The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-30


chambers with their low trundle beds
of so years ago, all bespeaks comfort
and refinement
Largest Tree in Colorado.
Back of the dining-room window
stands probably the largest tree in
Colorado-a cottonwood, measuring II
feet in circumference and four in di-
ameter. Shortly after the house was
built this, with five others. was car
ried down from Camp Wells upon the
sturdy shoulders of Frank Writer'S
father.
True love then and now. Two honey
moons have been spent in these thick
walls, and true love has seemingly ac-
companied the last, as il blessed the
first.
Miss Gerard says that her health has
entirely recovered. In November, 1897,
after the death of her father, Gen.
Albert Ordway, in New York, she be-
came a complete wreck, and recovered
health only after months in a private
sanitarum.
Gen. Ordway was commander of the
militia of the District of Columbia. He
was wealthy, club man and "a social
favorite. Bettina, or, as she was CHS
tened, Elizabeth, was so beautiful that
when she was sent TO the convent at
Georgetown the nuns predicted a brill
liant future made UP of joy and love
and well doing. She finished her edu-
cations at Miss Burr's finishing school,
where the society women at Washing
ton were educated. She played and
danced and excelled at outdoor sports.
In addition to this, she was a splendid
linguist. Her entrance into society was
brilliant occasion. She was the
brightest when a contest of wit was
on. She was the life of dinner. She
was the one woman looked at in
ballroom. The summer following her
debut, with Gen. and Mrs. Ordway,
she went to White Sulphur, West Vir
ginia's famous summer resort. At
dinner remarkable for the number of
diplomats present, a young attache of
the French legation, who had fallen
deeply in love with her, clapped his
hands when a toast was proposed to
her. He had taken her to dinner.
You will not listen to me-" he said;
"I am young. unknown. The men who
pay you court are distinguished, IA
nous; Mon Dieu, if fame would only
come to me-
"Ben," Bettina answered.; "M'sieu,
shall make you famous"
She sprang to the seat of her chair.
Listen" she cried. THE gentleman
will drink my health and the health to
fame"
The shipper Incident.
Amid perfect silence she slipped off
her satin slipper filled it with spark
ling champagne and handed it to the
young Frenchman. Although he blush
ed crimson in his embarrassment, he
drank it off. Bettina snatched the slip
per from him and drained another
health
1t was talked of all over the coun-
try. Gen. Ordway and his wife, scan
dalized, hastily left White sulphur,
taking their daughter with them.
Shortly after this she met Arthur
Padelford, the only son and heir of
one of Boston's wealthiest men. She
married him. The wedding, which took
place at St. Johns Church, in Wash
ington, was attended by all the best
social set.
"A good thing" said her friends;
1.-THE girl will now settle down"
The honeymoon was spent in Europe.
They wandered happily down the Rhine
across the Alps, went into Italy, ana
the wild spirit in the maiden seemed to
have become tanned in the bride. At
Vienna a child was born to them. 1t
was over this child that they had their
first quarrel. 1t was thought that she
could not recover, and gossip said that
in the fear of death something hap
voted couple. Padelford left her in
Vienna, returning to this country.
| Many rumors followed him. Her name
was mentioned with that of grand
opera tenor. AS if to bring disgrace
upon the name of Padelford, she decid-
ed to go upon the comic opera stage.
In her debut she shared the honors
with Henry Dixey. She was only 81.
Divorced, she married a man named
I,|O Of
delford on her advertising matter. upon
the payment of $4,000 in cash from her
former husband. And then, in quick
succession, came marriage and divorce,
marriage and divorce.
Separating from Gerard, she married
Jack Raphael a tenor who had been
stabbed nearly to death a few months
before by Robert Monroe. Then she be-
came the wife of John Harrison Wolff,
an actor. Then came William Beach,
another actor A divorce suit was
brought by Mrs. Philip Schuyler in
which she figured as correspondent.
| When ii had ended Beach was divorced,
and Bettina added Schuyler to her al .
ready long list of names. Her father.
Gen. Ordway, offered her an annuity
of $1,000 for life to leave the country
She went to London with Schuyler
and collapsed physically when she
made her debut.
Seems Happy.
She returned to America and went
| into a private sanitarium, dissipat ton
| having so weakened her. 1t was in
| November of 1897 that Gen. Ordway,
Mrs. Ordway and Miss Padelford, Bet
| tina Gerard's daughter, returned from
! Europe to New York. They found Bet
| tina lying deserted by her friends in
| Bellevue Hospital. The old general
| shook his head when a reconciliation
was mentioned but Mrs. Ordway. the
mother, pleaded with him sobbngly.
] Nov. q Gen. Ordway died at the Hoff-
| man House. Before he passed away,