Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23

| also transport her romantic American
! bower, her quaint boathouse with its tiny
red barges, and her favorite pleasure spots
away from Bienheim Palace and thus pre-
vent them from passing into the hands of
| strangers she would do SO forthwith.
| Meanwhile, the duchess has already been
made to feel poignantly her position in be-
ing even temporarily separated from her
| husband. She was not asked to take any
part in the royal festivities in honor of
! the King and Queen of Norway, and con-
sdering that never until now since she
came to England has she been absent from
a great function at Windsor Castle the
1t appeared especially unjust, too, when
the Duke of Marlborough was invited alone
to stay at Sandringham for the kings
birthday celebrations, but as a matter of
of being talked to- and advised by the
king regarding his matrimonial troubles.
On this occasion the king is reported to
have said to the duke: MY dear fellow,
If you and the duchess do not join hands
again you will both ruin your futures.
Your political chances done for, her
social opportunities are at an end. Besides,
you have your boys to think Of" Edward
VII recalled to Marlboroughs mind, too,
how the latter's father, the late duke, was
practically ignored by society after the d.
wife, and the young duke promised to
think it all over, but added: You have no
idea how exasperating the duchess is"
Yes, 1 have" returned the king; how
ever charming a woman is, she can general
ly manage to be exasperating, more espe-
cialiy IL she is extremely fond of one-and
understand the duchess is extremely fond
of you"
X X
Well. there is little doubt that the last
comment Of the king was correct, but 1t
may be questioned if there is any founda-
ton in fact for a story that is now being
told in society as a proof Of the young
I,,aI,
cording to this story. when the duchess
heard that the duke was going to stay at
Sandringham with the king and queen
she took rooms as Mrs. Burke" at farm
er's house in the neighborhood. just for the
qualification of seeing Marlborough ride by
on the daily shooting excursions Certain
1t is that her recent grief has told physic
tally on the young duchess. She has grwn
unmstakabIy thinner, and a woman friend
tells me that for more than a month the
duchess has not been seen in low-cut
dress. She cannot" added my informant,
'for every bone In her pretty neck is show
ing" More's the pity, since this graceful
and swanlike neck was the envy of every
woman who ever saw 1t in ball room.
What will the future of the Marlborough
be? At the present time 1t Is risky to
speculate Their friends. of course, hope
for an eventual reconciliation. and in this
connection 1t may be said that from the
first practically all the other members of
Marlborough's family have felt deep SYM
1 pathy for the duchess. Her immense gen.
erosity to them. and more especially to the
dukes sisters. has made her very popular
among them. Up to last season she was
hardly ever seen about without one of these
girls, and even when she went to the con-
! tinent Lady Norah Spencer Churchill inva-
riably accompanied her. When two sisters
married the duchess gave them their trous-
tfseaux. When Lady sNorah was engaged to
jsWilliam Walsh saad the, wedding had to be
postponed owing to the financial circum-
stances OF the hridegroom-elect the Ouch
ess OF Marlborough promised to give her