The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-28

The DUKES HEART
How His Grace of Portland
Fell in Love With Dali
las Yorke at a
Station.
THE GIPSY'S PROPHECY
Nature as a Child's Teacher-Fine
Furs as Trimming News
Woman's Fortune.

Gracious and stately, and one of the
handsomest women of her day, when
Miss Dallas Yorke became Duchess of
Portland she at once took her place
among the first of the leaders of society
In London, says the Philadelphia Press.
It would be almost more correct if we
were to substitute the word England
for London, since the Duchess appears
to be singularly Indifferent to the at
fractions of the metropolis. She arrives
there late in the season. she leaves
early. and she makes so many Satur-
day-to-Monday visits to Weibeck. where
she usually has a brilliant house party
around her. that her friends complain
that for all practical purposes she never
comes to town at all.
For this reason the features of the
Duchess are perhaps less generally
known than those Of most women of
her position, and this is the more strik-
ing as her personal beauty marks her
out at once on those occasions when
she does appear in public. Perhaps the
most effective likeness of her Grace is
a charming study in silver point from
the gifted land of her attached friend,
the Marchioness of CRANKY. In his we
especially note the noble poise of the
head, rising from a picturesque Medici
collar, the delicate contour of cheek and
chin and the sweet, serious eyes, all
of which are imprinted on the memory
of those who nav once had an oppor-
tunity of observing the Duchess closely.
There is such promise of omance in
the delicate profile and the dreamy eyes
of the Duchess of Portland that readers
would be disappointed if l did not hint
that something of it's semblance had en-
| tered into her life as well, says an Eng
lish writer. More than one tale might
be unfolded, but unfortunately one may
not say all he Knows. However, of
her first meeting with the young Duke
that most prosaic of spots. the junction
of a railway line. Miss Dallas Yorke
was going north and the Duke was COM
ing south. At that time no acquaintance
existed between them, but as the stately
maiden moved up and down the plat
form. waiting with her travelling COM
her attentively, and he has since con-
fessed hat he said to himself at the
time, IF ever marry | should like it to
be q woman such as this"
Later on the Duke met the lady in a
London ballroom, n asked for an intro
duction. He had noticed before approach
ing her that she looked or the brilliant
scene before her with indifference, not
to say with WEAKNESS.
81 am afraid that this does not amuse
you" he said.
NO" replied Miss Dallas Yorke; 81
do not like society, and l do not care for
London"
AS these words accurately described
the Dukes opinions, it is not surprising
that the acquaintance ripened rapidly.
Before many weeks had passed. the
problem which had puzzled the social
world from his succession to the duke
dom, in 1879. was solved. and Miss Dallas
| YorlKe become Duchess of Portland.
A characteristic story is told of the
Duchess. which, If even not true, be-
longs to the ben troyato order, and well
illustrates the simplicity and absence of
ambition which are among her most
striking characteristics. A gypsy, so the
tale goes, had possessed herself of the
not then made her debut. You will be
married to a Duke, my bonnie lady"
| said the old crone, ''and become one of
the greatest ladies in the land"
"Oh, | hope not said the girl, with
an emphasis which made those around
her laugh as she drew her hand quickly
as little as the. other However, the
prophecy has been fulfilled, and from all
appearances the beautiful young Duchess
does not find her lot very hard to bear.