The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1902-02-04
BY EDWARD F. SPENCE.

S+e&o&ORO&o&O&O%s*o4O&O&O&
THERE was a pretty futter in So
ciety when a halfpenny morn
ing paper announced the engagement
of Miss Polly Blandish TO the very
young duke of Westminster. The
announcement was contradicted next
day by another halfpenny morning
paper, and confirmed the day after.
Then the papers, since nothing at
the moment was thrilling the public,
became full of gossip and rumor, in
teryiews and portraits, and in due
course it was discovered that pretty
Polly, though only variety theater
girl, had strong artistic instincts and
longed to play Ophelia and Desdemo-
ma, and that her family was ancient
and honorable.
Now, the simple fact was that Pol
ly, after serving several years in the
ranks of the chorus at the Variety
theater, coaxed a composer into wri-
ting dance for her, and made big
''hit''-not, indeed, that she danced
well, but because the music was de-
lightful and Polly was beautiful and
impudent. Soon everyone was whist
ling or humming the tune of "The
Moonbeam Dance" with which she
was identified.
The duke of Westminster. Who Rad
just come of age, vva7 a charming,
foolish fellow, @f96 an income of
S25O,OOO after deduction of all the APP
palling charges under the family set
Elements.
Of course, there was a terrible rum
pUs in the ducal family. The mother
of Charlottesville" was the duke
the haughtiest woman in the aris-
tocracy, tainted when she heard the
news, and, like another Volumnia, ac-
tually went on her knees to the lad,
begging him vainly to break off the
match. He was firm.
A detective was employed to study
POlly's history, and he made an I'M
favorable report, which he called a
"dossier," full of ugly facts; but Polly
explained everything the satisfac-
ton OF the young duke.
Suddenly came an announcement
that the engagement was at an end,
and that the young duke had received
a quasi-diplomatic appointment in the
colonies which required him to leave
England at once. The world guessed
correctly that very august person
age had intervened.
The negotiations for settlement
took place after the dukes departure
"a piece of ill-lucl1 for Polly. At her
interview with the family solicitor,
she opened her pretty mouth very
wide, showing little teeth that glist-
ened and asked for 100000 de-
mand which staggered the old gem
tleman.
However, the man of law rose to
the occasion, showed Polly the ''dos-
sier,' and suggested that the defense
would be that the match was broken
off because the duke had discovered
that the young lady had suppressed
certain facts concerning her history
which had rendered her from every
punt VI flSW uiouAOuDiS, IL nOb unuc-
sirahle, as a duchess.
Polly threw up her ring-burdened
hands-and the spOnge-and agreed
to take $4,000, and she smiled rather
wryly when the old gentleman re-
marked that he never allowed his
clients to pay more. A little while
later Miss Polly left the variety
theater and appeared as Juliet, but
all efforts were insufficient to cause
her to be successful, and when Polly
read in one of the brutal afternoon
papers the ambiguous, malevolent as
sertiOn that she was probably as well
6tted to play the part of Juliet On
the stage as that of a duchess in
real life she abandoned the game and
dropped out of sight.
The young duke returned to town
very proud of the successful accom-
phshment of his mission and really
unaware of the fact that the whole
affair had been carried out behind his
back by telegram. His family well
coined him warmly, since it believed
that his foolish passion was cured, and
felt the more confident in this belief
because of the credible, discreditable
rumors as to his conduct and miscon-
duct ia foreign climes.
One evening, wheH the duke was sit