THE BEAUTIFUL MISSES WALPOLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE BEAUTIFUL MISSES WALPOLE.

In a drawingroom of ono of the stateliest mansions of Pall Mall, at an early hour of the evening of 6th September, 1766, a young and lovely woman was sitting alone. The house, says the writer, was tne town residence of Maria, Cotmtess-Dbwuger of Waldograve. The solitary occupant of the room was the Countess (one of the Misses Walpole), who, though she waa the mother of three children, and had been a widow for about three years, was still in the flower and freshness of the girlish beauty that seven or eight years before had_ won for her the passionate love of a rich and powerful carl. Bro many moments had passed a well looking gentleman, whose slight figure and comely face entitled him to be described aa a handsome boy, entered the room, greeting the lady affectionately. The gentleman was the Duke of Gloucester., brother of the reigning Sovereign, These two young people had been lovers for many months. Fearful of exciting the King's opposition, they were about to be aecretely married. Ten minutes later they were joined by the lady's domestic chaplain, the Rev. Robert Morton, who, prayer book in hand, proceeded to perform the office for which he hod been Invited, It waa a aoeno for the stage. The bride was still a girl in appearance, and the boyish bridegroom in his 24th year. The altar was a buhl table. Uttered with knickknacks and the volumes of the last new novel. The time wa sbetween 7 and 9 in the evening, and the curtained draw-ing-room, that for the occasion did duty as a ohapol. was lighted with a few candles. For five whole years the secret .was jealously guarded.