PARNELL'S LOVE STORY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 88, 20 May 1914, Page 7

PARNELL'S LOVE STORY.

A REMARKABLE BOOK. A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENES., Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. ; LONDON, May 19. The book published by Mrs Parnell, widow of the Irish Nationalist leader,, discloses a remarkable love story. Parnell held that the marriage bond was not binding when love ceased. At the end of 1880 he addressed Mrs O'Shea (Mrs Parnell) as "My Dearest Wife." / ■; Mrs-O'Shea's husbaad, in June, 1881, visited Eltham. without the invitation, and. challeriged Parnell to a. duel. v i • ■ The book provides an .extraordinary revelation ot' stratagem and devices to prevent the discovery, of the intrigue', between Himself arid Mrs O'Shea. ( fals-3 names, and em-' ployed cyphers., .. . Once lie a fortnight in Mrs O'Shea's hoj)s,e: without the servants suspecting Jbiisr presence. '• While in prison at Kihnainham, he wrote letters with invisible ink, and learnt that a baby was about to be born. He secured his release on parole for a week to "attend his nephew's funeral," and went to this' O'Shea's immediately. • • > *

. While Mrs O 'Shea was upstairs with the dying child, Parnell and O'Shea were below, talking Jiish politics far into the. night. ; v When Parnell stole in at daybreak' to bid good-bye before returning to prison, Mrs G 'Shea put the dying child in his arms. . , . When Parnell heard of tlxe Phceuix .Park- murders, he said he would resign his leadership of the Nationalist Party. Mrs O'Shea replied; "No; you will ■not be a coward." . Parnell read Piggott's letters i.-iir ''The Times" with laiconcerh, and it was with difficulty that he was suaded to deny them. ■ i The book reveals a / lose subterrane&ii relationship between i'.-i rnell and Gladstone, while the two 'vore openly Ugh'# ing in the House' of Commons. Mrs O'Shea states that she acted as a go-between, commencing' in May, 1882. It is alleged that for .ten years Gladstone knew of her relations with Parnell, and took, of tliem to keep in touch with Parnell, but changed his attitude' after the divorce proceedings in deference to the Nonconformist conscience.