The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-18
HOW He WON HER.
Story of the Payne-Leslie Carter
Courtship.

New York. July 1s.-At-last the true
story of Mrs. Leslie Carriers latest re-
nance is out. From a mem Der of the
party who accompanied the actress
and her new husband on the now
famous motor car tour was learned
today the full story of the courtship
and marriage.
In the early part of June a cottage
in Albright was rented by party OF
young men, including Jack Deyereaux.
w L. Payne. William Courtney ana
two or three others. to keep bachelors
hall for the summer. Payne. an actor
of no great renown. but a fine fellow
and a splendid companion. waf one OF
the party.
Uneventful weeks passed by until
Tuesday, three weeks ago. when the
bachelor cottagers saw a large motor
car driving up the road in which were
Mrs. Leslie Carter and her companion,
Miss Norma Munro. Mrs. Carter and
Miss Munro we're persuaded to come in
and inspect the cottage and stop for
dinner. Mrs. Carter. after several
hours. declared that she could not stay
longer. and asked the entire party to
meet as her guests at dinner at
Thomas roadhouse, just outside OF
Seabright, the following Friday even
ing.
Leslie Dudley Carter was the only
additional guest at the dinner. and at
its conclusion he declared that the
party must meet at dinner again in
the same place the next night as his
guests. This invitation was accepted.
The proposition of a motor car tour
through New England. lasting for
three of four weeks. il Mrs. Carter
could remain away that long, was
made by one of the diners. and imme-
diately voted a happy suggestion. Mr.
Payne drew one of the lucky seats IN
Mrs Carriers car. but this was not re-
garded as significant. The tour began,
and as it continued Payne attentions
to Mrs. Carter became marked. She
seemed to accept the attentions of the
actor as if they were quite pleasing to
her. and they were constantly to-
gether.
Last Friday morning in Portsmouth
between and O'Clock three of the men
of the party saw Mrs Carter leaving
the hotel alone An hour later they sa W
Mr.. Payne follow. Mrs. Carter was the
first to return and went Immediately to
her apartments. Payne came back later
and joined the other members of the
party at luncheon.
Dudley Carter came in and scowIed at
Payne. He seemed bursting with tndig-
nation. Finally he bluntly announced
that Payne had married his mother a
short time before and in a burst Of
anger told Payne that his company was
not desirable and asked him to leave
the table and quit the hotel.
The scene had hardly been enacted be-
fore Mrs. Carter, unaware that her son,
whom she had taken into the secret,
had betrayed it, asked where Payne
was. There was an embarrassing silence
and the actress seemed greatly aston
ished at the way her inquiry was re-
ceived and demanded an explanation.
Then her soE. referring to Payne in no
very complimentary way, stated that ne
had asked him to leave the room and
the hotel. Payne had gone.
Mrs. Carter, rising to the height of her
emotional power turned upon her son
and demanded that he Immediately find
Payne and bring him back. There were
tears of Indignation ia her eyes, because
she realized that her son had broken her
confidence in telling of her marriage.
Young Carter saw that his mother was
in no mood to be trified with and did
s she babe him. accepting at that time
his mothers marriage as a fact that
demanded his recognition
Miss Norma Munro. daughter of the
late publisher. denied today the report
of her engagement TO young Dudley
| Carter. the son of Mrs Leslie Carter.
The young man Immediately following
The announcement of his engagement
which was made at a dinner Sunday
night, disappeared. The engagement
| was announced at a dinner by young
! Carter himself at which Miss Munro
was present Mrs Carter denied her
marriage to Mr.. Payne at first.