The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-04-01
CHAPTER 1.
What the World Thought Of the
Duchess.


It was a brilliant afternoon in the
early summer. There was hardly a
cloud in the sky; a previous day of
rain had washed the CRIME from all
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 aw Y from the actual entrance
and 81 9herded by a band of good hui
mored policemen. The crowd extend
ed east W to the Carlton club, and
westwarzs 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 so well were bloom
ing brilliantly. The whole scene was
one 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 Mall. 1t
was the birthday of one of the little
princes, who was giving a children's
garden party, and loyal Londoners
had assembled to see a spectacle of
little boys and girls, bearing some Of
the historic James 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 s%ympthetic crowd laughed in
sympathy TO witness their happiness,
and thus Joined vicariously in con-
graduation to the little prince within.
All sorts Of great and famous people
went In and out of the gates during
the afternoon.
I Often the crowd recognized a popu-
lar iavorlte. and there was a murmur
which now and then rose into a cheer.
An old gentleman of middle height,
white moCstsche, and an upright car
riage 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 as the waiting people
recognized a famous soldier, the hero
OF a hundred fights, and his little
seemed rather abashed, touched the
brim of his silk hat with two fore
fingers, and trotted away down Pail
Mall. For a few minutes after his de-
parture nothing occurred. and then
the people nearest the gates saw that
a 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 a 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 a bonnet of white tulle and
helitrope, and a dress of soft white
silk with mau trimming, and a
bunch OF Neapolitan violets in her
corsage.
This lady's hair was of that rare
and brilliant color which resembles
nothing so much as a horse chestnut
of a 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 as unusual as 1t was re-
nowned, and as popular as it was
both.
BY the lady's side was a little boy
of some four and a half or five years
of age, dressed in simple white fan
mel.
Once more there was a murmur of
interest.
tits the little duke!" some n
cried; "the little duke OF London and
his mother. Hurrah for the little
duke!"
The cry was taken up and repeated.
swelling in volume every moment as
the crowd pressed nearer and nearer
the carriage, despite the efforts of the
constables to restrain them.
isn't he a darlipg?" said the
women to each other as they caught
a glimpse of the pretty little boy
chattering away to his mother in high
good humor and excitement. And to
think Of him being a duke! They say
he's got two hundred thousand a
year" And the duchess. isn't she
beautiful? She's only twenty-sever,
they say. and won't marry again for
love Of her late husband" look,
some ones given the little duke a
flower"
A young woman In the crowd, who
was wearing a rose in her dress, had
been pressed up to the, wheels of the
slowly-moving carriage. With a sud
den. spontaneous gesture she snatched
at The flower and held it out to the