- Clover Ames's life consists only of the drudge work that she performs at her Aunt Sarah's boardinghouse. No longer able to withstand her aunt's abuse, Clover runs away and obtains a job as a maid to a wealthy woman. Willed $7,000 by Pierre Dubois, a boarder at her aunt's house, Clover, inspired by a novel that she has read, poses as a duchess at a fashionable winter resort. There she meets and falls in love with Walter Gray, who is also traveling incognito as a ribbon clerk. When Clover's money runs out, her trick is discovered and she vanishes. Obtaining employment in Gray's department store, Clover learns that her ribbon clerk is actually the owner's son, who rushes her to the wedding bureau.
- Clover Ames, an orphan, is the household drudge of her Aunt Sarah. Two of whose boarders, Henry Strang, a lawyer, and Joe Martinelli, a barber, fall in love with her, but she gives them no encouragement. The one friend in whom she confides is Pierre Dubois, an invalid. He teaches her French and fine manners, and gives her the book she cherishes most, called "The Duchess of Doubt." A paragraph in it says a country girl with gowns, jewels and a little adroitness could plunge into society and be mistaken for a Duchess, if she hid her identity long enough to let others invent one for her. Life becomes unbearable, and Clover runs away and becomes a "Parisian" maid to a society woman. She takes note of the manners of the friends of her mistress. Pierre dies and leaves her seven thousand dollars. Strang and Martinelli propose, but she "squelches" them, and disappears. Equipping herself with a French maid, a toy dog, and some pretty gowns, Clover goes to a fashionable resort. The hotel guests come to the conclusion that she is the Duchess of D'Auroncourt, who is traveling incognito. Mrs. Brentwood who angling for a wealthy husband for her daughter Helen, is attracted by Steve Gordon, a millionaire, and Walter Gray, but drops the latter when he announces that he is a ribbon-clerk. Clover, sympathizes with him and the two fall in love with each other. Suddenly Helen changes her tactics, and pleads with Clover to give up Walter. Clover realizes her money is nearly gone, and decides not to stand in the way of his making a rich marriage. While in Clover's apartment, Helen has noticed the book, "The Duchess of Doubt," and makes up her mind to unmask the "Duchess," and make doubly sure of Walter Gray, whom she has discovered to be a rich man. She succeeds in finding Aunt Sarah, Strang and Martinelli, and brings them to the hotel. When Clover, beautifully gowned, is the center of an admiring group at a great ball, Aunt Sarah confronts her and screams, "Clover Ames, now that your money's all spent, you come right back and go to work in my kitchen." In the excitement Clover escapes. Her money gone, she looks for work and goes to the department store where Walter has confessed to working as a ribbon-clerk, to ask him to recommend her for a position and finds that his father owns the store. Young Gray declares his love and marries her without delay. It is only after her marriage that she discovers that ever if she is no longer a "Duchess," she has won love and wealth.
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