The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-09-09
THE DUCHESS DILEMMA
RESCUED BY THE ASSISTANCE OF nER
AMERICAN CousIN.

Her Grace. the Duchess OF Alton. ca,
one bright Midsummer morning in hel
boudoir at Farley Towers. As sh,
gszed through window over the garden
OF roses in full blossom, across tn.
sunken Dutch garden, with its quantity
cut yews and stiff. formal beds, on to thu
park, where deer we're browsing under
giant oaks she felt at peace with thu
whole world.
Fate had been kind to Her Grace Of
Alton. "the young Duchess as she was
generally called. 1t had decreed that
she should be born the daughter Of q
father who was not only devoted to bis
children, but was also one Of the richest
men in the world. II had given her
with happy disposition, more than her
share OF good looke. When che reached
q manageable sge fate had thrown 10
her way yorDg nobleman who bore an
historic title, who had none Of the vices
that vulgar report credits to bis class,
and who had gained for himself an hon.
orable name in the country If his birth
To-day, though che had never expert
enced agrande passion, the young Ouch
ess loved her husband, and she had no
reason to doubt that he loved her 10 re-
turn. She had presented the Duke with
two fine boys as pledges OF her Election
the Dukes family was devoted 10 her;
the people Of her adopted land. rich and
poor, high and low alike. had shown the
greatest interest in the fair foreigner.
In society che occupies one OF the high.
est positious-higher than any Of her
fellow countrywomen; she had enter.
tanned the heir apparent and his wife,
and had 10 Ter turn been entertained by
the moot august parsonage 10 the king.
dom. And az Her Grace watched the
ro-es being rocked by the Southwest
breeze she felt that her cup Of happiness
was brimmipg over. That morning the
Duke had received letter saying that
the most august parsonage" would take
lunch with the Duke and Duchess Of
Alton and spend the afternoon at
Farley Towers. 1t was almost the high
est honor the ''nost august parsonage"
coul confer on a nobeman, for since
che became q widow she had rarely
broken bread with Southron subjects OF
high degree, though che frequently
lunched with Northern Presbyterian
ministers and partoOk OF "dieh Of ta,"
with Norther0 peasants.
There vas one bitter drop in the
Duchess's cup. Her mother was q d.
vorc.eA and had remarked. In the very
exclusive society 10 her native country
of which The Duchess would have been
q member had she not been borne away
to foreign land, such a trivial affair
ss divorce was lightly looked upon; but
10 the country OF her adoption it was not
90. for the most august parsonage OBJ.
iected to even the remarriage OF even
respectable widows; frowned upon di-
vorce and, as head Of the Church, aathe
matized the person who married a di.
vorced man or woman. And 80 the
young Duchess's mother was not per.
soma grala at the Court Of the most
august parsonage nor in the society of
her Capita.
But Her Grace OF Alton was not
thinking Of her mother as she gszed
through the boudoir window. Her
reflections, unalloyed with any sense OF
care, were suddenly interrupted by the
entrance OF t.. broad shouIdered,
handsome Young fellow OF about twanfx