The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-12
AS THE GYPSY FORETOLD.
How Miss Dallas Yorlse Became the
apuehssh ~, Portland.


Gracious and stately, and one of the
handsomcst women of her day, when Miss
Dallas YollIe became Duchess of Port
land she al once took her place among
the first of the leaders of society in Lon
don. 1t 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 attractions
or the metropolis. She arrives there Ia te
IN the season, she leaves early and she
makes SO many Saturday to- Monday vis-
us 70 Welbeck, 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 duch-
ess are perhaps less generally known than
those or most women Of her position ana
TINS IS the more striking 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 sill
yer point from the gifted hand of her
attached friend, the Warehouses of Gram
by. In this we especially note the noble
poise Of the head, rising from a pictrr,
esque Medici collar, the delicate contour
of cheek and chin, and the sweet, serious
eyes, all of which are imprinted on the
memory or those who have once had an
opportunity of observing the duchess
closely.
There is such promise of romance in the
delicate profile and dreamy eyes of the Du-
chess of Portland that my readers would
be disappointed if did not hint that some
thing of its semblance had entered into
her life as Wen. More than one tale might
be unfolded, but unfortunately one may
not say all he knows. However. on her
first meeting with the young duke l may
say one word. 1t took place in that most
prosaic of spots, the junction of railway
line. Miss Dallas Yorke was going north
and the duke was coming south At that
time no acquaintance existed between
them, but as the stately maiden moved up
and down the platform, waiting with her
travelling companion for the train, the
duke observed her attentively, and he has
since confessed that he said to himself at
the time, ''if ever | marry, 1 should like
il to be a woman such as this"
Later on the duke met the lady in Lon
don ball room, and asked for an introduce
ton. He had noticed before approaching
her that she looked on the brilliant scene
before her with indifference. not to say
with WEAKNESS.
II am afraid that this does not amuse
YOU" he said.
mo" replied Miss Dallas Yorke; st do
not like society, and do not care for Lon
DON"
AS these words accurately described the
dukes own opinions, ii is not surprising
that the acquaintance ripened rapidly. Be
fore many weeks had passed, the prob
lem which had puzzled the social world
from his succession to the dukedom, in
1879, was solved, and Miss Dallas Yorke be-
came Duchess of Portland.
A characteristic story is told of the OUCH
ess, which, if even not true, belongs to
the ben trovato order and well illustrates
the simplicity and absence of ambition
which are among her most striking char
'acteristics. A gypsy, so the tale goes
had possessed herself of the hand of Miss
Dallas Yorke who had not then made
her debut. You will be married to
duke, my bonnie LADY," said the old crone
land 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
away, adding: Il should like one thing as
little as the other" However, the proph-
ecy has been fulfilled, and from all ap-
pearances the beautiful young duchess
does not find her lot very hard to bear.