HEIRESS'S ROMANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7702, 9 July 1903, Page 2

HEIRESS'S ROMANCE.

ENGLISH LADY SECRETLY MARRIES A GROOM. A great sensation has been created in Leicester by the discovery that Miss Edith Kaye, niece and heiress of the late Mr T. H. Downing, a wealthy hosiery manufacturer, of that town, toad' eloped with the family's coachman, and was quietly married at Boltoih The pair subsequently travelled to Derby, and the wedding was only discovered by the coachman, whose name is Albert Smith, returning and asking for .hist box, and explaining that he had married Mis 9 Kaye. Mr Downing, it is said, left £80,000 divided between the bride and her brother, Mr R. W. Kaye, of of Stoneygate. In addition to this,- Miss Kaye bad an annuity of £20 left her by her aunt. While in the service of the lady's brother, as coachman, Smith was frequently brought into contact with Miss Kaye. As a matter of fact, he taught her to ride, and attended her in the hunting field last season. Ah affection sprang up between them, and anticipating strong objection, the pair arranged for a secret marriage. They got away from. Leicester, and were married by special license at a registry office in Bolton. A brother of the bridegroom, who. lives in Leicester, acted as best man, and the other persons present included a lady friend from Manchester. The ceremony over, the young couple proceeded to Derby, and took rooms at an. hotel. - The newly-wedded' couple did not enjoy a very long honeymoon, for they are •now living apart, it is stated. Smith is said to be Ecanewhere in Lancashire, and his wife is staying with relatives in Leicester, having been induced to return. Smith is described as a smart, respectable young fellow of twenty-five, and an intelligent and agreeable companion. He is a native of Burton-on-Trent, where his father at one time was a farmer and cab proprietor. Before entering Mr Kayo's service, Smith served with the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa.