Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-07-13

How II Was Recently Drawn frem II.
cioset aud Given an
Airing.

Airing.
In plebeian circles the door is closed !
tightly upon the family skeleton. and
Whenever its bones rattle a thrill runs
through the house, but a coronet over
the hearthstone seems a charm against
The uncanny influence OF shameful
secret or hidden crime. and the skeleton
lurking beneath the strawberry leaves
Is not CHASTITY pensioner in the eyes
OF the ducal family particularly il II
- only the result of hot blood running
IN the veins of handsome ancestor.
The present duke OF Somerset owes
has coronet to bar sinister, and there
by hangs tale. The title was ere
ated February i6. 1876. the day after
the hardy founder of the family had
been made baron. On the goth of
June, loii. his descendant was Gre
ated also baronet. and through the
centuries the Somersets figured prom
inently in the history of their time.
In wars and al court their names rank
high among the soldiers and lovers OF
their day.
Edward AiolphuS.. the twelfth duke.
was created earl OF st. Mauer In is63
but at his death the title became cN-
tinct. as both his sons had already died
unmarried. and here begins romance
which landed the ducal coronet upon
the present dukes head. When the
twelfth duke Of Somerset's elder son
was dying he confded to his mother
That he had two children. and entreated
her TO see that they were Acknowledged
by the family. The duchess promised
that her sons last wish should be re-
spected, and, true TO her word. sought
out the handsome woman who had
loved the young lord too well. II not
wisely. She was induced 10 part with
her ehildren-a boy and girl--and
tradition AYERS that she then went "a
France. and there eventually married
wine merchant The children. Harold
and Ruth. We're known by the family
name OF 81. Mauer, and grew IN under
the care OF their grandparents, the old
duke and duchess. and were acknovl.
edged by all their relatives and friends
In 1884 the duchess died. and in the
Following year the old duke also passed
away and the title went TO his brother
Archibald Henry Agernon, an old
bachelor. who died in 1891. when IN,
title passed 10 his youngest and last
surviving brother, Algernon Percy
Banks, who died in 1894. and whose son
succeeded him as the present and M.
teenth duke OF Somerset. Some OF the
estates that were enfailed went with
the title, but Slower In Devonshire
where the twelfth duke of Somerset
resided most OF the year, has been
willed 20 his grandson. Harold 81
Manner while his granddaughter. Ruth.
inherited from him G 10000. Slower
was plain. large, unpretentious build.
ing. standing In the midst of beautiful
grounds, covering several acres. includ.
ing some excellent pheasant preserves
and also a small lake which. in winter
when frozen. prosed skating rem
devious for all the country families In
the neighborhood. Harold ST. Mauer
also Inherited an income from the old
duke, but. finding il barely sufficient 10
keep up the Slower estate In good stvle
wished 10 sell the valuable old mas
tiers which decorated the rather barren
interior OF the house. and which were
estimated TO be worth enough to real
We a sum which would give him e3Ono
per year additional income. Mr.. ST
Mauer. however. found his hands legal
Y tied, so that he was unable to sell
ihe paintings. lie appealed TO the
houses of parliament. and bis financial
circumstances becoming known. an act
81 parliament was passed enabling him
q dispose OF the valuable pictures. and
be at once set about renovating Slower.
IN order 10 make IL HE home. His
grandparents had lived there very
plainly and kept down expenses. en-
+ tertaining very little. though Glad To
see their friends. The duchess was a
careful economical housekeeper. and IL
was evidently the care Of the old duke
and duchess 20 leave az much as nos
sible 20 their two loved grandchildren.
who. through no fault Of theirs, had
been deprived OF what should bav. been
heir birthrigbt.
Harold ST. Mauer was fire-Iootfr,
Young fellow. with dark ewes and olive
complexion, and dignified and courfe-
Gus manner. He was a fayorife At
Sandburst. from whence he graduated
an officer. His position is too well as
sured 70 permit OF his life being In the
least Swallowed by the bar sinister
which alone has prevented him from
being the present duke q Somerset
y. y. Til