His True Title

Mrs. Agatha Wilson was a widow yet in her prime, the mistress of a handsome fortune, and “guardian of the person and estate,” in legal parlance, of her niece, Blanche Willoughby, the only child of a deceased sister.

Blanche’s grandfather had taken offence at the marriage of Blanche’s mother, whom he cut off in his will, dividing his ample fortune between his daughter, Mrs. Wilson, and his granddaughter, Blanche Willoughby, coupling the bequest to the latter with the condition that if she married at any time before thirty, without her aunt’s approval, her portion should be forfeited to the latter.

And the old gentleman, having thus settled things to his mind, and provided, as far as practicable, against the recurrence of improvident marriages in the family, died in peace, and Blanche’s mother followed not long after.

Balance found a kind home in her aunt’s house; and the years passed happily till it became a question of accepting a lover of her own choice, or one of her aunt’s. Blanche’s choice was Charles Wharton; her aunt’s wasn’t; and on this point the difference was irreconcilable.

Mrs. Wilson’s opposition was strengthened by the friendly advice of Monsieur Le Baron L’Escroe, a French nobleman, it was said, whom political reasons had driven into exile, and who, of late, had been sojourning in the quiet country town where Mrs. Wilson had her residence.

The baron was a man of military port. Indeed, those who pretended to know—and there are such everywhere—asserted that his valor had been displayed on many fields,… Read More