Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-06
MRS. LUKE BLACKBURN.
She Says Col. Breckenridge Told HeI
He Was to Marry Miss Pollard.

She Says Col. Breckfnridge Told Her
He Was to Marry Miss Pollard.
A special dispatch from Louisville, KY,
to the New York World contains an inter-
view with Mrs. Luke P. Blackburn in regard
to the introduction to her of Miss Pollard by
Representative Breckenridge In it Mrs.
Blackburn says:
"Col. Breckenridge called on me in Wash
ington accompanied by Miss Pollard. 1 had
met Miss Pollard before casually. as she
associated with many Of the first people in
Washington, but had but slight acquain-
lance with her. Col. Breckenridge spoke
confidentally. Said he:
"I have brought this lady with me, Mrs
Blackburn, to request that you will take an
interest in her and give her your counte-
nance and protection. She is to be my wife
as soon as 1t may be proper for me to marry
her. She Is young lady highly gifted and
accomplished both in literature and music:
not pretty, but refined and cultivated.
wish you to be her friend and to show her
special consideration for the reason I have
given you.
1.-The colonel called again and said to me:
You seemed surprised when told you 1
was engaged to marry Miss Pollard 30 soon
after the death Of my wife
Eyes, 1 was surprised I said, and I
| think, colonel. that you make a very poor
return for the answering and tender devo-
ton which your dead wife always showed
"'That is true he replied, but let me tell
you what I have told no human being. I
discovered that Miss Pollard had an affec-
ton for me. and as a gentleman I felt
honor-bound to accept and return it."
Then. Colonel said /, you have a high
and peculiar sense of honor. l am wo-
man, and perhaps view the matter from q
more sentimental standpoint than men do.
But thought it strange you should become
engaged within a few months after you had
buried your Wife
HE protested that he had become engag-
ed only under the circumstances stated and
would be married as soon as he could do
so without outraging the feelings OF his
daughters. He called several times after
wards, and 1 finally told him that 1 was
very sorry he had thought proper to con-
fide in me and that wished he had select
ed some other confidante. He apologized.
however, and begged me to take Miss Poll
ard with me to summer resort IN virginia
where expected to go.
Miss Pollard Gid not accompany US. but
Joined us later, and 1 treated her with civil
ity and even kindness. She was very at
tractive. She read books and We conversed
about them. She not only talked well on
literary subjects. but she was very prolific
Of new ideas"
did you at any time discover any impro-
prety in her, conduct and break of rela-
lions with her before the publication of the
scandal?" was asked.
mot the slightest improperly did ever
discover IN ner actlOnS or ner WORDS. Inc
publication astounded me. l had no dream
of anything wrong"
Have you seen Col. Breckenridge since
the publications.
II have not seen or heard from either Of
them. But Col. Breckenridge cannot truth
fully deny the statement have made, nor
do 1 believe he will denv it. NV belief is
that he intended to marry Miss Pollard
when he told me so. I talked with my sis
ter. Mrs. Zane. on the subject and Miss
Pollard talked with her. All of us regarded
the engagement as a fixed fact and ex-
pected the marriage to take place. For
tunately did not take Miss Pollard to the
houses Of my friends in Washington"
1t is understood that Col. Breckinridge
will not deny any statement Of Mrs. Black
burn even on tine witness stand. but will
take the ground that she is mistaken and
that she confused the expressions Of Miss
Pollard with his own.
He cannot do that" said Mrs. Black
burn while talking further on the subject.
ut was his language, not hers. He told me
the same thing on several different occa-
sions and I learn that he avowed his en-
gaSement in the presence Of other per-
SOMA"