Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-25
THE DUKE WILL MARRY his FAyuEITF.
The Notorious Duke Of Sutherland
TO Marry Mrs. Mary Blair.

The Notorious Duke Of Sutherland
TO Marry Mrs. Mary Blair.
A dispatch from Tampts, Fla, says:
A license has been issued by the judge
Of probate of Hillsborough county for
the marriage OF George William Suth-
erland Levcson Cover, widower, other
wise the duke Of Sutherland, and Mary
Caroline Blair, widow. The duke has
been here for two months past, quietly
living on some property which he has
acquired and devoting most Of his time
to hunting, shooting and fishing. Tha
small but comfortable house on mis-
place has been honored since his ar
rival here with the presence OF hand
some woman, known as Mrs. Blair,
who shared in his sports and pastimes
and who was more or less OF an
enigma to the natives. Was she maid,
wife, widow or prospective brideP This
doubt seems to be solved to-day by the
announcement that the lady in question
is about to become the duchess of Suth-
erland.
Poetic as well as rctributive justice
is properly satisfied by this match,
since Mrs. Blair is said to be the widow
OF dependent of the duke, whom he
accidently shot and killed while on u
hunting expedition.
The duke became q widower only
last November by the sudden demise of
his wife at Stafford House from a cold
contracted in seeing the duke off for
America
1t is said that his grace is sufficiently
fascinated by the climate and sport of
Florida to abandon forever his legisla-
tive functions as peer OF the realm,
and intends to expatliate himself in the
interests of Tampa oranges and
orange blossoms,
Mrs. Blair is the widow of an English
officer, and the duke has said in de-
fence of her position in his family that
he had promised the officer on his death
bed TO care for his widow. Her name
! has been connected with that OF the
duke several years. In 1885 the duke,
while on n visit to this country. was
accompanied by Mrs. Blair and they
were the SUBJECT of good deal OF adj
verse comment. While they were re-
ceived in few families, the greater
part OF society drew the line at Mrs.
Blair. The duke would not go out un-
accompanied by her, however, and he
visited few prominent society people.
In December, 1887, the duke became
seriously i'll at Trentham. The Lon
don daily press society papers pub
lished frequent medical bulletins OF
his condition. Considerable comment
was caused, however, by the fact that,
Notwithstanding the dukes serious ill
ness the duchess and her daughter per-
sisted in remaining quietly at Torquay,
and even his sons-the marquis of
Stafford and Lord Tarbat-kept away
from their fathers sick bed.
The cause OF this peculiar conduct on
the part of the ducal family was the
|
Blair, who had been quartered at the
country seat for some time pievious TO
his illness. The duchess, who is one
OF the proudest ladies in England, fin
ally gave way to their entreaties and
journeyed down to Trentham, accom-
panied by her two sons and her
daughter, Lady Alexandra, and her
ddughter-in-la Lady Stafford. With
IN few hours after arrival of the fam
lily, however, the duke improved SO
rapidly that all immediate danger was
past. A terrible scene then took place
between the injured wife and her child
rem on the one side and the intruding
lady on the other. A vigorous attempt
was made TO drive Mrs. Blair from the
house and put an end to the scandal,
which was by that time the one subject
of gossip all over the united kingdom.
The duke, however, gave his favor
ite his strongest support, and she re-
fused TO leave the mansion under any
circumstances. This was the last
straw, and the proud duchess, accom-
panied by her children, left never to
return.
a fortnight after the duchess return
from Trentham the duke, although
scarcely recovered from his illness,
embarked on board his yacht, accom-
panied by Mrs. Blair, and left England
on prolonged ocean voyage, visiting
Java and other islands in Australasian
waters.
An Energetic Defense.