The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-13
Lillian Russell Reported to Have
an Offer Of Marriage.
A RECREANT LOVER RETURNS
The Banker Is an Old Friend of the Pri-
ma Donna, Who Has Long Been
Infatuated With Her.

tion in New York last week, through
the rumor that she was to bring suit
against John Chatterson, better known
as Signor Perugini, for divorce.
"There is nothing to say regarding
the story except to deny it," said Mr..
Hummel, Lillian's attorney. 'Miss
Russelps personal affairs, so far as law
is concerned, are in my hands. She has
left everything in my hands, and she
has not asked me to oegin divorce pro-
ceedipgs nor have I ad vised such step.
Nothing of the kind is now contem-
plated"
ment by Mr.. Hummel the New York
Journal says:
There is a well.defned rumor in the
financial district that Lillian Russell
had good rensons for breaking away
from her tenor HUSBAND, even had he
not been guilty of the acts of mission
and commission that she has accused
him of in her recent open letter to the
public.
Some two years ago she made the
acquaintance of wealthy banker,
whose name appears on the list of men,
bers of the New York stock exchange.
His name suggests Italian origin and
his fortune is variously estimated at
from S., 0OO, OCO to 1000, 900. This geh-
tleman, who is bachelor about 40 years
| of age, became infatuated with the
| prima donna, and was anxious to do
| everything for her comfort, but he put
| his foot Down when she insisted he
| should meet her at the stage door
every evening and take her home
in her carriage.
He also refused to obey her whim, so
it is said, when Miss Russell command
ed him to accompany her on her tours
In the provinces. He declared that
much as he thought of her he could not
afford to take the chances Of having his
business wrecked just for the sake of
satisfying foolish caprice.
Miss Russell could not see his argu-
ment in that light. She is reported to
have said that if he thought more of his
business than he did of her1t was about
time they were separated. The banker
tried to explain that everything in the
financial district was in state of
chaos, and that by going with her opera
company on an extended tour he might
in "a hours be bankrupted, and that in
such event the resources of their future
happiness would be cut off.
Miss Russell, so the story goes, was
obdurate. She refused to listen to any
thing of the kind. The will of her mil
lionaire admirer was as strong as that
of the prima donna and they parted in
anger.
They did not meet again until few
days before Miss Russell's marriage to
Perugini, when the banker met the
prima donna in front of the Claremont
hotel on the Riverside drive. After
Russelrs carriage and said:
81 understand, Miss Russell, you are
going to marry Signor Perugini9"
eyes, it is true" Miss Russell replied
"and honestly believe I have at last
found a man that can appreciate and
that appreciates me. If 1 find I have
h0
fault"
"What then9"
"Well," was the answer that Is said
to have been given, ~ cannot but think
of how many happy days we spent to-
gether, and how foolish We ever were
to quarrel over small matter. If you
had done what asked you to do not
think I would have had as great re-
gard for you as have now. Good-by,
don't forget to let me know that you
still think of me few days hence,
when am Mrs. Chatterton."
The banker did not forget, If the
story told by reliable authority Is true.
The night before the wedding an i'm
mense boquet of Fansies were sent to
Miss Russelps house. There was no
name attached to the card on which
were the words:
'sYou see you are not forgotten by
your old friends" !
Next morning very simple yet beau
tiful finger circlet Of diamonds was sent
as a wedding present to the prima
donna. No name accompanied the
gift, but it was sent by the same man
whose first peace offering since the
quarrel was the boquet of pansies. A
look of momentary sadness overspread
Miss Russells face as she took up the
dainty gift and put it on the finger
that was soon to be adorned with a
wedding ring.
IL have no fngs gement ring" she is
reported to hlve said in the room be-
fore she started for the carriage that
was to take her to the alter and her
new husband, "but this will serve, as
a dear friend sent 1t to me, and know
he will not be angry i'll wear it on
this occasion"
Long before the public was taken
into the prima donna's confidence and