Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-12-07
A
FORTUNE HUNTER
And His Entry Upon the Ameri.
can Field

By EVELYN BL0ckH


for rich wife Most OF the scions OF
nobility make no prcteuse of love for
the woman they marry. though II goes
without saying that they are enamored
~ her fortune II is understood that a
duke or an earl who marries an Amcrl-
can hercsS matches his title and the
social advantages that 20 with 1t
against her estate. ana the marriage Is
a purely business transaction. The
wife is expected to put w with the at
tentious ~ her husband 10 other wo-
men aud his neglect OF her In the
highest circles. where the husband in
trodnces his wife TO royalty, divorce Is
not admitted without Il loss OF stand
lng. but the husband may be known
for llbcrtine aud still maintain his and
his wife's prestige with the sovereign.
Rarnlckcl. being simply a younger son
NJ duke ana with no fortune. was
not entitled To the privileges nccruing
to the duke. his eldest brother lie
therefore considered Il incumbent upon
him To win and WOO the woman he
should marry. He was good looking. a
captain IN the Codstream guards and
favorite in British aristocratic soci-
ETY. Ills elder brother. who had re-
Gently come into the family title had
been houored by an acceptance OF an
invitation to Brandonhane castle by
the king. This was nh very well 50 far
rs il went but il was not dukcdom
or even an carldom Barnickel was in
tent upon marrying a woman with a
fortune In her own right. and most
wealthy American girls are rich In
prospect only and their fathers. hay
ing made their fortunes by hard
knocks. have repugnance to settle
ments
After looking the field over Barnickel
reduced the girls he would try TO win
to two The parent of one was worth
anywhere from twenty TO fifty million
dollars: but. being Il hard headed Amer
lean business man. he would not lie
likely 70 make liberal settlement.
The other was an orphan. worth In her
own right some seven or eight hundred
thousand dollars His lordship wished
money 10 spend At once SO he laid
siege 10 the last named lady. Miss Mar
jorie Sanderson
when man Is an adept at personal
ing a lover II must be difficult for the
girl he courts 60 discover whether he
IS really In love or shamming.
Rarnickel. who would have made his
fortune oil the stage acting lovers
parts concentrated all his powers on
Miss Sanaersun. He told her with
tears III his eyes thar We're she beg
gar his life would he blank without
her aud that to work for her would
be- for him the acme Of happiness
One day Miss Sanderson sent for
Mr. Clarence whittcmore. young Mt
torney who had the care Of her prop
erty. and said 10 him:
clarence. YOU are aware that the
fortune left me by my mother Ind
her elder brother lived. would have
been much smaller All but life in
terest In 100000 would have gone TO
him ana would now have been In the
possession OF my cousin. Mabel Stuart
Indeed. | consider Mabel entitled to
the property the same rs " her father
had lived 70 inherit H. Ny conscience
has been troubling me ever since !
came into possession of It. | have
been fighting the devil and have con
quered him wish you TO draw mp
papers for my signature turning over
70 her al this property except n life
interest IN 100000"
Clarence Whiitemore looked NJ his
client IN establishment lie had heard
OF the attentions Of Lord Barnickel,
and when Miss Sanderson appeared in
his office bad surmlsed that she visited
him 10 instruct him 10 draw up n mar
ringe settlement They had been
friends from childhood aud White
more would have gladly welcomed
change from friendship "a love had he
not considered that her fortune stood
between them Having the care OF
her estate he knew its value and be
lieved that should he make love 10 her
his motives would be- lmpugned
Marjorie" he said. "arc YOU crazyf"
"No: am simply ohedient 10 CON
science Put don't wish To discuss
this matter with You. Clarence. or with
any one else wish you % consider
Yourself simply my attorney and do as
I say When will You have the papers
ready FOR me 10 sgn:"
"Will tomorrow do"
Yes"
well make II tomorrow Better call
here. We have everything here we
need
few days later. when Lord Bar
nickel called for dHnl answer to his
proposition Of marriage that had b"eu
promised him. Miss Sanderson said to
him
Before accepting your proposed
Lord Barnickel. desire 10 commune
cate 10 you matter ~ Importance.
And she told him what she had done
and that she had done II as a matter
OF justice.