Why a, Fortune was Left to Charity AN ABANDONED WEDDING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12583, 2 October 1908, Page 7

Why a, Fortune was Left to Charity

AN ABANDONED WEDDING.

The strange inner story of an abandoned wedding engagement and a fortune of ,8200,000, which an Englishwoman left to various charities, has just been revealed. Though seventy years of age, the womntt confided to a, friend that she "would ! marry again if' a baronet came along." This was repeated at a dinner party, and , was duly noted by a society man who wat in touch with a matrimonial agent. * The agent had been approached ♦-few weeks before by an eligible baronet, who, being in financial difficulties, wanted to meet a woman with means. The baronet, the agent, and his society friend had a, meeting, and' it was arranged that, if the ' lady would settle on him at once jKSjioOO, OV t hi whu& tIM-wtenneidiarics were to receive J:5000, he would marry her. Through a woman whom he had met at the dinner party the agent 'c friend had the baronet introduced to the lady of wealth, who was quite unaware of the manoeuvring that had been going on, and after a few meet, ings a marriage was arranged. ~" Less than twenty-four hours, however, before the ceremony was to take place th# prospective bride received an anonymous letter asking her if she knew that "the whole thing had been worked through a. matrominial agency." ■ * The woman sent for the baronet and, taxed him with it. He admitted he believed that a matrimonial agent had something to do with the introduction. She at once cancelled the ceremony, and would have nothing more to do with the baronet. The next day ehe made a will giving practically all her fortune to charity, and within a month she was dead.