The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-30

Tuesday, April Is, in Washington. Mrs.
Gordon Mckay became the Baroness AL
fred Won Bruening.
Gordon Mckay, her ex-husband, the
rich old Massachusetts inventor and man.
ufacturer, was not at the wedding nor
was he at the wedding breakfast. But
the two sons were-the sons which he
repudiated.
He sent wedding present.
1t was 81, 900, 900. Il
tt is a strange story-this story of Cor
dom Mckay and his wife, who married
the Baron Won Bruening.
1t was not surprising that the marriage
of this beautiful American woman to the
titled German diplomat was most bril-
liant affair Nor was 1t all surprising
that it was a wedding of state, at which
the gold lace diplomatic corps were pres
ent, since 1t was; known that the Ger
man emperor had given his personal ap-
proval to this union of hearts and na-
tions.
Amid such spIendor and show even the
noblernan husband's9gift to his bride of a
/ priceless set of family diamonds in, an-
tiQue settings was not marNellsla at, says
the New York Journal.
But what was surprising and unusual
was the gift of 81 100000 from her former
husband There was mystery about it
that no, one at the wedding could solve
except the bride, and she did not choose
to do so.
Here is the inside history of this ro-
nance of Boston, Newport and Washing
ton, which led up to an eX-husband CIV
ing S1,000,000 as a wedding present when
his ex-wife took another husband
Twelve years ago Gordon Mckay, who
had made a vast fortune out of his sew
ing machine his .heeling machine, his
stitching and his metallic fastener, came
to Washington with his young wife. She
was at least forty-f1ve years his junior.
She was regally beautiful. Even now in
all the reports of her wedding to the
Baron she is described as the most beau
tiful woman in Washington.
They selected for {their residence the
house where afterward Dupay de LONE
was to live and write the famous letter
which played so Important part in his
tory. Nothing was, wanted to make the
Mckay establishment perfect. Nothing
that wealth could lavish was spared on
the beautiful young fwife. To make the
home complete there were two little boys.
Hospitality sat inssthe doorway. There
were no end of riches. There was the
finest fruits; and there the finest wines.
And there was BEAUTY at the head Of
the table.
The Mckay house soon became the cen
ter Of entertainments on a gorgeous
| scale. Whatever Mrs. Mckay did she lid
| charn1ingly. She was rich and beautiful,
| and she was born to be hostess. AS to
| Mr.. McIlay-he had other things to think
| about. He was very proud of his wife
| and her beauty, but in between times,
there were thoughts-perhaps mingled
| with other thoughts-of the sewing ma
| chine the heeling machine and the me-
| tallic fastening machine. He had many
| irons in the fire.
| One iron in the fire had something to do
1 with a claim for a great deal of money
| which he wanted to get passed favor
| ably by congress. Somebody happened
| to mention to him that it was quite the
thing in Washington at just such a
| iuncture to call in the services of a
| bright clever woman It was Whispered
| in his ear too, that the success Of the
| undertaking was greatly enhanced If the
| woman. added to all else, would boast
good social position. The advice
| seemed good. Gordon Mckay listened to
it as the Rhenish sailors listened to the
| Lorelei. He looked about for the lady II
question. AS fate would have it she hap
! pened to be one of the guests who fire.
| quently sat at the table of himself and
| wife. Delicately the matter was broached
to her She listened. She was coy. She
| thought 1t over. And she hnally consent.
ed to undertake toxtry to get the bill
through congress. That was at least the
explanation given before the court wher
l.the famous divorce, proceedings between
| Mr.. and Mrs. Gordon9 Mckay took place
1t was explanation, however, which
the beautiful young wife, apparently die
not believe. Whether she believes 1t to-
day no one can say
The Gordon Mckay divorce case created
what is generally described as great
sensation. Some of its most intimate Sc
crets have never leaked out. The case
was conducted behind closed doors.
Mr.. Woodbury. Blair, member of one
Of the oldest and most aristocratic fam
ilies in the District of Columbia, prom
inent lawyer and one of the mutua
friends entertained by the MeKays, was
engaged by Mrs. Mckay to take charge
of her legal affairs. The suit for divorce
was begun. That was two years after
their coming to Washington.
Searching about for evidence some let
ters written by Mr.. Mckay to the fail
social lobbyist were found She was nam
ed as correspondent In the case and even
tually the divorce was granted upon the
strength Of these ;epistles. No soonei