The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-13

best known men. In this country that had
not been true. Men OF title and high So
cal position were her friends in England,
IN place of theatrical spectators sport
ing men, and others of that grade.
Through one of her London friends she
was introduced to a New Yorker. at that
time In London. He visited her house and
for man of his age fell foolishly and
most thoughuessly in love with her He
was much older than she, but In view
OF the fact that she was then about 3s,
the dsproportion between their ages was
not so great as seemed at first. For il
was marriage that the American offered.
lie was not a man of large means In
point Of family and position there were
none superior to him in New York. He
was OF hne physique, moreover, and Of
distinguished appearance. The marriage
was an opportunity az which any woman
OF her life might have jumped 1t meant
distinguished name, the honor OF be-
coming the wife OF a man unusually hon
ored and respected
IL did not mean wealth, however. There
was perfect knowledge on both sides. He
knew what her career had been 1t was
not until they had come TO know one am
other thoroughly that he fell Ia love with
her She. on the other hand, knew what
his means were and what his position was
There were few phases OF her life that
he had not heard of. Their understanding
was complete In their discussion of the
probable marriage nothing had been over
looked. She knew that to be his wife
would mean nothing to her unless he re-
| ceived the support of his family. They
wrote that she would be received ITO
launch her in first-rate society,"" as the
Duchess sings in The GondolLers," they
would not attempt But they promised
any woman who became his wife the value
OF their recognition, whatever that might
be. II was IN reality a great deal.
The letters on that point satisfied her
The question of his lack Of wealth was
not SO easily overcome. She had the In
come OF millions. but nothing but her
jewels. Whatever fortune her sutton had
was only for his life. It was a difficult
matter to decide. Her present contained
luxury, admiration, riches. Her future,
If she married, meant a good name, quiet
certainly social ostracism, and the protec-
ton of husband. She puzzled over the
matter, while his friends besought him
by word Of mouth, by letter, aud by cable
gram not to make an assam ,rretrlevable
ass-of himself at his time of life He re-
manned In London, serene under all these
entreaties, determined to await her an
swer and make her his wife If she could
be persuaded 70 accept him.
That moment had almost arrived when
sudden change turned her intentions in
the opposite direction. The king of a
bhdH European country had gone to Ak
les Bains for his annual cure He was
not accustomed to pass the six weeks
there alone indeed, the beautiful Amer
lean had several times gone there after
the London season had closed, when by
chance the potentate was under the care
OF his physicians. The rather premature
arrival Of the king at AK was communi-
Gated to her. She was there herself with
IN week, and her American was on a
steamer making for New York as fast as
It could. He went to his country home
that country home was one of the fea-
lures of the proposed marriage that had
been hardest to OYercome-and he made
his appearance in society the next winter
with no visible sign of the wear and tear
70 his affections. But that he was Sc
riousiy in love none of his friends doubt
ed.
The three years since that episode pass
ed uneventfully to him. He took up his
life at the clubs, In society, and at the
opera just where this affair of the heart
had found il. She lived in London and
Paris There were fewer diamonds and
fewer horses. Last summer the King
was alone at Aix-les-Balns She was
heard Of in South Africa That was an
other question Of the heart. The Ameri-
can lover died only a few days ago after
a short illness. He had been in bed for
short time only, and the news of his fatal
sickness could never have reached her
But by curious coincidence she arrived
In New York, for the first time since
their parting, on the day after he was
buried in the grounds OF his country
home.