A ROMANCE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7650, 29 May 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A ROMANCE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

A Pakuami:ntai!Y paper baa just been issued which, the Daily News remarks, hides under prosaic appearances a charming little romance. Some time ago a paragraph went tho round of the papers stating that Mr. Dillwyn, M.P., had received a legacy of £-000 iu token of the respect r.nd admiration of a lady whose name wast not mentioned. The lady's name was Mrs. Helen Blake, of Kensington, who died possessed of considerable wealth, Unfortunately, the disposition ol her property was made in an informal manner. >°.Ie had written oat tindraft of a will, but it waa not duly o.vecutod, and, as a inattcr-of-f.ict, sho died intestate, her property reverting to the Crown. Among those whom sho desired to benefit waa Mr. dillwyn, whoso name was put down for £"JCUI), and the O'Connor Don, who w:i3 named for a similar sum. To neither of the legatees was the lady known. They had never seen her or heard of her, and tho favour they had found in her eyes was conveyed in a formal communication from this Treasury stating that, as Mrs. Blake's intention was unmistakable, the Crown waa prepared to hand over the money. The particular grounds for tho Udy's marked appreciation of the two honourable members were not even known. Possibly the wa3 a frequenter of the Indies' gallery in the House of Commons, which, in default ct" other clue to tho mystery, may explain much. Mr. Diiiv.ya is a decidedly presentable man, and, risiug at any hour of the night in Committee of Supply to discuss tlio national expenditure, might well attract the attention of an iiapres3iouable observer from tho gallery. liowcvpt, is bo, Mr. Dillwyn has received his £2000, minus legacy duty of £-00 deducted by a revenue department that has no sympathy with romance, and thy O'Connor Uju hia boea equally bcncii'oJ.