The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-04-02
scHAPTER 1.
What the World Thought Of the
Duchess.

early summer. There was hardly &
cloud in the sky; a previous day o.
rain had washed the CRIME from al
the buildings of London, and the great
city shone clean and white against
the blue above, almost like a Southern
city, a city Of palaces.
Outside the gates of Marlborough
house there was a crowd of people,
kept awy from the actual entrance
and 81 -9herded by a band of good hu'
mored policemen. The crowd extend.
ed east up to the Carlton club, and
westwarAs into the open space at the
bottom of st. James street, in front
of The palace.
The gates of Marlborough house
were open, and the crowd could catch
glimpses Of royal grooms and attend
ants who moved about beyond the
little lodge upon the left. In all the
windows those wonderful boxes of
white and scarlet flowers that the
Londoner knows Sc well were bloom
Ing brilliantly. The whole scene was
n of the utmost animation and
gaiety, and the ~scarlet-coated sen
tinels who marched around the high
walls added a further note Of vivid
color.
Every now and again a carriage
rolled out Of the gateway and turned
into st. James street or Pail Mail. It
was the birthday of one of the little
princes. who was giving a children's
garden party, and loyal Londoners
had assembled to see q spectacle of
little boys and girls, bearing some of
the historic names of England. being
carried to and from the entertain
ment.
The beautiful children in car
riages seemed instinct with the gaiety
Of that bright summers afternoon,
and the sympthetic crowd laughed in
sympathy to witness their happiness,
and thus joined vicariously in n
graduation to the little prince within.
All sorts OF great and famous people
went in and out of the gates during
the afternoon.
Often the crowd recognized a popu-
lar favOrite, and there was a murmur
which now and then rose into a cheer.
An old gentleman of middle height.
white moustache. and an upright car
rage came walking briskly out of the
gates, holding the hand Of a little
boy Of eight in a sailor suit. There
was a rustic among the crowd, a cho-
rus OF quick ejaculation, and then a
hearty cheer al the waiting people
recognized a famous soldier, the hero
Of a hundred fights, and his little
grandson. The old gentleman, who
seemed rather abashed, touched the
brim of his silk hat with two fore
fingers, and trotted away down Pail
Mali. For a few minutes after his de-
parture nothing occurred, and then
the people nearest the gates saw that
q large open carriage, drawn by two
black horses, the footman and coach
man In liveries of purple and peach
color, was coming slowly out of the
grounds.
In . moment more the c arriage
turned towards st. James street, going
very slowly. however, as the crowd
had now become much denser. Upon
the back seat Of the carriage sat a
young and very beautiful woman,
wearing Q bonnet OF white tulle and
helitrope, and q dress of soft white
silk with mauve trimming, and =
bunch Of Neapolitan violets in her
corsage.
This lady's hair was Of that rare
and brilliant color which resembles
nothing 80 much as q horse chestnut
fresh from the pod. Her eyes were
q : deep violet. heavily fringed with
black lashes. and one OF the kindest
and most good humored months which
ever smiled a welcome completed a
personality q unusual as 1t was re:
nowned. and as popular . it was
both.
BY the lady's side was . little boy
q some four and 2 half or Ave years
Of age. dfessed II simple white fan-
ne1. r faxsf
Once a'ors thets -. . nsrnur, 0t
interest.
.Tt's ths little dukes- some one
cried: '1A6le little duke of London and
his mother. Hurrah for the little
luke!" ~
The cry waf taken ~ and repeated.
swelling "A volume every moment as
the crowd pressed nearer and nearer
the carriage. despite the EFFORTS Of the
constab,ess to Restrain them.
isn't he Ia darlingl. said the
women to each other q they caught
: glimpse Of the pretty. little boy
way" to his mother in high
good hunDCr and excitement. And to
think Of him being . duke! They say
he's got two hundred thousand q
year" And the duchess. isn't she
beautifulY She's only twenty-sever.
they say. and won't marry again for
love Of her late husband" Look,
some ons'p atssRthaAl ttle dpke4sa
a youne wsnnan II ltns crowd, Who
was wearing : rbae h her dtels, had
been preasedg1p II tn wheels Of the
slovlysmcsing carri4eege. With 9 sud.