The San Francisco call., 1905-03-16

ever discover what the Marquis law
yers declared they were prepared to
prove that her mother was a domestic
and her father a saloon-keeper.
But marriages in high life usually
involve monetary settlements and the
Marquis apparently was more eager to
find out how much he was marrying
than just whom he was marrying.
According TO the widows counsel, ii
was only few days after their mutual
vows of affection had been exchanged
that he broached the cash question to
his betrothed. He told her that he
could make 10 settlement upon her
as his titles constituted his chief as
sets, but that she would be assured
Of Jointure Of $500 a year at his
ceath. Then he wanted to know how
much she was prepared to give him.
He made the extraordinary PROPOSE
fion, Mrs. Sheff1eld's lawyer declared,
that she should settle $4,000 on the
Rev. Arthur Gerard Robins, his pri-
vate secretary, and $4,000 on Robins
12-year-old boy. There is some mys-
terry here which the collapse of the
case left unexplained. Noblemen,
especially im2ecunious ones, are not
usually solicitous about the financial
future of their private secretaries. 1t
was through Robins that the Marquis
met the supposed widow and 1t has
been plausibly suggested that the
money which it was proposed should
be settled on him and his boy repre-
sented the commission.
SUIT FOLLOWS BREAK.
However that may be, the woman
objected to disposing of any of her
money that way. Even when marry
ing a Marquis she said it was not u.s.
ual to make settlements on his
friends. Then in. stepped the Marquis
solicitor with the request that she
should show what securities she pos
sessed. She demurred again, proba-
bly, realizing that she could not raise
the price at which Marquises are
quoted in the matrimonial market
The solicitor departed with his Curl
osity unsatisfied and a rather dismal
luncheon party followed, at which the
Marquis, it is averred, despite his
coronet and his thfrty-eight years.
shed tears.
Probably the woman would ha-
landed him If she had been left to
manage him alone, but the man of
the law had had his suspicious arous-
ed and started an investigation at
Somerset House, where wills and
other things that reveal peoples ped
igrees and inheritances are filed. The
result was the MARQUIS of Townshend
broke off the engagement before the
eleven days were up. And to solace
herself for the loss of a coronet Mrs.
Sheffield sought heavy pecuniary DAM
ages by a breach of promise suit.
"All the statements that have been
made with regard to her marriage,
her connections. her birth and her
property are tissue OF lies from be-
ginning to end said the counsel for
the Marquis, after the widows law
yer had made the startling announce
ment that he would proceed no fur
ther with the case.
Society win hear no more of Mrs.
Sheffield She is remarkably clever,
but the breach of promise suit was a
fatal mistake. She will never get a
chance to play the matrimonial game
for high stakes again. But IL she
could be induced to write the true
story Of her life it would have a great
sale.
MARQUIS PENNILESS.
The Marquis of Townshend, although
he owns some 10000 acres, is one of the
most impecuious members of the Brit
ish peerage. He succeeded to the title
on his fathers death in 1s99 The es-
tate had been heavily mortgaged and a
receiver was appointed. Last year the