The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-11-21
AN AMERICAN DUCHESS.
Out West Who Went 10 England
to Become a Peeress.

Was there ever such a match! A
great English nObleman, the duke Of
AllOnby, and mere american. school
marin" from rising community out
west, where they got the fashions
month late She was beautiful, If you
Ike, with a mingled pride and tender
ness IN her face, worthy Of the Ma
donna with the bamboo; tall and with
a presence, too; educated, and, withal,
of a true nobility Of soul, and even Of
manners, that left nothing TO be de-
sired. But a schOOI-marm going TO
England to be a dUchessl Yes, there IL
was, says Richard Whiteing's new nov
eI, The Yellow Van,7 in Century.
1t had come about in the most nat
UraI way in the world. he was pros
pecting incognito for a ranch on the
Pacific slope; her uncle, man Of sub
stance was the local land-agents and
so they met. The alias OF his mere
family name. as distinct from the title,
kept him secure against impertinent
curiosity. and he was little more TO
them than a Mr.. Nobody; but he had
an air of distinction, and he paid his
way. and that was enough Hestayeo
at her uncle'S house as what he called
a ''Iodger," and they a paying guest"
The two young people were thrown to-
gether in romantic associations and
In that sole circumstance YOU are well
on your way to the core of the myS-
terry For the rising township was
still backed by the deep forest, of which
II was but recently cleared. And here
in the heart Of IL was a being with the
virtues Of the woods and the toilets Of
civiliza tion.
Her charm was subtly compounded.
She was cultivated. and yet a wayside
flower. a happy union Of opposites-
She had taken good degree at her
university; and was Of much miScella-
neouS reading; yet she lived and
/ thought as simply as Lodges Rosa
lynde in the wild She could talk the
duke down on any subject. because her
/ intent seemed only TO be to talk her
| self I'D to the highest reaches. There
was something fascinating in the way
/ in which she leaped in the porch, at
| eventide. and looked wistfully toward
a wide. wide world which she had al
most made up her mind she was never
| to see save through the medium of the
/ monthly ma gazines- She had charmed
him not more by her beauty and grace
/ th=n by her character.
Hers was that high-bred assurance
/ of self of those who have never known
| the shock OF a cross word, and who
are so free from a sense of bonds as any
| creature of philosOphic anarchy This
| naturally made short work Of one
| whose whole life had been a surfeit Of
/ Difference. She was his intellectual
/ superior. and she met him on that foot
/ ing Of social equality on which. by the
! somewhat feeble tenure of pious
/ opinion. he held the hope Of one day
| meeting his feIIow-creatures in
| Heaven. He had made her acquaint-
ance at time when his head was still
smarting from the impact of two able
bodied young women Of family. thrown
at it IN a single season by as many
| unnatural mammas. to say nothing Of
an orphaned third who had achieved
/ the same operation by a sort Of double
| sOmersault, Of great initial velocity,
/ on her own account He was eager to
/ be loved for himself alone And. even
| beyond that. he wanted something not
| himself; and here IL was in the most
| exquisite being who was all faith hope
| energy. enthusiasm. and who seemed
! only 10 live 10 shape herself and 9th
I ers to the finest ends