The Washington times., 1909-02-07
Scotch Indian AdYerdSeS
and Prospective Wives
Swarm In.
ROMANTIC STORY
is TOLD TO THEM
But Possible Breach of Promise
Suit Shortly Appears on
Horizon.

The avalanche Of femininity that
descended upon Lal Khan, otherwise
Donald MacGregor when he sought a
wife, is held responsible by his friends
for the sudden disappearance of the
East Indian Highlander" whose where
abOuts the District police today are try
ing to discover.
In the opinion of Leland Barton, at
whose house in LangdOn, D. C., Lal was
living just before he left for parts IN
known, it is probable that a breach Of
promise suit, threatened by one Of the
fair aspirants for the position of "Mrs
Hon. Lal Khan Donald MacGregcr" pre-
/ cipitated his exit.
Gets Answers Aplenty.
In any event. it is no secret that La
I had occasion more than once before he
/ left, to regret the impulse that had
made him at the age OF stxry-three
years advertise for a wife. the adver-
tsement appeared IN a washington
/ newspaper on January TO- II read:
EDUCATED GENTLEMAN OF 60 Is i'd Hl1-
70 meet lady Of like qualities matrimonial
J inclined.
The answers were plentiful and ar
dent. Some incIosed pictures, and some
didn't.
Most Of these supposed liSenesses
were consigned tC The waste basket
hundred or more were selected from
the remaining letters and the writer's
we're invited 20 call In his invitation
frt rte-
career, and brilliant, though mayhap
brief. future that were his.
Tells Pretty Story.
Lal told the story of his arrival In
India at the tender age Of fifteen year,
from the bonnie land of the tnistle auc
the bIuebelI; of his life until the time
he was elevated TO the BraEmau
priesthood, which only nine other white
men have ever attained; of his honor
able service as a member Of the con
gress in Calcutta, and later his hob
nobbing with the rajahs that brought
the wrath If the British government
down upon him so that he was compel
ed 20 fee the country to avoid eNecu-
ton on the charge of seditions or his
travels about the world, and OF bis ad-
vent into Washington with the exPecta-
tion Of acting as a guide 10 President
Roosevelt In his African trip.
II was a story to captivate the heart
OF any woman. and captivate it did the
hearts Of the ivescore or more 10
whom it was unfolded.
Lonely Women Come
one by one they called at the home
of Mr. Barton In Langdon. in cars, car
riages. automobiles. and on foot IN Eear
from the lips Of LaI the embellishments
OF this wonderful yarn OF adventure and
mystery. One by one they were given
an audience and their qualifcg tions dis
cUssed. There was q. waiting line day
after day. Each one told the same story
with variations.
I must have some one TO love me il
ran. Il an lonely, and crave for the
affection and tenderness Of a husband"
To was demOralizing TO the sixty-thrse-
year-oId candidate for the bonds OF by
men. In more or less Of a daze, L.aI pur-
sued his duties as attendant 70 Mr. Bar
ton who had befrended him and given
him shelter when he reached the Ma
tional Capital
Lecture Plans FQTsaken.
With his East Indian experiences as a
the lecture platform. He was scheduled
10 speak on January p in the Brookland
Methodist Episcopal Church on the
theme. ION the Trail OF the American
Missionary In Beautiful and Historical
India" But the lecture was never de-
liverod. A week before that date the
climax came.
One of Lal's visitors OF the previous
week called TO see him. She demanded
fulhIIment of a promise she alleged ne
had made to marry her. LaI denied she
allegation. a breach Of promise suit
was apparently the only solution in the
mind of his fair caller IaTs dream OF
love was over. That evening he went
away.
Whether he has used some Of the
magic of the arts he acquired i'm dis
ta0t India ana is now lowering invis-
i6ly aloft awaiting ar opportUne mo-
ment again TO assume his earthly form
or whether he ha.. adopted more ma
terial means # transit away from the
Frankeusteiu-liEe Cupid that threatens
his peace OF mnd and earthly exist
ence. only Lal can tell.
Gone Stree January 20.
All Mr.. Barton knows is that LaI has
disappeared. He has not been seen.
since January o. Neither has he been
heard from ON January p, when he
asked the District police to look for
LaL it was suggested that he might
show mp for the lecture scheduled Go
be given on January e. When he did
not appear. Mr. Barton decided to- wait
a few days longer
Last night he again called upon the
police 20 fad some trace OF his miss
tng uT0Ieua detectives we're assigned
10 the case. and are now seeking some
trace of the absent Lal. Mr. Barton
is not disposed 90 believe me is retUrl-
Ing 10 India preferriuE to face the
lLarae OF .nHIfIln 10 the aNn.r-.u.- .I