Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-03-29
SHONTS HAL1S CUPID;
SUBWAY MUST HAVE AIR
After Traction Questions Are
Settled, He Will Rule on
Matrimony.
DAUGHTER LOVES DUKE
Dut IL Is All Up to Papa Whether
She Marries His Double Bar
relied Grace de
CIauInes.

Washington, d. c., March 27.-The
tery latest is that it all depends on
Papa Shonts.
He is a sturdy and hard-headed
American citizen who has read a good
deal about these International mar
riages and doesn't think much of them.
Then, in addition, he doesn't feel cer-
tain how much 1t might cost TO main
tain the distinction of a connection with
nobility. I
True, Papa Shonts is worth a few
modest millions, and is understood to
be getting $1O0,0 900 a year salary. But
500, 600 a year salary, as the old wom-
an in Dumas said, lis money, but not
wealth." I
Papa Shonts would undoubtedly have
his w way If it were not for Mamma
Shonts His daughters have been
trained to defer in all serious matters
to their father. But it turns out that
Mamma Shonts has a fortune of her
own, and she feels, according to current
report in the most exclusive circles of
social Washington, that it would be
simply grand to have Theodore marry
a duke.
And such a nice duke, too, is double
barrelled Grace de Claulnes ct de
Picquiny. He hasn't so awfully much
money, as Washington understands, but
ne is immensely correct socially. Those
mean stories that he was not enter
sained in the French embassy, and that
nobody introduced him in the Metro
folitan club, were malicious inventions,
Not only has he been dined in the
French embassy, but he has been en-
.ertained there informally-iust like an
pld friend of the family; and he has
iounged around the Metropolitan club,
they say with a nonchlance and aban-
o that branded him as the truest
type of blase clubman. And as to his
fortune, why, it may be a lot bigger
than he let's on. They don't have any
satisfactory French editions of Dun
and Bradstreet, n even the con-
gressional library fails to reward the
most diligent research with an adequate
impression of the Chaulnes ct Picquiny
balance sheet. So much more exclu-
give and refined than our Grass Amer.
lean ways Of putting it all down III
figures, to be sure.
Can Pass as a Gentleman.
Anyhow, his grace is devoted to Miss
Theodore Shonts, and it is universally
accepted report that Orly the necessity
OF getting papa's consent stands in the
way of the announcement Of their en-
gagement. Miss Theodore is by unani-
nous agreement a charming girl. She
Is 20 his grace about IS. He is no
impecunious duke, either. He has
handed estates and that sort of thing
and is in 10 possible danger of hav-
ing to work. In spite Of being a de
he could pass anywhere as a gene
man.
If there is anything about the duke
that might be criticised, 1t is that he
really lacks the spice Of an attractive
suggestion of reCklessness.
There is no substantial reason why
Miss ShontS should not wed the duke
n have a fine international wedding,
with her picture in all the papers OF
two continents. Papa ShontS is so pre-.
occupied with the problem Of the
Brooklyn bridge rush and the ventila.
ton Of the subway that he hasn't had
time to think of this matrimonial mat
ter in all It's attractive aspects.
Anyhow Washington is sure that
Miss Theodore and her mamma and
the duke will nav their way. For has
not Mrs. Shonts a fortune of her own?
Is she not entitled, in her own right,
to a family connection with aristocracy,
IF she wants it? Didn't good old Cen
eral Drake, indian fighter, forty-niner,
railroad president and governor of
Iowa, leave her a handsome share of
his missions?