New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-12

rovqnte gown and Jewels superb in her Deau-
~ the very picture Of animated triumph,
sat Mary Middleton. Her eyes spanked,
the old smile was on. and in reply to some
thing the Prince Just then had asked her she
must have said something quite original ana
funny. as he laughed great deal and seemed
highly amused.
ton-Brown Indignantly. 10 think OF tha'
woman down there supping with roya!ty'
while we are starving and looking at heT
through window" She never forgave her
II was all very simple. The Prince was
ALWAYS bored at these pertunctory cere-
monials. He had none of his own set there
and was obliged 10 sup with dreary doWaSerS
and STUPID women. The vision OF Mary
Middleton took him by surprise. She was
so different. and her very inconsistencies
added TO her attractions. Who was she:
None Of the patronesscs seemed to know
There was an American on Lady W essex
list and that dowager, quite unwillingly
was Obliged 10 send for Mary To come 70 the
dais and present her. The equerry mao
brought TO her the invitation oI the Prince
TO the ROYAL table. 1t was within etiquette
for him 10 choose his own guests.
| have no doubt that Mary saved the
evening. so far as royal prestige was con
cerned. She amused the Prince, and she
was certainly Young and charming. Lon
don heard of her good fortune the next morn
ing, and Mary had made such good I'M
pression that il was not the only Oppor'
tunitv she had TO meet Edward, and she be-
came quite the fashion that year. Mrs
Bolton-Brown insists to this day that she
planned the whole thing out, and she con
sidcrs Mary Middleton a schenlng climber
But | DO not believe her.
II New York matters were not gong sc
1 smoothly. Mark Middleton was becom
ing more and more norose. The following
winter he kept himself completely hidden
| think he was bitterly grieved az the ao
sence Of children in his home. once sa"
him in an elevated train, watching eagerly
the antics OF three dirty urchins who were
giving their mother, a woman OF the work
ing class. much trouble TO keep them IN order
When he saw me looking at him he came oyei
TO me and said that he would give a mllllor
dollars if he had family at home like that
Mary Middleton regarded It all as Joke
and she kept great, waXen-faced Parls uoI
in her drawing room. She would introduce
new callers to this toy, which she named
Miss Middleton. | was present at per
Torrance of this foolery the Sunday after
had seen Mark in the elevated train: j
caught his eye and must say that | &c
not like to remember the expression thai
came over his face ..,
There was a swift dGnOuement. Middle
ton had long been interested IN expedition:
to the far North, and had fitted out several
That spring he determined 70 be one OF ar
exploring party 10 Labrador His physl
clans had prescribed it. The tragedy OF the
Middleton expedition is well remembered
Mark was anxious TO get up to the Srea
falls: then practically undiscovered eXcep
by tradition. He set out alone with native
guide.
Weeks afterward the guide returned tC
the camp alone. He told story Of an upset
canoe. shooting trcachcrous rapids. He hao
saved himself: but Middleton was lost
He had waited around the place; but there
was never any trace of the body. The story
created q sensation in New York. Mary i'm
mcdatcly sailed for Europe, and did not
come back for many years. The town house
was sold. and we heard Of her only occa-
sionallv somewhere on the Continent and
occasionally in England in the hunting
country.
A SHORT time ago | again met Mary
n Middleton. 1t was in the tearoom OF
the Hotel Excelsior in Rome She had not
ciauoa1 in the least She was lust as gra-