The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-05

in life. Within three years the under taker was soliciting Mrs. Fitzherbert's further patronage, in the event she should seek third husband. If might make so bold to say it, Ma'am,'' he genially remarked as he collected for services rendered, T was telling the madame only the other night, you're one of our best custom CTS, ma'am.''
 Thomas left Maria with a neat al- lowance, and as soon as she had ob- served reasonable and dignifled time of waiting, she trod the carpet again, wondering if she had better insert a want ad or just trust to luck 1 PRINCE OF WALES SAUNTERS IN | Luck was longer but worth waiting for. She was one of the most popular ladies in London in 17S4. It was in this 1 year that she met the Prince of Wales, ! later King George ". When he had maneuvered her into cozy corner and was trying to get her biography straight, he exclaimed:
 50 you've been married twice all ready!
 "Yes Two good men. Looks like all the good die young"
 l "Umph here's to long life without 'em,,' toasted his High Naughtiness. George was an orchid of the fields when it came to being gorgeously at- tired and no job in sight. He camped around the widows doorstep, trying to
 read an exclusive Welcome" on the mat. But Maria was so used to say i ing T will" in a preachers face that she said he'd have to sound her doorbell
 with wedding ring.
 I Maria was now 2S; George was only 1 22 He went flying to his maternal error.
 i Father" he exclaimed breathlessly, I'm off this king business; want to live like Q private gentleman" 1 "Why, George" exclaimed the old king, Eff you've ever lived like gen I tleman it has certainly been perfectly | private"
 l George couldn't get excused from the
 responsibility of being next in line for succession. and there were two laws that forbade him to marry Maria-one | the injunction against royalty wedding
 Roman Catholic. and the other a I law forbidding any of the royal house l to marry without the kings consent. SUICIDE VERSUS
 ORANGE BLOSSOMS
 ] So George pulled ruse to work or Maria's syrlpathies. He jumped in bed stuck himself with a neat but refined dagger and sent word to her that he
 was stabbed, with the warning that un- less she came he would perform the fell deed all over again. Maria was SICK She arrived, accompanied by the Duchess
 of Devonshire, and remarking that death
 beds were her speciality. The prince lay
 moaning musically, and the ruffles or
 his pajamas were tipped with blood. Il
 was too much for Maria. When he asked her to become his wife she accept ed impulsively, and the Duchess oi Devonshire loaned her her wedding ring But George was convalescent too soon l to suit Maria. She didn't believe he had stabbed himself. She flew to the conti' nent, and for over a year lived in se- cluson. The villain still pursued her however, and in 17S5 she returned tc London to be secretly married to him
 The ceremony was performed by the Rev. R. Burt. | George was so extravagant that h' I soon was forced to shut up his own es. | tablishment, Carlton House, and went tt | live with Mrs. Fitzherbert at Brighton Pretty soon, even Thomas life insurance was cashed in. There was only one thing to do. The government wouldn't ever give George postage stamps, because ths
 news of his marriage had leaked out ant