Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-14

mother. How many more young and foolish
this woman's nets only the recording angel
knows
Duke of Wentmfnster EntanEIed.
Her affair with the Duke OF Westminster
was undoubtedly the most interesting Of
her exploits Long before that youthful
peer arrived in South Africa on his way
to the front in the Boar war Mrs AthertOn
was the subject Of discussion IN every
smart boudoir and club in London. Her
capers were notorious and the names OF
half a dozen youths with high sounding
handle to their credit in Burkes were
coupled with hers at different times. All
Of the smaller fry were dropped. however.
by Mrs. Atherton when the duke scarcely
out of his teens. appeared on the scene
Here. ready at hand for the plucking was
the best ''parti' in the English pesrage.
In a few weeks the duke was madly in
love with his fascinating temptress. The
husband. however. proved a stumbling
block and arrangements were made by the
couple for an eIopement. The projected
affair came 20 the ears OF the officer COM
manding the dukes regiment and he cabled
the state Of affairs to England.
When the duke left England for the front
he was engaged to Miss Shelagh CORVALLIS
West. the laughter OF one OF the ~brainiest
and most Influential women in England,
and a charming and beautiful girl. The
two had known each other all their lives
and it had been a more or less understood
thing through their childhood that they
would eventually marry each other.
King Edward I~ntercedes.
When the news OF the dukes infatuation
for Mrs. Athert0n and his Intention 10 elOpe
reached Mrs. CORVALLIS West she wasted
no time over futile schemes She immedi-
ately repaired TO headquarters and in a
few hours a message from the king was
on its way TO South Africa. summoning the
luke OF Westminster home
Upon the youths arrival in London he
was Immediately closeted with his majesty.
who told him a few plain, naked truths
about Mrs. Atherton and women of her
class. The duke left a wiser man and soon
after his marriage with Miss shelagh took
place. Mrs. Atherton. however. aid not
surrender til the last gun was fired. An
audeeious. INSCRIPTIONS woman. all the ex-
allied names in the English peerage could
not scare her from her prey. She followed
HAAA 41A ~ ga AA NAA1 - ~
and il took all the wonderful ingenuity Of
Mrs. CORVALLIS West 10 shield her future
sOn-in-lsw from the South African sweet
heart. In the end the duke. 10 avoid a
lawsuit. was compelled to pay a sum that
approached $4,000 as heart szlve 10 the
disappointed beauty.
Mrs. Atherton's next victim, 50 far as the
public records go. was the Hon. Yarde-
Butler. Her naison with the heir OF Lord
Churstoa vas 80 open and shameful thar
her husband was compellsd 10 take action
for divorce Neither the Hen. Johnny nor
the wife took The trouble 10 deny the
allegations OF the complaint and the hus-
band secured his much deserved divorce.
After a period Of ardent and passionate
WOOing ON the part OF Yarde-Buller. Mrs.
Afherton thought she would like to Try the
marriage stats again and broached the sub
ject 10 her lover. But the heir OF Lord
ChurstOn baked Immediately. Mrs. Ather-
ton was the ideal woman for a uaison, but
she hardly fitted IN with his IDEAS OF the
future baroness. His p-roteztauons OF affec-
ton grew less ardent and his visits less
frequent Finally they ceased altogether
and the Detectives whom Mrs. Atherton
put on hts track reported that he was pay
ING court % Denise Orms. a clever ana
beautiful actress. who was then appearing
AZ Days theAteE. Mrs AtheEton thrrAtened