Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-03-04
THE DUKE WHO DIDN'T

London clubs and drawing rooms. So
ciety said it was i'll sensational game
of baccarat that the last bank notes re-
naming of one of the finest fortunes in
Great Britain had been lost
Only few people ever took the
trouble to learn the real cause of the
disaster When the beautiful girl who
had promised to become his wife met
with death in a motoring accident, he
| plunged into the Whirlpool OF London to
drown his sorrow in forgetfulness. it
was not long before the duke reached
the end of his tether. His money melt
ed like snow, and the vast Fencaster
estates were quickly swallowed up.
The anger of his stately mother pre-
vented her from assisting him in his
distress to any extent She instructed
her bankers to pay him Just sufficient
each month to enable him to exist and
he accepted her aid after considerable
hesitation. He took small room some
where in Soho, and passe his days in a
lIgorous asceticism that might have
been admirable had it not been compul-
sorry His breakfast consisted of a pen
ny roll and a cup of black coffee, which
he prepared for himself over cheap
spirit lamp. His dinner me only real
meal of the day-he took at tiny Soho
restaurant, and by economizing in a
similar manner in other directions he
managed to cut his expenses down to
| "a a month.
1t was not long however. before he
became disguised with his life of pow
erty. At times he would look with
longing eyes at the fashionable clubs
and restaurants. and ask himself why
he had been such a fool And then, as
despair slowly gripped him. he looked
more iongingly at a neat little revolver
he had purchased with some of the
money he had scraped together He
dreaded reaching that lowest stage of
misery when suffering is accepted with
ont revolt.
1t was on cold winters morning
about twelve months after the disaster
that the duke was awakened in his little
attic by someone knocking at his door.
tie scrambled cut of bed and into some
clothes, and admitted a man he Quickly
recognized as shady little solicitoE
with whom he had often come into con-
tact His boot also had come into CON
| tact with the man on one occasion; for
who occupy themselves with all kinds of
| business, honest and otherwise. but
| chiefly otherwise
what do you want now" demanded
the duke.
Il want "a duke" replied the solicitor.
For some board of directors in a
swindling concern, | suppose? You
ought to know by now that it is useless
to come to me on that sort of errand.
Get down those stairs, or I'll break your
dirty neck for you!"
Il beg your pardon" said the man.
| hastily, "but yoG are mistaken. I've
come on totally different GRAND this
morning.
"Out with it. then
well. your grace" began the solicit
tor in his most seryile manner, "a GER
| tain wealthy woman who is unmarried
at present has the ambition to become
u lady of title. She wishes to marry for
the title only. and doesn't wish to have
anything to do with her husband, but to
preserve her entire freedom"
This begins to be rather interesting.''
said the duke.
eyes. especially to you" the little man
grinned, for the lady viii give her hus-
band 100000 on her wedding day and
| shall have the pleasure of paying that
sum over to him.
'What is the lady's name?'
Mrs. Violet Tempeton, your grace .
As the man spoke he rustled a bank
note temptingly in his fingers. The
dukes eyes sparkled He was hungry
and heartily sick of his poverty and
loneliness, and if he accepted the ras-
cally lawyers offer he would have
money and friends and position-every-
thing he desired-restored to him. The
temptation was great; and he hesitated
only because he was not certain that.
coming from such source, the offer
was an honorable one.
do you accept2" the solicitor asked
i'll a husinesslike manner. IF you do
take this f1O0 note and let me 90. II
you don't-well, must try elsewhere. >
The duke put out his hand for the
note
Il accept" he said. land take vonr
word for it that the affair is a straight
one"
Two days later mild sensation was
created in the cardroom of one OF the
, most exclusive West End clubs by the
appearance OF ulStlnguIShed-lOokiu inc
gentleman in evening clothes. whom the
members had not seen previously for
many months. Indeed. it was some III.
tie time before they recognized the
young Duke of Feucaster and thew were
too wei bred 10 show their surprise
when they did. He was very fashion.
ably and tastefully attired. and looked
p in splendid eoudition--every inch mem.
Der of the British aristocracv.
lie had only eco left, and he risked
it all that night at baccarat. By the
time play ceased for the night. or morn.
ing, he had increased it to thousand
r after one Of the mckiest series of games
, he ever played.
The next morning he set out for the
registry Office at which the ceremony
had been arranged to take place. The
solicitor and his clerk were already wait
, ing, and very soon an elegant motor
{ drove up. containing his bride end her
witnesses. She was heavily yelled. and