The Washington herald., 1913-10-28
HERE HAD RECEIVED
NO Warming OF THE WEDDING
News Of Marriage Of Mr.. Hit
and Miss EIkins Causes Sem
sation in Capital Society.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

the international aspect II presented II
is said that one Italian Ambassador was
withdrawn from this post because OF the
interest he displayed in the progress OF
the interrupted romance between Miss FL
kins and the Duke Of the Abruzzi.
1t was the desire OF the late Senator
Ellxins To see his daughter Katherine
married TO an American instead OF a
foreigner. Mr.. Hit was favorite with
the late Senator. and he fostered the at
fair with all the sagacity and shrewdness
that made him such power in the
financial and, political world. Mrs FL
kins, although very friendly TO the Alb
ruzzi match, became reconciled to an
American husband for her daughter and
encouraged Billy Hit.
1t is whispered In social circles here
that Mrs r. r. Hit. mother Of Mr.. Hit,
was not SO favorably inclined towards the
Elkins alliance. II Is said that she feared
that Miss Elkins, with the glamour OF
throne before her eyes, could hardly con-
tent herself with a plain American
Changed Her Views.
Recently, II is understood, she had
looked more kindly on the match, and II
is said that Mr.. and Mrs Hit. after their
honeymoon, will reside In the beautiful
New Hampshire mansion Mrs. Hit built
several years ago. Inquiry at the Hill
home last night met the answer that Mrs.
Hit was ''out" It was admitted, how
ever, that she was in town. and therefore
society wondered why she had not at
tended the wedding.
Like Jacob, Billy Hit served seven
years and more for his Rachel before
he won her. In fact. their romance
began when Miss Elkins was fourteen
years old and Billy only a few years
older. The two met at dancing school,
at young peoples parties, and rode
horses, and played together. Always
Billy Hit, even in those days. was
seeking Katherine Elkins At this time
Miss Elkins lived with her parents in
stately home in X Street.
In 1901 the nations of the world sent
ships to represent them at the James
town exposition at Norfolk. Italy sent
several vessels under the command Of
the Duke of the Abruzzi. the noted
arctic explorer and mountain climber:
a member of the House OF Savoy. and
indirectly In line for succession to the
Italian throne. should a number of d.
rect heirs die.
Meets the Duke.
The Duke Of the Abruzzi came to
Washington to pay his respects to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, and at a dinner party
given by Mrs. George Won L. Meyer,
wife OF the former Ambassador to Italy,
who had known the duke in Italy, ne
met Miss Katherine Elkins. a seasons
debutante- The duke was captivated by
the fascinating American girl He soon
prevailed on Miss Elkins and her friends
to visit his ships in Norfolk harbor.
The romance thus begun did not attract
general attention until November, 1907,
an account of which was published.
Miss Elkins, by a coincidence, returned
Nso, -. al law.a lafA
being questioned. fatty denied that she
even knew the duke. 1t was soon dis
covered, however, that an interesting
state 'of affairs existed between them
and their engagement was practically
Poor Billy Hit"
said the wiseacres OF Washington So
ciety. The Duke OF the Abruzzi. who
had returned to Italy, was questioned.
He only smiled and went his way.
Suddenly II was discovered that the
Duke of the Abruzzi had returned and
was travelling incognito with the Elkins
party in Florida. The Elkins party has
tily came North when the secret was
out, and the duke took refuge in the
italian Embassy here. where he was pro-
tected by the then Italian Ambassador
and Baroness des Planches from the in
trusion Of the curious. Society promptly
accepted him as "Katherine's Duke"
1t was confidently expected that an an |
OF the engagement would be |
made. But 1t did not come, and soon
the duke returned to Italy, as all the
world believed, to win the consent of the |
Italian rulers to his marriage with Miss
Elkins. Just what happened there re-
mains a court secret. Rumor says that |
the naughty Duchess d'Aosta, wife of
the dukes eldest brother. interfered and
openly stated that Abruzzi should never |
marry the daughter Of a coal dealer"
The proud dowager, Queen Margherita, |
Orenly entered the lists against the pro-
posed alliance of the house of Savoy |
with an American girl. 1t is said that
the Duke Of the Abruzzi won an ally in |
Queen Elena.
Fathers UItimatum.
Meanwhile Senator Elkins had issued
an ultimatum of his own:
Il don't like international marriages"
he said. 'T think their chaRses for hap
piness are few, but 1 like the duke, and
my girl can marry him IL feel sure she |
can really be received right and treated
well ever there. A good American girl
is good enough for any man, be he duke, !
prince, or King"
The deadlock between the friends and !
relatives of both the duke and Miss |
Elkins appears never to have been |
broken. Meantime, BILLY" Hit contin- |
ued his wooing.
A year or so ago, with a number Of
other Washington society people, Miss |
Elkins and Mr.. Hit started the Home |
land stables in Virginia. Mr.. Hit fire. |
luently rode Miss Elkins' horses at horse |
shows, and at one in Washington, when |
be won a first prize, she leaned out in |
her box and threw him a rose. That |
settled it In the minds OF society gos-
sips.
Mrs. Hit is striking type of Ameri- |
can girl. She wcs born in New York |
City in 1886. She has dark hair. brown |
ayes, handsome teeth, and a beautiful |
olive skin. Her figure is superb and she |
has a splendid voice. She is not fond !
Of society in the general acceptation of |
the term .and is happiest at ''Hallie- |
hurst" the big Elkins mansion, with her |
horses and her dogs. Mr.. Hit is in |
dependently wealthy, Yale graduate. |
and al lawyer by profession. He is |
deeply interested in several charitable |
projects, and, it is said, win practice law |
N Washington.