition ja- great as ever. Miss Baldoc-k took , I precautions to prevent any interference , j with lier nuptials. Solicitors representing the bride and bridegroom were pre- , sent, and police officers were station?'} , j both inside ajsd outside the church, to . prevent any attempt at the abduction ■j of Miss Baldoek. should such a desper--1 ate measure he resorted to by her inj j censed relatives. ■ j But no one appeared to even challenge • J the Church's right to make the heiress ;i the cbaffenr's wife. So. unattendrii by 'j bridesmaids, and with only an aunt ii to represent her family, and her soli- > j citor to/ give her away, Miss Baidock. ; J simply clad in a dark blue travelling t" costume, was married to the man of her choice. The happy pair are now - spending their honeymoon at Bourse- - moutk. ' .