The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-28

town Exposition at Eo.foin italy
sent several vessels under th> com
rnand Of the Due dAhruzzi. the noted
Arctic explorer and mountain clin. Der.
member OF tho House If savoy, and
Indirectly In line for succession to Tie
italian throne, did a number of direct
heirs die.
Duke Meets Miss Elkins.
The Duke d'Abruzzi came to wash
inSton TO pay his respects TO President
Roosevelt. and at a dinner PARTY given
oy Mrs. George Won l.. Meyer. v-;fa Of
the former ambassador to Italy. who
had known the duke in his land, he
met Miss katherine Elkins a seasons
debutante. The duke was captivated
by the fascinating American girl lie
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 No
vember. 1907. when the International
News Service published an account OF
IT, Miss Elkins. by coincidence. re-
turned from abroad several DAYS later
ana on being questioned, fatty denied
that she even knew the duke Ii was
soon discovered. however. that an in
tcresting state OF affairs existed be-
tween them and their engagement was
practically acknowledged Poor pilII.
hit said the w!seacIes Of Washinpto1,
society. The Due d'AbruzZi who had
returned TO Italy, was questioned Ho
only smiled and went his royal way.
suddenly. II was discovered that the
Duo TAbru@zi had returned. ana was
travelling incognito with the l.lliins
party in Florida. The Elkins party
hastily came North when the secret
was out. and the duke took refuge in
Tho Italian embassy hero. where he
was protected by the then Italian am
bassador and Baroness Desplanches
from tho intrusion OF tie curious
Society promptly accepted him as
"katheriaes Duke" 1t was confident
~ expected that an announcement OF
the engagement. would BIO made But
y did not come, ard soon the duke re-
turned to Italy, Is all the World be-
HcVed TO via the consent OF the Ital-
IAN rulers to his marriage WIKI Miss
Elkins. Just what happened there re-
mains n court secret. Rumor says
that the naughty Duchess d'Aosta,
wife OF the dukes eldest brother, m
teriered AMI openly stated that
AoruZzi should never marry the
daughter OF coal dealer" The r~oud
dowager. Queen Margharita. opanly
entered the lists against the proposed
alliance OF tho house OF Savoy with an
American girl 1t IS said that the
Duke d 'Abruzzi won an ally In Queen
Elena.
Senator's Cltimntum.
Meantime. Senator 2lkius had issued
an ultimatum OF his own
II don't like international mar
riages," he said. .! think their chances
Tor happiness are few, nut I like the
duke and my girl can marry him if i
feel sure she can really DO received
right and treated well over there. A
good American girl is good enough for
any man. be he duke. prince or king.
The deadlock between the friends
ana relatives Of both the duke and Miss
Elklns appears never to have been
broken. Meantime. BILLY" Hit CON
tinued his wooing.
year or so ago. with n number OF
Washington society people. Miss nj
leins and Mr.. Hit started the Home
land Stables. in Virginia Mr.. Hit fire.
qucntly rode Miss Elkins.s horses nj
morse shows and ut ono in WASHINGTON
when he won first prize, she leaned
out In her box and threw him n rose
Ihat settled It In tho minds OF society
gossips.
Mrs. HIT Is q striking type OF Amer
ican girl. She was born in New York
lily IN 1886. She has dark hair. brown
eyes, handsome teeth, beautiful olive
, Ter nsure Is superb, and she
mas splendid bell-like voice Sbo 10
not fond of society in the rcnor,I %
cep,ance OF the term, and is manifest
NJ Halliehurst, the big Elkins mansion
WIN her horses and her dogs. Mr.. IJi,t
Is independently wealthy, a Yale pro1
uatc. and lawyer by profession tja
Is deeply Interested in several chart
lable projects. and 1t Is said will nroo
tice law In Washington. =