THE PEER AND THE PERI.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 279, 24 November 1928, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PEER AND THE PERI.

BALLET-GIRL TO PEERESS. Often enough, romance comes late in Kfo. It certainly came very late to Thorns Wynn, first Lord Newborough, for he n«s not far short of 75 when cupid an arrow in his elderly heart. The aged peer, who was broken down 5n health, was travelling in Italy, where Jris physicians had sent him, to see if the blue skies and genial climate would yestoro his constitution. It did have this effect, but in a manner they had not anticipated. An ardent lover of dancing, his lordship happened one evening to visit the Qbera House at Florence. As he sat in lis bos, there suddenly flashed upon the a beingpwhom he almost took for a fairy. Never had ho witnessed such grace of movement, such abundant vitality, and such feminine charm. The spectacle sent the hot blood' coursing through his withered veins. It seemed to bring back his long lost youth. "What is that dancer's name?" he inquired eagerly, of the manager. "Her name, my lord," he was told, "is ilaria Stella Chiappini. She is the daughter of a peasant in the town."

"I don't care who or what her father is," was the response. "1 wish to make her acquaintance. Present my compliments, and invite her to have supper with me this evening."

Flattered and excited by thus arousing the interest of the "rich English Milord," Maria Chiappini accepted the invitation. Lord Newborough, who was an accomplished scholar, could speak to her in her own language. He could also speak to her in a language which they both understood—the language .of love. "May and December" Match. The elderly peer was. old enough to he the girl's grandfather, and his health ■was shattered. But this counted.for nothing beside the passion her beauty and charm had developed in him. He •wooed her as if he were a young lover, and Maria was swept off her pretty feet by his impetuousness. When he begged her to marry him and live in England, she consented.

It was a "May and December" marriage, if ever there was one. Yet the union, of which two sons were born, was a very happy one for both the baron and the baroness. Lord Newborough was absolutely devoted to his young wife; and she, for her part, returned his affection with all the warmth of her southern nature. On her husband's death, Lady Newborough experienced an overwhelming desire to return to-Italy and see her relatives again. Accordingly, she left England and travelled to Florence.. But the visit, from which she had expected so muchj proved a sad disappoint, ment, for, instead of being welcomed by them, she was received with marked coldness and restraint by her family. The one exception among them was her father. Yet, while he expressed himself as delighted to see her, he'was curiously afoof and distant in his manner. He seemed to have something on his mind. Yet, whatever it was, he did not disclose it. '

Lady Newborough felt this unfriendly reception so strongly that she cut short her visit to Florence. She remained, however, for some years longer in Italy. During this period she wrote to her father constantly. None of her letters, however, were answered.

At last, however, she did receive a letter from him. It was brought to her by a friend, who told her that Chiappini was in his grave/and that the letter had been written on his death bed. Confession. This voice from the tomb, to which she now listened, filled Maria with wonder. It was a deathbed confession, full of remorse for concealing a long and carefully-guarded secret. What it amounted to was a statement that shp was not Chiappini's daughter at all, but that her real father was a 'Trench nobleman of high rank." -~ '■ The letter added further particulars! Shortly before her birth, it said, a Trench count and his wife had arrived in Chiappini's village. Under promise of secrecy, the stranger had then told him that, for political reasons; it was imperative that the countess should become the mother of a son. But the baby, when born, happened to be a girl, whereas Chiappini himself had just become the father of a son.' ■ ■ ; .

"In return for a'handsome payment the count induced me to exchange my boy for his girl The girl wasyou, my beloved Maria. Since then, neither your mother nor I have ever seen the count, who, before he left, told us that the boy we gave him was destined to fill a position of the utmost importance in a foreign country."

When Lady Newborough read this astounding letter, she at last understood the reason of the mysterious coldness with which she had been received by her relatives.

While Chiappini had not mentioned her real name, he had offered a clue to jt, for he had told her the house where she was born. Hurrying off to this address, Lady Newborough saw the occupant. From him she learned that the distinguished foreigner who had been living there with his wife at'the time of her birth was,the Count de Joinville.;

her withdrew their offers as soon as they learned that her object was to establish relationship with the House of Orleans. When Louis Philippe, whom she felt sure was the child for whom she had been exchanged by Chiappini, ascended the Throne, her chances of success disappeared utterly. Political strings were then pulled, and Lady Newborough was given a strong hint that any continuance of her inqiiiries would lead to her being expelled from France. Much against her will, accordingly, Lady Newborough accepted the situation, and relinquished her efforts to solve the secret of her parentage. Yet, to her (lying day, she always asserted that the boorish mannered and plebeian featured Louis Philippe was really the son of Chiappini, the humbly-born Italian peasant, who for years had masqueraded as her own father.

(To be continued.)

Such a revelation went far towards clearing up the mystery, for it was common knowledge that d 6 Joinville was the incognito always adopted by the Due d'Orleans when travelling out of his own country. He was certainly a "great 'nobleman," since he was a Royal P/ince and a descendant of Louis XIII. Consequently, if he were really her father, then she herself was a Princess of Trance. : , • . Probing a Mystery. Resolved tosettle once and for all the ■question of her birth, Lady Newborough travelled to Paris, where she prosecuted careful inquiries. But she found all sorts of unexpected difficulties and obstacles put in her way. The Due d'Orleans, who had been living in Italy when slie was born, had since died; and his family disclaimed all knowledge of Chiappini. Lady Newborough also discovered that various people who prolessed themselves as anxious to assist