The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-03
RoMANces IN HIGH LIFE.
They do Happen Occasionally, and Here
IL an Instance.
Especial Correspondence.

~ oH AuStnhSCs
Especial Correspondence,
New YORK, Feb. 49, don't dare to tell
who they are, but there is as pretty little
romance connected with two well known 90
ciety ladies, whose names are often seen in
print, us n novelist ever put in book
In her girlhood, the first Of these lived in
homely cottage on the outskirts of New
port, the famous watering place of the rich
and fashionable. BY her neighbors she was
known as ''the farmers pretty daughter"
He titled the soil, furnished the big hotels
with its products, while she MIXED the cows
and picked the berries that supplied his GUS
toners The cottage was a fnvorite stopping
place for ladies in driving, for they were
always sure of glass Of cool, fresh milk and
luscious dish of fruit.
One day, the old farmer forgot TO leave
basket of Strawberries that had been
ordered by rich old aristocrat named
well, call her Mrs. Va- Brunt, that's near
enough--and on his return home, told his
daughter to take them to her rooms at the
hotel Kate was at first reluctant, for she
was well bred, proud, and thought herself as
good as anybody, money or no money.
| She went however, was cordially received
and left not only the fruit but an impression
that changed the current of her life. Mrs
| Van Brunt had a young son, handsome,
clever, and with a heart like a photograph
plate In the conversation that followed,
the wit, beauty and sparkle of the pretty
country girl was revelation. 1t was an
agreeable interruption to the monotony OF
their fashionable lives.
After this interview, Mrs. Van Brunt was
frequent caller at Little Cottage, and as
often accompanied by her stalwart heir, who
never failed to insist on seeing ''the young
lady who prepared such delicious berries and
milk"
On one of these occasions Mrs Van Brunt,
who had become very fond of the farmers
daughter, asked her if she would not like to
go abroad and be her guest for couple OF
months OF course, in any ambitious girls
mind there could be but one answer, and,
after consulting with her parents, she pro-
nounced an unmistakable yes! All the ar
rangements being made, the trio, mother,
son and rustic belle started on the trip.
| From the very first there was a flavor Of
| love in the atmosphere. Kate suffered most; ;
at least appeared to, for she knew there
was millions in it," To the young fellow,
who was somewhat tired of ordinary f1irta-
tions with the city girls, it was an agreeable
episode in his usually sluggish life For a
while the old lady was blind. She had set
her heart on high matrimonial alliance in
another quarter, and did not dream of danger
as an outcome of the generous friendship she
had shown the girl. Every day, however,
strengthened the intimacy of the young
couple and complicated the meshes Of the
web that Cupid was weaving. They became
almost inseparable, travelling acquaintance
looked upon them as betrothed, and finally
the son frankly told his mother that he had
made up his mind to get married.
The news came like thunder clap out Of
clear sky, and the storm that followed
shook up the old aristocrat to such degree
that she threatened to disinherit him. Moth
ing remained but to return home as quickly
as possible and send the girl back to her milk
pans and cows This was done, but shortly
after reaching New York. the young man,
worried by the opposition of his mother, was
taken i'll. The illness became SO serious that
his alliance determined to hasten to his side.
She called at the house, but was refused ad-
mission. Again and again she applied to see
her beloved with the same result, until one
day, meeting the mother by accident, she
confessed that she was the affianced wife of
her son and demanded to see him as a right.
The latter was now at the point of death,
paralyzed and unconscious, and the proud
aristocrats heart Eelented. Possibly it was
with the hope that the woman he loved best
might be the means Of restoring him to
health But it was too late. No sign OF
recognition occurred, and on the following
day he died.
In her grief, she prayed forgiveness for tbs
wrong she had done, and folded the country
girl to her bosom as an adopted daughter. As
such she was received into the family, the
portion belonging to the dead heir was settled
upon her, and in time she became central
figure in New York's best society.
Two or three years afterward she became
the wife of foreign diplomatist, and now
vibrates between the two continents, enter.
tains and is regally entertained, and occupies
a sphere to which she would, in any event, be
entitled by virtue Of her true womanhoodL
F. G. DE FoNrAINE.