Evening star., 1923-12-17
Arrival of Lady Duff Cooper
Recalls Romantic Ghost Story

pitality for which the Vernons were
so famous, and in the great ballroom
hundreds of feet were tripping and
gliding to the music of the pavanne
and of the coronto. Among the love-
liest of all the fair ladies there was
Dorothy Vernon, who never looked so
Tadiantly beautiful and happy as on
that night. The merriment was at its
height when Dorothy. with beating
heart. stepped stealthily past the
maze of dancers to the doorway on
the north side of the room. A hasty
glance round to make sure that she
was not observed, and. quick as
thought, she flew through the cor
beating heart and painting breath.
until she reached the footbridge over
the River DeTwent and was clasped
in the strong arms OF her waiting
trusty attendants, and. long before
Dorothy's absence was noticed by
the merrymakers at Haddon Hall, she
and her lover were gaNoping through
the moonlight as swiftly as horses
could take them.
X X X
Early on the next morning, while
scores of mounted messengers were
securing the county round IN search
of the fugitives, Dorothy Vernon was
standing with her young Lochinvar
at a church just over the borders OF
Leicestershire, and they were duly
married. Old Sir George Vernon was
too passionately fond of his daugh-
ter not to eventually forgive her for
her escapade and to become recon-
ciled to Jack Manners. and when he
died it was found that he had left
Haddon Hall and all his vast estates
to her and TO her husband. who had
meanwhile become Sir John Manners,
and who proved himself as loyal and
loving a husband as he had been an
ardent and daring lover. Their grand
son eventually succeeded TO the earl
dom of Rutland and his son was
created by Queen Anne the first OF
the present line of Dukes of Rutland
1t is especially on the night of the
anniversary of her romantic elope-
ment. near 4c0 years ago, that Doro-
thy's ghost makes Its apparition In
the corridors of Haddon Hall, and
that the specter is said to be seen
gliding along the stately avenue OF
trees, many centuries old. now all
ways known as "Dorothy's walk"
and also on the broad terrace bear
ing her name. The apparition usually
disappears by that ivy-framed garden
door, known as "Dorothy's door"
~HlCIi, ldlcLul x,
she emerged into the undying world
of old romance.
True to the traditions established
by her ancestress, Dorothy Vernon.
Lady Diana Duff-Cooper insisted up
on marrying the soldier who won
her heart and for whose sake she
declined all the very brilliant offers
of marriage with which she was over
whelmed by reason of her beauty and
her birth. Alfred Duff-Cooper had
no fortune to lay at her feet. But
he is remarkably good-looking, won
the distinguished service order ana
other military honors by conspicuous
gallantry on the French battlefeldS
in the great war, and has royal con-
nections. For he Is a nephew of the
princess royal and, through his moth
er. the late Lady Agnes Cooper, q great
great-g grandson Of King William w.
For the latters natural daughter
Lady Elizabeth Fitz Clarence married
the Earl of Fife, and thus became the
mother of the late Duke of Fife, hus-
band of the princess royal.
Agnes. whose first husband was the
late Vfscount Dupplin, and whose sec
ond husband was the late Herbert
Flower, popularity known as "Squir-
rel" and, one of the most handsome
men Of his day, took, on hts death,
third husband In the person OF the
late Sir Alfred Cooper, one of the
most successful OF English sur rReons,
with an enormous practice.