ABRUZZI-ELKINS ROMANCE

Evening Star, Issue 14497, 23 February 1911, Page 8

ABRUZZI-ELKINS ROMANCE

STORY OF THE COURTSHIP. The American newspapers publish an account describing what is accepted as the real attitude of the late Senator Elkins in relation to the love romance of his daughter Katharine and the Duke of the Abruzzi. It is furnished (says the New York con-re-spondent of the 'Daily Telegraph') by an intimate acquaintance, who enjoyed the confidence of the dead Senator, and has never been published before. According to tlieso friends, who refused to speak while Mr Elkins was alive, the Senator was apprised of his daughter's love for the Duke more than three years ago, and he promptly indicated that if his daughter wished to marry an Italian nobleman he would give lu's consent. Eventually, when the Duke of the Abruzzi asked the Senator for his daughter's hand, Mr Elkins expressed to the Duke his utmost confidence in him, and his belief that Miss Elkins would bo happy with him. —Royal Opposition.— The Duke went to Italy and consulted his family, and, says the Elkins narrative, instantly there arose the problem of the status at Court of the Duke's wife. The Royal Family discussed the situation, and opposition to the marriage arose. Miss Elkins, it was understood, if she became the bride of the Duke, could assume the title of Duchess, but would be debarred from any official position in Court life. The Duke of the Abruzzi argued in vain, so, unable to move the Royal Family, he came to America and consulted the Senator. He suggested to Mr Elkins that perhaps, after ail. Miss Elkins would be satisfied without the title of Duchess and having no fixed place in the Royal Court. " I» that so?" replied the Senator sternly. "Well, 1 don't caro much about my daughter not having the title of Duchess, and I don't know that she cares much either; but if my daughter becomes the wife of the Duke of the Abruzzi she will be his wife

in every sense of the word. I mean what I say. I don't object to a money settlement, but I want my daughter to be the wile of the man she marries, and to hold the same position as a wife that any woman would in our own country here. Do you catch my meaning?" The Duke of the Abruzzi confessed that he did. "Well, then, seo what you can do," Senator Elkins replied. Much distressed, the Duke went back to Italy, and tried to win the Italian Royal Family over to the Senator's view. -He repeated what'the Senator had promised about the marriage portion, and also his inexorable terms! The Court was immovable; Miss Elkins could not bo received as one of the family .in the sense stipulated by the proud American legislator. Post haste the Diike sped to West Virginia, and sorrowfully related what the Koyal Family had told "him. He impressed Senator Elkins with his sincerity. I —An Alternative. — " Duke, it's no 1186," exclaimed the father. "I told you what I would do. Now, here's an alternative. If you want to marry my daughter, if you love her so that you must have her, then why trouble about remaining at the Italian Court; why not marry her in this country, where we don't, bother about Royal proprieties? Why not take her as your American wile, live here, and, if you wish, become an American? If you marry her here I will keep my word about that settlement. I will give you all the money you need. I will put you in business, and seo you never lack for anything, you and my daughter. Now, it strikes me that is reasonable enough. I know my daughter loves you, and I believe you love her. Now, I want to make you both happy. Think it over." The Duke of the Abruzzi returned to Italy. Thus ends the Senator's narrative, with tho inference that the Duke's loyalty to the Italian King and Court prevailed in the struggle, and that ho abandoned the idea of marrying the daughter of the ricli American Senator, whose name has been more than once mentioned hero as a Presidential possibility.