New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-28
DUKE OF ABRUZZI SUITOR
His Engagement to Beautlful
American Announced and
Denied Many Times
Hit a Wooer for
Ten Years.
rBy Telegraph to Tho Tribunc.r

married here to-day 10 NllllarH r ~
Hitt son Of the late Representative
Hit, Of Illinois
The marriage came as complete sur
rriso oven to the nearest relatives Of
the couple. The brides mother dld not
know Of the impending ceremony until
a few hours before il was performed.
4 few wears ago 1t was the general
expectation that Miss Elkins would be-
come the bride Of the Duke OF the
Abruzzi. and there were periodical
semi-authentic announcements of her
engagement to the Italian noble.
Hit Long Suitor.
Even before the duke appeared on
the scene Billy" Hit had been
suitor Of Miss Elkins. and to-days
marriage comes after courtship OF
almost ten years. Mr.. Hit accompa-
MED the Elkins family on number OF
trips abroad, and his attentions were
marked even during the period when
society was confident that Miss Elkins
would marry the duke.
Although many Of the close friends
of the family had been expecting the
announcement of the wedding Of Miss
Elkins and Mr.. Hit. none Of them an
ticipated the suddenncSs Of the event.
Mr. Hit had been visiting the Ell
kins country place. Hallcyhurst, one
of the most beautiful homesteads
in West Virginia, for more than
week. This was nothing unusual, as
II has been his custom for several years
to do So He is a bosom friend OF the
brothers OF Miss Elkins, therefore there
did not seem to be anything unusual in
his visit to the Elkins home this fall.
The marriage was performed this at
. ternoon at | o'clock in the great main
hall OF Halleyhurst. the Rev. Frederick
II. Barron, pastor Of the Davis Me-
mortal Presbyterian Church. officiating.
Relatives Taken by Surprise.
Only the immediate members Of the
family were present. Even the mother
Of the bride and her distinguished
grandfather former United States Sem
ator Henry Gassaway Davis did not
: know of the approaching event until
late in the forenoon. Former Senator
. Davis Elkins. brother Of the bride.
acted as best man. and Mrs. Blaine
; Elkins. her sister-in-law, as matron OF
honor.
So sudden was the wedding an
nouncement that no special decora-
!. tons we're made, and only two gifts
were received. one a present Of valu-
able bonds from the grandfather and
large sum Of money from Miss
Elkins's mother.
Owing to the suddenness Of the whole
affair no attention was paid to dress
and the ceremony was most informal
1t is said that Mr.. Hits mother. re-
siding in Washington, was appriseI Of
the marriage by telegram this after
noon.
After the wedding luncheon was
served, at which were present. in ad-
dition 10 those already mentioned
Blaine Elkins, of Morgantown: ColonpI
Richard Elkins Of Philadelphia; Mrs
Katherine Barnett. a cousin of the
, bride. and Miss Katherine Britton, OF
Washington.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hit left on the private
, car Graceland for Grafton, where thoy
. will take the Baltimore q Ohio train
y for the East. Later they will 20 TO a
| country place near Middleburg, Va. tc
3 spend the winter
The names Of Miss Katherine Elkin,
, and the Duke of the Abruzzi were
linked together in the newspapers foI
several years. The first announcement
that the daughter of stephen B. Elkns
United States Senator from West Vir.
ginia. and the young Italian naval of.
fcer in whose veins flowed royal Dlooi
were To wed came as ,lrly as the sum.
mer OF 1908.
Miss Elkins and the duke me: in
: May, 1907. in Washington at a bal
given in honor of the duke by Mr.. and
: Mrs. Larz Anderson. They danced 10.
gether frequently that evening, and
then society decided that the duke hac
been smitten.
The Duke Of the Abruzzi appeared
again in ashington in March. 1908
and the fact gave rise to renewed gos.
sip and the report that the younu
couple were really engaged. There was
no confirmation Of the report either
from the duke or Miss Elkins, nor Wa.
there a denial. The duke spent som,
time in Washington, and he and Mis-,
Elkins were almost constantly in each
others company.
Then the duke suddenly disappeared
from Washington and sailed from Nea
York for Europe. II was said that h,
had gone to Rome 10 get the consent OF
the King OF italy to the marriage
Later reports had II that the King hac
! no objections and that the Pope woulc
III