The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-15
THEY TRIED TO MAKE
HER A DUCHESS.

Bridget said Fat Flanagan, i've
an idea"
"What kind of an idcaT
"a social idea"
Bother yer social idea. You and |
bear too plain the marks o. the sow's
car. Y can't make silk purses OF u.s."
ITS not us I'm talkin' about; it's
the kid. Haven't " heard O. all these
women goin over to Europe and mar
ryin' princes and juies and lords?
Since VIC got all these millions together
I've been thlnkin' we molght do the
same for little Nora. only we'd have
to give her mp"
. After desperate struggle between
love and ambition little Nora, then
three years old, was sent away from
home TO be educated for an American
title catcher. She was to forget her
father and mother and assume n new
name. She was entered MS an orphan
and guardian was appointed who
was to turn over to her n fortune
of S5000,000 when she should marry
with his consent.
Fifteen years later a Mrs. Van Val
kenburgh of New York opened house
in London for the purpose of introduc-
ing her niece. Winifred De Witt, into
society. Mrs. Van Valkenburgh took
no care TO conceal the fact that her
niece would receive a comfortable dot
at her marriage, and there was
pricking up Of ears of the young bloods
Of London.
Mrs. Van Yalkenburgh proceeded
methodically, procuring an introduc-
tion for her niece at court and giving
splendid coming out ball, at which
many of the nobility were present
Winlfred was rather a pretty girl, of
fair complexion and subdued reddish
hair, and bore the marks of having
been brought up TO associate with the
most aristocratic American girls.
OF the many sultors who appeared
the Marquis of Crowelhurst, heir to
the dukedom of Marlebut, and Will
liam Pitt Burlelgh. rising member Of
the house of commons, were the most
conspicuous for the reason that the
former would surely have the sane
tion of Miss De wits guardian and n
marriage with the latter would be q
love match. The marquis father was
in +" dying condition. and certain obli.
cations on the part OF the estate were
being STAYED Off till after his death
with the hope that his son would sue
ceed Ia marrying fortune with which
to pay them and build up the estate.
though it was feared that Crowelhurst.
who was of the smart set and typical
London swell, would spend any for.
tune he could get on himself rather
than on his estate.
Mrs. Van Valkenburgh engineered
matters so that the suit of the mar
quls was Trccessful. Winifred De Witt
told her lover, Burleigh. that her whole
fortune was involved In her choice OF
a husband. II she married him she
would lose 1t. Why, she knew not.
Her parents she knew nothing OF. She
had vague remembrance of a woman
who had the care OF her baby days
who could not possibly have been her
mother Burleigh was affected Just as
she was. He wanted her. but did not
want her to lose her fortune. After
many sighs and tears on her part and
heartbreakings on his they decided
that they must give each other up.
Winifred accepted the marquis, but
his father at the time was at the point
OF death, and for various reasons con
nected Herewith the marriage was put
of till after the sons expected ecces.
sion TO the title. Indeed Winlfred's
guardian, whose instructions were that
she get duke, insisted upon this.
But the old man was such long
while dying that when he did die the
new duke was Informed that owing
TO recent financial panic in America
Miss DE Wits fortune had been so far
reduced that no settlements, could be
made-at least not for some time.
This was the end of the proposed
marriage. Mr.. Burleigh returned to his
allegiance, declaring that since Winl-
fred would not suffer financially by
marriage with him he wished her TO be
his wife. But meanwhile Mrs. Flana-
gan had suffered a protracted agony
at her husbands plan for their daugh-
ter, and one day the couple appeared
at Mrs. Van valkenburgh's London
residence, announced themselves as
her niece's parents and gave away
the whole plot Fortunately more than
twenty years of intermlngllng with
wealthy people had rubbed much Of
the rust off Pat and Bridget, and they
did not appear at SO great dlsad-
vantage as one would suppose. Winl-
fred. who had always been lonely as an
orphan, gladly accepted them. Besides,
there was something touching as well
as amusing In their sacrifice to make
her duchess. Furthermore, there was
good Individual stuff in Nora Flana-
gan that seemed to belong only to her
self, and she made UP her mind 10 try
TO repay SOME OF her parents sacrifice
even IL 1t had been unsuccessful at the
last moment 10 cap the climax sll'
was glad 70 be relieved OF Crowc