The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-03
THE PRESIDENTS INTENTIONS.
More Matrimonial Gossip About the
President.

The story comes from Albany that
President Cleveland is engaged to marry
Miss Nan yechten, young lady who
, may Justly lay claim to being the social
/ leader Of the csiital Of this State. The
lady is tall, and most beautiful In face
and figure, and she has many charms
and grsces of manner. The circle in
which she moves is one of the most
exclusive in the United States. The high
society of Albany is unquestionably the
most difficult to penetrate of any in the
country, and Miss Van Vechten is its
central star. She lives in a splendid
house that is situated directly across
the street from the Executive Mansion,
where Mr.. Cleveland, when he was in
his office. could. without difficulty, have
looked into Miss Van Vechten's win
dow. The lady has a rich complexion,
dark eyes, and a wealth of waving
brown hair. There is quite striking
resemblance between her and Miss
Jennie Chamberlain, the beauti-
ful Cleveland girl whose personal attract
iveness has been the talk OF Europe
for a year or two back. When sir.
Cleveland was Governor of New York
State, he frequently met Miss Van
Vechten at the various receptions which
occurred in the Executive Mansion and
elsewhere in Albany, and he exhibited
a marked preference for her society. It
is. indeed. said that he took every pos
sible occasion to be at her side, and il is
now noticed that she is spending q
great deal of her time in Washington
where few, If any. OF the social gataer-
ings Of which the President is feature.
are allowed to go BY without her pres.
ence.
She is the lady who will be re-
membered as one Of the personages
concerned in a curious story which had
a tragic ending only few months ago.
There is in Albany young gentleman
OF great wealth named Pruyn. Miss
Van Vechten was at one time ap-
parently much attached to him. and
when she went away to the Adiron-
dacks for the summer he proposed for
her hand. She considered the matter
for day, and, wishing to take plenty
of time for the final making up of her
mind on a matter destined to affect her
whole life, she asked Mr.. Pruyn
to wait for his answer until the end
OF the summer season. He urged her to
consent without further delay, but she
was firm in her decision on that point,
and passed on her way. Mr.. Pruyn
went to the White mountains to spend
his summer, and while there he met the
family of a New England clergyman.
With one of the two charming daugh-
ters he fell desperately in love, and
meanwhile, il is said, Miss Van Vechten
accepted his proposal of marriage. In
reply he wrote her a frank letter telling
of the change that had come over him,
and she, with womanly generosity. re-
leased him from his bargain. There
upon he became engaged to the clergy
mans daughter.
The engagement was a most desirable
one to the minister's family, by reason
OF young Mr.. Pruyn's wealth, social
standing and pleasant personal traits.
The young lady seemed to be highly
pleased with the situation, and her
father, mother and sister most cordially
urged the suit of the young Albanian.
A day was finally set for the ceremony,
and, just on the eve OF its approach. the
prospective bride eioped, and went
10 Europe with a young cotton
she had fallen desperately in love
The results of that &C. have been
extraordinary. The clergyman is re-
ported to have become a mental wreck.
and l believe the m other and second
daughter are both dead. Young Mr..
Pruyn was terribly broken up by this
series Of events, and the talk Of Albany
society is that he Is going through life
at gait not calculated 10 extend the
term Of his earthly career. The part
played by Miss Van Vechten in this
tragic affair. was at all times dignified
and womanly. and IL fate has been IN
kind to Mr.. Pruyn, it appears, at least,
to have contendet itself with treating
him to dose Of his own medicine
Boston Herald.