The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-11
FavOrite of Late King Leopold
Will Take Husband.
He Is Retired Merchant Named
Durieux.
AN EVENTFUL CAREER
DissOlute Monarch Lavished
Wealth Upon Her.
Driven Out of Belgium Follow
ing His Death.

Paris Aug. n.-BaroneSs NduShdh'
who was reported to have been the
morganatic wife of the lats King Leo
gold of Belgium, has announced her ap-
proa ching marriage With Einmanuei
Durieux, retired merchant living at
Neuilly- sur-Seine 1t is said that
Durieux has been director of Paroness
Vaughan's financial affairs
Since her dramatic flight from Bel
GUM on the death of King Leopold,
which closed her regal career, the bar
oness, endowed with an immense s1or-
tune bestowed upon her by the KING,
has been living sumptuouSly, although
IN the greatest privacy. TIE d'ste set Tor
the marriage is not known, and the
staff of dOmestics guarding the high
walled chateau say their mistress is at
the seashore.
Baroness Vaughan is Al years of age,
while Durieux is so.
The actual marriage of the late King
Leopold to Baroness Vaughan was one
of the ScandalouS events that have oc-
Cured in European royal circles. Worse
things may have happened in secret,
but none that has cast such public
ridicule and scandal upon the kingly or
der.
The Baroness Vaughan is the daugh-
ter of a French concierge Ganitor)
named DelacroiX, the sister OF bar
tender, of a woman who sells veseta-
bes at a market stall in Paris and OF
life Some of her humble relatives are
ashamed of her,
Her right name is Caroline Delacroix.
The title Baroness Vaughan was a bo-
gus title used by a gambler and d1Sre-
putable character named Durrieu' with
whom she associated much before and
after her meeting with King Leopold.
Vaughan is an English, or. more strict
" speaking a Welsh name, and Is
borne by some titled families. Durrieu
saw the name by accident in a romance,
q tickled his fancy and he adopted it.
Two years ago, it is said. the king OF
Saxony. at King Leopold's request, for
anally conferred the title upon her.
The baroness up to 1900 was a not
very distinguished member of the gay
set of Paris. She occupied. with her
cider sister. who belonged to the same
set. an apartment in the Place de la
Madeleine. During the exposition of
1900 the king came to Paris and Caro-
line persistently threw herself in his
waS.
From that time they were rarely
separated He showered wealth,
houses. jewels, possessions of all kinds
upon her.
one of the earliest purchases of the
king for her was the Chateau Lormoy,
near Paris.
The natives of the vicinity were
astounded one day when the mys-
FERROUS beauty of Lormoy chased her
cook with a pistol out of the chateau.
did not excuse the episode entirely.
Then her butler alleged that she had
borrowed money and sued for 1t. Next.
her chambermaid sued her and alleged
that she had beaten her.
Though undoubtedly pretty, the
baroness is decidedly vulgar. She has
q good figure, inclined to stoutness, a
fine head of dark chestnut hair and
moderately good features, with a
marked coarseneSS-
Her father, Jules Delacroix, now
dead is said to have been an engineer
once. but it is certain that after vari-
Gus misfortuneS he became a janitoI
3n Romania, where the amazing Caro-
line was born.
IT was the baroness who induced this
king to have a marriage ceremony
After the birth of the royal baby, she
was still more commanding and ex-
ercised over the king species of do
nestle tyranny.
Though now on the wrong side o.
40. she is very fascinating and brigh
without being a Questioning Sh'
dresses with taste, takes great care o
her person, and when crows feet be
gam to make their appearance sh'
called in a New York specialist t.
Three chateaux were at the olsposa
of the baroness.
During the first six months of thei
married life the king went twice
week from his capital to visit nj
norganatic spouse. Latterly, he dl
not go so often. for the Belgian peo
ple made a great uproar about his an
sence.
After the death Of King Leopold sh
ATTEMPTED to establish her oldest SON
right to the throne but she was drive
out of Belgium.