The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-02-20
RIDDLES FIGURE IN
TWO R0MANCES
DUG DE cHAulNES FOLLOWS
FATHER-IN.LAW'S EXAMPLE.
MIGHT HAVE LOST HIS BRIDE.
Father Had Refused To Consider His
Suit, But His Skill On the
Violin Gained the
Troubled Waters.


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New York, Feb. ia romance
with a precedent runs through the
lcourtship which eliminated in the
marriage here at noon on Saturday Of
Miss Theodore Shonts, daughter of
Theodore P. Shonts, president of the
Interborough- metropolitan Company,
and former chairman of the Isthmian
canal commission, to Emanuel Theo-
doric Bernard dAlbert, Due de
Chaulnes, of Paris.
Mr.. Shonts, il is said, didn't want
a title in the family, and above all, he
wouldn't hear a word about any settle
ment. 1t was rumored that the duke
wanted at least $1,000,000 with his
bride, which is about one-half of the
Shonts fortune. Naturally the sub
ject was an unpleasant one in the
Shonts household, and it took two
trips to America and much diplomacy
to win his grudging consent.
In the battle which followed the
choice, her chief ally was her mother,
who thought the duke charming and
"a perfect gentleman" r
Indeed, after a time society was
rather misled as to Miss Shonts' opin-
ion Of her intended husband. After
the duke had precipitately announced
| his engagement in Paris the first time
Miss Shonts, who was in Washington
at the time, repudiated it with spirit
Not guilty." she responded laugh
ingly, IAN American is good enough
for me-"
That was after Papa Shonts had
voiced the same sentiment with lit
tie less suavity. Indeed, he was
very plain. The duke thought him
downright rude. How he came to be
won over at last is long story.
The young nobleman met his bride
during a European trip, which she was
taking with her mother. Following a
visit to the court of st. James, where
they were presented by Mrs. Reid,
wife of the American ambassador, Mrs.
Shonts and her daughter went to Di-
nard. Here they met the Due de
Chaulnes, who paid Miss Shonts mark
ed attention. Before their return to
America the duke sent his sister-in-
law, the duchess of Luynes, to sound
the mother upon betrothal.
/ Two Visits to America. -
Exactly what took place at that in.
Iterview is not known, but it is limited
that Mrs. Shonts was willing. She
pointed out. however, that her hus-
band might become a serious stumb.
ling block, and suggested that the
duke come to America. He came
twice, but Mr.. Shonts proved inaccess-
ible. He was not at home when the
duke visited the Shonts house, and
he was busy" when the duke visited
the Offices of the Interborough COM
pany.
His pride at last wounded, the duke
left for Canada. Then Miss Shonts
was taken i'll. The doctor said it was
a case of nerves, but her friends and
apparently her father also interpreted
it as case of heart. Mrs. Shonts ex-
hausted her diplomacy in vain, but
the sight of his daughters suffering
|
When the duke returned from Can
ada he received an invitation to din
ner, and this time Mr.. Shonts was at
home. Miss Theodora's nerves re-
covered sufficiently to allow her to be
present and that dinner established a
custom
| Won Over BY Violin.
4 What really turned the balance in
| favor of the duke, however, was the
| fact that he is skillful violinist. One
evening he ventured to bring his VIC
lin with him, and, accompanied by
Miss Shonts, he played to the railroad
builder This awakened memory.
lTwenty-one years ago Mr.. Shonts,
then attorney in the railroad offices
of General Francis M. Drake at Cen
Iteryille, Iowa, won Mr.. brakes daugh-
ter, Milla, by his skill as yiolinist.
The domestic scenes which had taken
place so long ago in the little Iowa
town were repeated in the Shonts'
home in New York
well, he is pretty nice sort of a
cuss, after ALL" Mr.. Shonts at last
grudgingly admitted. One can't help
liking him" .r,
Then Mrs. Shonts and Miss Shonts
knew that the battle had been won.
Finally the adamantine father got to
referring to the duke as my boy"
but he has never forgiven him his
title.
''He ought to be in some more prof
table business than being duke"
the former Chicago railroad man com.
planned repeatedly.
| He has maintained throughout that
| 1t is purely a love match and that
there was no settlement whatever. In
this the dukes attorneys concur 1t
is known. however, that Miss Shonts
is an heiress in her own right.
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