The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-08-04
LOST KINGS FAVOR
American Beauty Talked too Much to
Please King.


that the London season is tho grave of
many American social ambitions. Az
a rule, those aspiring ladies who for
one reason or another fail to reach
the heights they wish to climb fold
their tents and silently steal away, so
that their discontinue shall be as lit
tie bruited abroad as possible. Not a
few OF them learn wisdom. and some
more achieve measure of common
sense. In whatever light ono may re-
gard their aspirations, their failure
nearly always has note of pathos; !;
and in some instances they are de-
serving OF real sympathy.
This season has seen one case
which is exceptional in many respects.
and one of which all London-that is,
all the London Of the smartest set
is talking. In this instance the lady in
question came SO near to the realiza-
ton of her highest ideals that her
eventual disaster is a tragedy. She
failed because she came across tho
path of woman who was cleverer
than herself.
Bitter Fight Waged.
This sounds like sentence from q
novel. 1t is. however, sober, serious
truth. There was a keen and bitter
fight, in which neither tooth nor nail
was used, for the tongue gave Il deep
er wound-a feminine duel fought
with feminine weapons. which are
legal morally, if not physically. The
encounter-to continue the metaphor
took place on the steps of throne.
And there the Hon. Mrs. George
keppel still stands triumphant. while
her American rival has fled from tho
scene OF her discontinue and is un-
likely to be in evidence in London
ever again-at any rate during the
reign OF his gracious majesty King
Edward VII.
'Tis q sad story, my masters-par-
ticularly so because the American
was, l am inclined to believe, rather
an instrument in the hands of others
than an active leading agent herself.
Mrs. Keppel, OF course. has enemies
who would gladly see her reign at an
end. She is. however, dan -erous
woman to offend, and her foes prefer
not to fight in the open.
Meeting With King.
Last summer at Marienbad there
appeared certain American woman
of great beauty. She attracted King
Edwards attention, but she was the
bosom friend and companion OF an
in disfavor in London. Much as his
majesty admired the beauty, therefore,
there were no developments at Marien-
bad last year. 1t was. however, evil
dent that the lady had made a deep
impression, and it was arranged that
she should come to London this sea-
son under better social auspices. Then
Mrs. Keppel might look to her laur-
els!
So 1t was arranged, and SO it hap
pened. The beautiful American app
peared here, the king saw her at tho
house of q friend, another American
who has great influence with him.
The impression made was great, and
Mrs. Keppel's enemies were jubilant.
For a fortnight the new star was very
much in the ascendant. Then an un-
fortunate thing happened. The Amer
ian, little before the Derby was run
gave his majesty little green enam-
eled frog ''for luck" 1t was one Of
those trinkets the French call "portes-
bonheur," and the king promised that
if it did bring him luck and his horse
won the lady should have some souve-
mir of the happy event. Minoru, as all
the world knows, did win the Derby.
and the king. faithful to his promise,
offered an enlarged copy in diamonds
of the little green frog, and told the
American lady he had done so.
Told Her Friends.
Now, the American had the loquaci-
ty of some of tho weaker members Of
her sex. She told her friends OF the
present the king was making her. The
story flew around London ON the
wings of the wind. Mrs. Kerpel
heard of it. and it is even said sha
speeded it on it's flight. She also
took occasion to let his majesty know
what wide publicity the tale had oo-
tained.
King Edward does not like to have
some things gossiped about. OF
course, the blame must lie at the door
to the American whom he had prom
ised the diamond ornament. At any
rate it was made plain to him that
the fault did lie there. Disastrous
was the result-for the too talkative
A<oC Willy was luS
frog countermanded, but when a list
of the guests at the very next party
which the king was going to honor
was in the usual way submitted for
his approval. he crossed out the name
of the American.
"There is one thing greater than
beauty" he said, and that is tact"
After this Mrs. Keppels task was
simple. When the lists for the royal
inclosure at Ascot were drawn up the
name of the beautiful but tactless
American did not appear in them.
Where was she? many people asked.
She had gone to the continent or to
America-at any rate to some place of
retirement where she could ponder
upon what the immortal bard wrote
anent the uncertainty of monarch's
favor.
POPE BENEFICIARY
Rome, Aug. 4.-The will of the late