The Washington times., 1920-04-18

dora's husband the Duke de Chaunes, had died few
months after their wedding and the widow cherished the
memory of her husband tenderly and dearly 1t was
sacred matter to her. and she had silently and unosten
tatousy decided dedicate her life to the little Duke
and his future tribute to the memory OF her dead
husband
The first time Mr. Shonts venured to mention the SUBJ
jec the daughter felt that perhaps her father msunder
stood feelings and that Mr. Shonts concerned for
the widow. thinking that perhaps she lonely and un-
happy in her widowhood So the Duchess thanked her
father for what she took to be rather tender interest in
her. and assured him that she really had had any
thoughts of marrying again.
But when her father returned the subject again and
still again. urging her to look about for another husband
and talking of the with asperity then the
Duchess lost her patience and asked him what ne meant
"Get another name than de Chaulnes," he replied
with brutal fraHkness. "Marry American an Eng
shman keep your boy away from France and bring him
up in this country with good American sepfatherhere
are lots Of them"
This cruel speech aroused the Duchess indignation.
Later on she told that it had been said THAT If the
Duchess could be induced to marry Some American it
would break off her relations and friendship with the
great and distinguished de Chaunes family of France and
would end her annoying social actives-and other
man would have to support her instead of her father
And so it was-in all directions their plans were
blocked their arrangements were upset and their intimate
personal affairs were interfered with the most whmsi
cal excuses.
And in the presence of death the shadow of Mrs.
Thomas hung over the family.
President Shonts old mother died in 1915. OF course
Shonts and Amanda at this time both living in
the apartment house on West End avenue and Eighty:
third street. and the old mother being maintained in
and wrechedness in separate apartment in the
same building under Mrs. Thomass eye Neither Mrs:
Shonts the daughters allowed in the apartments
When the Duchess Theodore and Marguerite heard Of
their grandmohers death they at teephoned their
father Neither Shons the Thomas woman had taken
the trouble to notify them they read the first in the
newspapers!
ing of this episode, and asked him if could do anything
for him. told father that mother and Marguerite and
were extremely sorry and wanted to extend to him our
deep sympathy. Mother would have liked to attend the
funeral and told him so, and said we would all like to
help in the funeral arrangements and be present at the
services"
''There is nothing you can do" Mr. Shorts replied
"The funeral arrangements all being taken Of
I'd like to have you two girls however, attend the
vices, which will be in church, and want you to sit in
the pew with Mrs. Thomas whore You belong"
"We can't do that daddy the Duchess said. "You
know can't. We will do anything else to please you
but that"
'.Then you can come into the church," Sbonts de,
cared MRS Thomas is going to be there The funeral
arrangements are in her hands, and will have dsre
spect shown her
Those incidents as told above are but few OF the
daily episodes which have made miserable the lives Of Mrs.
Shonts and her daughters for ten long yearsen years
of wretchedness which ended with the discovery that the
Shonts fortune has disappeared and what little left is
mostly given to "my friend Amanda Thomas" by that
strange "ast will which is being attacked in the
courts by the widows lawyers.
And the words of Rev. DR.. Straton' sermon may be
repeated.
eff the wronged wife Is finally robbed and the other
this money will the tendency for every
weak girl in the city ask herself the question: IF she
did these things ard with it, and Aourishes
why may not If"