The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-31
ROMANCE OF A WAITRESS.
MARRIED A RICH GENTLEMAN Or
GERMANY.


Raised to opgIence by Death of an
UncIe-Entertained ut Court and
Showered with HonOrs.
From the New York World.
Announcement was made yesterday by
her sisters in the village of Patchogue,
L. l., of the death of Nancy Holman. The
Villagers who knew her. and who had told
their children, as though narrating a fairy
tale. the strange story of her life, were
stunned by the tdings. Knowing that
grief should not be disturbed, they shun-
ned the little cottage where Nancy Holman
had spent her girlhood days and where
her sisters mourned.
In manor house in Germany lay the
body of Nancy Adelaide Louise Won Ran
ken, its mistress. She and Nancy Holman
were one and the same, and as for the
weight of woe which her death had
brought over one of the oldest and richest
estates in the Fatherland and over a hum
Bile Long Island cottage, the balance
swung level.
The story of Nancy Homan reads like
fiction The events of three years took
her from poverty and hardship TO riches
and happiness. A tragedy closed her life
when it was brightest
Nancy Holman was born twenty years
ago at Yaphank, L. l. She came of good
family. Her father Capt. Mordecai Holman,
made and lost three fortunes and ended
his days in poverty-poverty which he be-
queathed TO his daughter
Nancy was frail of figure, but of courag-
eous spirit. She was the youngest born
Of Captain and Mrs. Holman. When four
years old her mother died, leaving her
to the care OF the childs sister, Mrs. Isaac
Monsell, of Patchogue. Nancy attended
the district school while her sister toiled
for her support.
Her JoyIess Childhood.
Before Nancy had reached her teens she
resolved to ease the burden of her sister
and take care of herself. She had enjoyed
few OF the pleasures of childhood, and her
stern lot had matured her rapidly. In
later years she often said, though uncom-
plainingly, that she had never seen the
world through young eyes.
Shortly after her twelfth birthday she
became a servant for one and another
OF the villagers. Among her employees
were Mrs. John NJ. Conklin, wife of the
village druggist, and Prof ]. Ortho Lam
sing. Later she worked at the summer
home of the late James NJ. Thorburn.
In her efforts to provide for herself she
overtaxed her strength and her health
gave way. Again she was taken by her
sister, Mrs Monsell. who was then house
keeper at the country estate of William
Platt Pepper. a Philadelphia millionaire.
Mrs. Monsell, however, found it was i'm
possible to give Nancy the care her con-
dition demanded, and the girl was placed
in a hospital in this city. After long
months of sickness she recovered and re-
turned to Patchogue.
While in New FORK she had seen enough
Of city life to believe that it offered
greater opportunities for her progress.
Throughout her early struggles she had
talked with her sisters of rising above
her then condition and resuming the
station that the wealth of her father had
once made possible. In her letters home,
after her rise TO wealth. she described as
dearest memories the hours she had
shortened while working over pans and
spoons by building castles, in which home
comforts, a loving husband, children, and
the means to succor her sisters were the
founda TONS tones.
In the summer of 1898 Nancy came TO
this city and found employment a
waitress in Mills Hotel No. /. After a
few months she was transferred to Mills
Hotel No. 2. John Won Ranken, a tall,
manly fellow, whose bearings was elo-
quent of patrician lineage. was employed
in the hotel as cashier and bookkeeper
He had been reared in luxury, but mis-
fortune had overtaken him, and, coming
TO this country, he had sought for a live
Hhood and taken the first chance to work
that came to hand.
He was born in Baden and was a grad
uate of a German University. One of the
accomplishments which had been pas
time in his old life, but which he put
to practical use in the new, was his
skill as a musician. To add to his in
come he gave up his evenings 10 playing
at entertainments.
And They Were Married.
Nancy Homan and Won Ranken became
acquainted She was different from other
girls employed in the hotel, and friend
snip quickly ripened into love. Nancy was
of medium hight, with dark, wavy hair
and brown eyes. Her face was demure
and sweet in it's simplicity. Her form was
slight and of graceful bearing.
II was but q short time after their
acquaintance that Won Ranken told her
of his love. He did not tell her. how
ever. of his former life. of his family,
nor yet of his hopes. Their positions in
life were on level and each took the
other for the others self alone Neither
mingled with others in the hotel, nor
did they betray the tie between them
In December 1898, Nancy again was
stricken with weakness under the strain
of her hard life, and was compelled 20
give up her place. The hotel physician
advised that she return TO a hospital.
Won Ranken heard the physicians orders.
Fastening to his sweetheart he placed his
arms about her and told her she must
not go to the hospital. They would bs
married at once, he said and he would
nurse her back to health. They were
married Dec. 81.
Won Ranken was then forty and Nancy
twenty. With his bride Won Ranken re-
malned in this city for a few months to
allow her TO regain her strength, and then
the couple started for Chicago, where the
huspand had a wealthy aunt. Mrs.
charles Steinecke, whose son, Edward Il.
Stelnecke, has an Office at No. 1876 Sixth
avenue, this city. Mrs. Steinecke took
me young couple to her summer home
among the Wisconsin lakes to spend their
honeymoon and Won Ranken and
pride enjoyed 40 the fullest a long season
OF rest and happiness.
After their return from the lakes Won
Ranken followed the profession of a mu-
slclan In Chicago. son was born. and in
accordance with the fathers wish the
hoy was chrfstened Lionel Gordon Won
Hahken. Lionel being a family name in
tne mousse of Won Ranken and Gordon a
token of the mothers family.
Ls.II 10.