National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-25
A NEW YORK ROMANCE.
The Future MUr1uise, de Leuville and
Her Marquis.

4
Her Marquis.
B,s'on G'obc.
Really you mustn't ask mo whom I'm
going to be married, for | can't tell myself
| yet" laughed Mrs. Frank Leslie to a Morning
journal reporter, as becoming little blush
dyed her cheeks, and she glanced coyly at a
distingu gulshcd-looking gentleman seated at
her side. Marquis dc Leuvillo has only
been in America this time q few weeks, and
we have not had time yet to fix n date for
our marriage, mu ch less TO determine what
kind ofa wedding we'll have" and tho beau
tiful manager of the great publishing house
of Frank Leslie cast down her eyes and gazed
at her dainty lit le white fingers as modestly
as an inexperienced school girl.
Mrs. Leslie was seated in her handsome
apartments in the Victoria hotel, and the
mani ly-looking foreigner at her side was tho
Marquis dc Louville, tho gentleman who has
had tho good fortune to win her heart and
the promise of her hand.
1t was nearly three years ago that Mrs
Leslie and the marquis first met, and tho
manner ftheir meeting and subsequent be-
trothal is as interesting as it Is romantic
The Marquis de Leuville had como to this
country to enlarge the scope of his literary
and scientific studies. One day while in this
city he started out to call upon a friend. As
ho was about to ascend the stoop at his
friends house carriage dashed up to tho
same house.
''The door flew opon, and the prettiest little
foot had ever seen in my life was placed
daintily on the carriage step, and the next
instant the most charming little being eyes
ever rested on sprang out, all done up in
Grape" said the marquis in describing the
meeting to friend. 1--WE both stood on the
steps a moment before the door wss opened"
he continued, "and l caught a glimpse of two
beautiful eyes almost hidden by big Grape
veil. We went into the parlor. l was so
infatuated at first sight that walked up and
down the loom with the utmost impatience
until our mutual friend camo down and in
troduced us. / really don't know whether ii
was that dainty little foot or the large,
dreamy eyes that first captivated me-"
After their introduction the marquis paid
the most devoted attention to Mrs. Leslie,
but she was SC deeply immersed in the cares
of business at that time, and so earnestly en-
gagged in oxtricating the enormous business
that had been left to her charge from an
almost hopeless tangle, that she had little
time to think of matrimony.
One evening thester party was enjoying
q play at an uptown theater, aud among
them were Mrs Leslie and tho Marquis de
Leuvillc. Mrs. Leslie. being in the deepest
mourning, preferred to sit in the back part
OF the box, and the marquis, as usual, occu
pied q seat close at her side. When they got
up to 60 Mrs. Leslie drew of hor glove, and
in doing so drew her wedding ring of with
IL, and it fell to the floor. A hunt was i'm
mediately begun for it, but the marquis,
slipping gallantly up to the anxious little
lady while the others were busily hunting,
slipped his family-crested ring from his
finger and gently put it on IN the place of
the missing circle, and leaning over softly
whispered to her to wear that as wedding
ring in the place Of the one she had lost.
Mrs. Leslie, however, would not at that
time entertain tho idea Of matrimony until
sho had vindicated her late husbands honor
by placing his enormous business upon firm
financial footing. Over year ago she achieved
this victory, and her success has placed her
to-day among the wealthieat as we'll as the
best-known business ladies of the world.
About q year ago Mrs. Leslie was lying al
most at the point of death, and tho ohivalrous
marquis, on hearing Of 1t, hastened to her
bedside, and by every little attention con-
| ceivable endeavored to soothe her bed of
sickness. Still the little ladys heart was
| not altogether won, and it was only whom
the Marquis do Leuville came to this country
for third time two weeks ago and pressed
anew his suit that she finally consented to
become his wife.
Mrs Frank Leslie is ono of the most re-
markable women living. She possesses far
more business sagacity and astuteness than
most men, and at the same time she combines
with il the delicate refinement which the
| highest culture alone can give. Her literary
attainments alone would have won for her an
envisble reputation had sho not become re-.
nowned for her business ability. In personal
appearance she is most charming little lady.
Beautiful blue gray eyes peep out from be-
tween long dark lashes, and sparkle as quickly
in the appreciation of pleasantly as they
soften at the touch of a tender sentiment.
Her long, slender, aristocratic looking hand
| Is of the kind artists rave over, while the
pretty little, gracefully arched foot that peers
from beneath her dress may we'll excite the
envy of school girls yet in their teens.
Whom Mr. Frank Leslie was about to die
he called Mrs. Leslie to his bedside and said
to her: GO to my Office and sit at my desk
until my debts are all paid" The weeping
wife gave her solemn promise to the dying
man to fulfill his wish. That was five years
ago. Immediately after tho funeral she took
her seat at her late husbands place, and
to-day the mammoth publishing house that
still bears his name 10 free from debt.
Both Mrs Leslie and Marquis de Leuville
are extraordinary linguists, and speak sew.
eral languages beside their native tongues
| with remarkable ease and grace. Marquis dc
Leuylle says that Mrs. Leslie is the first lady
who over captured his heart on this side OF
the Atlantic. He never before proposed to an
American girl.
| nldlNulo uO lIouNillb 10 uhuusOmb
ly-looking fellow, fully six feet in
height He is an adept in all the manly
sports, as we'll as a famed writer, painter, and
descendant Of one of the oldest families In
Europe. With his pistol at twenty PAGES he
can shoot his initials in o board as easily q,
his deft brush can paint the most charming OF
water colors, or his facile pen write the most
fascinating of verses. A book of his poems
entitled Entire Nous" ran through eight
editions in England, and received the high
est encomiums from the press Of this coun
try.
When they are married the Marquis and
NIarquise de Leuvillo will reside in New
York, and the fair wife of the gallant cheva
lier will continue to carry on the business o
} Frank Leslie, publisher, but will devote
about one'half as much time to her desk a
she does at prerent. From her husband
death up to the present time she has spen
portion of every day at her office, but after
her marriage she wilr only go there every