Matrimony or Charity.

Northland Age, Volume V, Issue 7, 5 October 1908, Page 3

Matrimony or Charity.

An unusual romance, details of which have ouly just been made known, is associated with a fortune of nearly £200,000 which an English lady left to various charities a few months ago. Until a month before she died she had made no will, and was undecided as to how she would dispose of her wealth. She had no immediate relatives. 1 “ I would marry again,” she told a friend, in a confident moment, “if a baronet came along.” This came to the ears of a matrimonial agent, who had been approached a few weeks before by a baronet, who, being iu financial difficulties, wanted to meet a woman with means. It was arranged that if the lady would settle on him .at once £25,000, out of which the intermediaries were to get £5,000, be would marry her. The baronet was introduced to the wealthy lady, and a marriage was arranged. Less than twen-ty-four hours, however, before the ceremony was to take place the prospective bride received an anonymous letter asking her if she knew that “the whole thing had been worked through a matrimonial agency.” The lady immediately sent for the baronet, who admitted the fact. She at once cancelled the ceremony, ahd would have nothing more to do with the baronet. Next day she made a will, giving practically all her fortune to charity, and within a month she was dead.