The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-05-04
Dewey Loved
Miss LOWGTy,
WHO REJECTED HIM TO MARRY DUKE
ARGOS,
Who Will Come to Washington as Minis
ter OF SPAN.

Of the heart which equal and often ex-
eel those Of the masterpieces Of fiction.
OF the army and naval heroes of mod
erD times. which one has not his name
indissolubly linked with that OF a wo-
man The Duke Of Marlborough had
his Sarah, Napoleon his Josephine. Mel
son his Lady Hamilton Washington his
Martha Oustis; Lincoln, Grant, Lee
and Logan were devoted to their wives
Why, then, should 1t be considered re-
mmkable that the life Of Admiral
Dewey should contain a page Of ro-
nance"
This was the comment Of naval Of
fcer Of many years experience and
high standing when asked for the de-
tails Of Admiral Dewey's affair de
occur with the attractive Miss Lowery,
now Duchesse d Acros 1t is a point Of
honor" he said, after some pressing,
with Us in the navy to make no in
quiries into matters Of this kind. Any
disclosure therefore, would have 10 be
voluntary on the part Of Admiral
Dewey. and you can easily imagine he
| is not the kind Of man 20 discuss
such matters with anyone. doubt If
he has ever said anything on the sub
ject to anyone, and consequently no
one knows, at least from him, just how
far the affair progressed. However
the story was current in Washington
at the time and | will give it TO you as
il was given to me, with some Of the
consequent details necessary to COM
plete it.
WEALTH AND FAMILY POSITION.
"There came TO Washington some
twenty five years ago a family by the
name Of Lowery. Judge Lowery vas
known as one of the wealthiest men
then resident here lie was very proud
Of his position and of his family, and
being wealthy enough to disregard the
claims Of money for social position,
he sought only congenial companion
ship. which he found among men Of let
ters and Of deeds He was ably second
ed by his wife, and they were very
prominent in Washington society. A
mansion was erected on X street. at
the corner of Vermont avenue, in
which entertainments were given.
Since then the mansion has been the
home Of Cornelius Vanderbilt and
Wayne McVeagh.
"While Washington society hocked to
the home Of the Lowerys at the bidding
Of the Judge and his wife, there was
another there, who was particularly at
tractive to the young men. Miss Vir-
ginia Lowery was then in the first blush
Of her youthful beauty. With soft dark
eyes and hair and complexion well
compared to that of peach, she was
distracting to the old as well as the
young Combined with her charms of
mind and person were others more sub
stantial, il not more highly regarded by
her suitors. She was the heress to a
large fortune.
MANY sUITORs FOR HER HAND.
MANY suitors presented themselves to
her or to her father, but in vain. BY
one or the other each was dismissed, un-
til the rumor became current that Miss
Lowery had fixed her affection on one
man. while another had been chosen by
her father and mother. Oapt. George
Dewey had made his appearance on the
scene. He was much older than Miss
Lowery He had distinguished himself
in the civil war and was slowly mount
| ing the ladder of promotion in the navy.
He had every reason TO look forward TO
long and useful career in his coun-
try's service, and the prospect OF retire
ment at OF near the top Of the list. He
had been happily married in 1867 to
Miss Susie Goodwin. daughter Of Gov
ernor Ichabod Goodwin, Of New Hamp-
shire, but she had died after five years
of married life, leaving him a son, to
whom he was devotedly attached.
"It was about five years after his
wife's death that, while on a visit to
Washington, Dewey met Miss Lowery.
His attentions soon became ma rked, and
when in the city it became a matter OF
course TO see him at the Lowery man
sion. He was favored by the Judge,
who looked upon him as man OF char
acter and of substantial qualities, though
never dreaming Of the position he was
ultimately to fill His suit, if such II
might be called, was favored by the pa
rents, but met with an obstacle on the
part of the young girl She had already
bestowed her affections on another. The
favored suitor was Juan Brunetti, an
attache of the Spanish legation.
HER FATHER NOT PLEASED.
1.-The 5hagrin Of her father at the
discovery Of this attachment can be
imagined. If his daughter had search
ed the diplomatic corps for more un-
suitable person as far as personal at
fractions, position and wealth COM
bined are concerned it is doubtful il
she would have found any man posses.
sing less Of each than Brunetti He
was the son of poor man. with but
small salary. and while of not un-
pleasant appearance. was not psrticu.