Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-04-23

come to America. He also CHANGED to
be wherever the Elkins family were.
When Miss Elkins came to New York,
a few weeks ago, the duke was there.
When it was announced that she and
her mother were going to Florida for
a brief outing, the duke of the Abruzzi
decided to run down there, too.
They went to Palm Beach. Nobody
there knew the fascinating Italian who
was so devoted to Miss Elkins, and
somehow it happened that 40 n got
q chance to meet him. Had Palm
Beach only known it-Miss Elkins'
new man" was none other'than a pos
sible successor to the Italian throne!
The little party journeyed on to st.
Augustine. There the secret came out.
People began to ask questions. Could
a prince of the blood royal make hon.
est love to an American girl? Would
not such an alliance be ~morganatic OF
itself?
Italian law was looked up-no, II
the king consented, it wouldn't matter
who the wife was at all. Queens in
Italy enjoy but courtesy titles, any
way; should the duke of the Abruzzi
become king his wife would surely be
queen in name.
Then came the gossip.
Was there an engagement? Had the
Italian duke proposed to the American
girl? What would the king of Italy
say? What would Senator Elkins say?
Did they love each other? What would
the dot be?
EIkins Family Say Nothing.
The Elkins family became quite
mute. No announcement could be had
from either the young woman in
question or her distinguished father.
Meanwhile the cables to Rome were
kept hot. Would his majesty give his
consent? His majesty didn't want to-.
He felt that a royal prince should
marry into a noble family.
But | love her." was the gist of the
dukes cable in reply.
And what could the poor king do?
Meanwhile Senator Elkins had to
endure all kinds of chatting in the SEN
ate.
On March II Mrs. Elkins, Miss FL
kins and the duke arrived in Washing
ton from Florida. The party break
tasted together at the Elkins home,
and afterWard the duke went to the
Italian embassy. Then he disap-
peared. Bland smiles were the only
answers to inquiries for the duke. It
the EIkins home no information was
forthcoming.
1t was very plain that the duke
must do the talking first. But he
wouldn't. He stayed in Washington
for a few days, constantly calling at
the Elkins home. Society got out its
blue books. Soon it was discovered
that he wouldn't have to give up his
chances to the Italian throne should
he make an American girl his wife.
Further, 1t was explained that the mar
riage need not be a morganatic one,
provided the king Of Italy gave his
consent.
However, there was all kinds of de-
lightful mystery in Washington and
Rome. Not a word that was authori-
tative was formally spoken. The Ell
kins family were mum; so was the
Italian court.
OTIS All Right" Says the Duke.
Then the gallant duke decided t
was time to take a hand himself. 1t
wouldn't do to leave Washington by
train in the regular way-that would
attract too much attention. So he had
Miss Elkins take him to Baltimore In
her automobile, and there he took the
train to New York, where the Lusi-
tania was waiting to sail.
ITS all right" was all he would
say before the ship sailed with "Signor
Sarto," as he choose to call himself.
Promptly the cables began to buzz.
Rome declared that the duke of the
Abruzzi was coming home in order to
get the kings full consent to his mar.
riage with the American girl; that she
would become a Roman Catholic; that
her father would be %ennobled, and that
the marriage would take place here
next autumn.
Once the ~dispensation is obtained
from the Vatican, the marriage ma,
be solemnized anywhere in the world
The rule of the church, however, il
that the brides parish is the proper
place for the ceremony. Because O.
this the marriage-if there is to be
one-will be celebrated in the United
States and not in Italy. Italian law re
quires that the minister Of the interior
opI tha praoi1o1f 30 +la z-A i.