STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9214, 5 November 1908, Page 2

STRANGER THAN FICTION.

HOW A FORTUNE WENT TO

CHARITIES

An unusual romance, the details of which have just leaked out, is associated with a fortune of nearly £200,000 which au Euglish lady left to various charities a few mouths ago. Up till a mouth before she died she had made no will, and was undecided as to how she would dispose of her wealth. She had uo immediate relatives. "I would marry she told a frieud, iv a "if a barouet came aioug." Although seveuty years of age she was then iv very good health. The friend repeated the conversation at a dinner party at which a society mau, who was' in touch with a matrimonial agent, was preseut. The ageut had been approached a few weeks before by au eligible baronet, who, beiug iv financial difficulties, wauted to meet a lady with meaus, The baroent, the ageu't, aud his society friend had a meetiug, aud it was arranged that, if the lady would settle ou him at ouce £25,000, out of which the intermediaries were to get £5000, he would marry her. Through the womau whom lie had met at tiia dinuer party, the agent's frieud had the baronet introduced to tlie lady of wealth, who was quite unaware of the manoeuvring that had beeu going on. The barouet made a decided impression, aud after a few meetings a marriage was arranged. Less than twentyfour hours, however, before the ceremony was to take place, the prospective bride received au anonymous letter asking her if she knew that "the whole thing had through a matrimonial ageujß' The lady immediately taxed it. He was perfectly honest. He told her that a matrimonial agent had had something to do with the introduction. She at once cancelled the ceremony, aud would have uothiug more to do with the barouet. Next day she made a will giving practically all her fortune to charity, and within a month she was dead.