Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-04-16

Among the marriages OF American
girls to titled Englishmen was that
some years ago OF Miss Emily Kitson
10 the young Earl Of Hartmorc. The
enrl came over TO claim his bride,
bringing with him his cousin, who
was best man.
Harconrt Bcrks. the earl. and this
cousin. Stanwood Berks. had been
brought NJ together from childhood.
Harcourt was an only child. and Stan
wood stood next In line as heir to the
title. The wedding occurred at the
home OF the brides parents In New
York. all the arrangements that per
tanned 10 the groom being performed
by his best man. After the ceremony
S,anwood conducted the clergyman TO
the library. pointed to a desk on which
there were pen and Ink, and there the
marriage certificate was written. Stan
wood received II from the clergyman
and took IL to the bride.
The earl and his lady sailed imme-
diately for England and after a tour
In Scotland settled down on the fam
lily estate.
A son. Lord William Bcrks, was
born TO the pair. who grew up to be
fine fellow lie was extremely fond
Of his mother and said that when he
married he would choose an American
wife. claiming that he owed much to
his mothers broad American views,
so different from those Of English
women OF birth. who lived very mar
row lives. Fate brought him and
the eve Of his majority. She was a
merry little elf. Mt times appearing
very stupid. at other times showing
great shrewdness. They met In Ma
pies and became engaged In Rome.
From italy he wen; TO England to In.
form his mother Of his engagement TO
one Of her own countrymen. He
found her suffering under blow that
had fallen during his absence.
on Lady Hartmore's arrival In Eng
land after her marriage In New York
she had collected number OF papers
and such other articles that must be
kept but were not likely to be needed,
and put them In the vault kept for the
storage OF valuables. Having occasion
to use an old document, she had gone
to the vault TO look for II. There she
saw her marriage certificate. Opening
1t. she was filled with establishment
There were only the printed letters.
none in writing.
Having informed her husband OF
the circumstance. n thorough search
was made through the family papers
In the hope of finding n certificate that
had been filled out and signed by the
officiating clergyman. Lady Hartmore
remembered Stanwood Berks, best
man at the wedding, handing her n
marriage certificate and remembered
looking nj II and seeing that II had
been duly executed She also remem-
bered placing II on her arrival In Eng
land in the treasure vault. Neverthe-
less here was form for marriage
certificate that had apparently never
been executed. and there was no other
nj hand
Lady Eartmore wrote tn brother
In New York asking him To discover II
the marriage had been recorded and
received n negative reply.
The painful fact that no evidence OF
the marriage between Lord and Lady
Hartmore existed stared the couple In
the face. And how explain the mys-
terry: Sianwood Bcrks was appealed To
and said he could remember nothing
about the matter except giving Lady
Hartm0re an executed certificate. lie
had since been married aud had sew
eral children. his oldest son being n
few years younger than Lord william.
The position was this: At the death OF
Lord Hartmore. since there was no
evidence of his marriage with his wife
Stanwood Berks could claim the title
and the property as next Of legitimate
kin.
Lord William on his arrival at home
went nj once Ia find his mother 20 an
nounce his engagement. lie found her
sunken In gloom. TO have To tell her
son that so far ms his inheritance was
concerned lie was Legitimate was n
painful task Naturally the blow fell
upon him with equal severity. He had
proposed 10 Miss Sands as the riGhtful
hell 10 final ,itle and estate and II
Stanwocd Berks or after him his son
chose to claim both they could sub.
stantiate their right TO inherit and he
would be beggar.
Miss Sands was 10 he In London
within month. and II was decided be
tween Lord William and his mother
to await her arrival before mention
ing the change that had come over tho
family fortunes. To write her love
letters without showing that there was
trouble nj hand Lord William found
impossible AZ any rate, the young
lady. suspectIng something had gone
wrong aud having been educated on
the American method to take care oi
her own affairs. persuaded her mother
to 20 with her at once 10 England.
Lady Hartmore aud Lord William