HEIRLESS'S WEDDING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 4

HEIRLESS'S WEDDING.

YOUNG MAN'S BIVALRY WITH A WUNCE. The surprise wedding in Now York last montii of Miss ]£ at he-line Ki.kins and Mr. William l'\ 11. Hitt, popularly known among his Mends as "iliiiy," marks the culmination of one of tlio most remarkable lomauccs in the social history of the United States, Though he had a royal suitor in tho person of tho Dyke of the Abruiisu tor His rival, Air, Hitt persisted in bis courtship in the face of seemingly i-iu- ■ conquerable obstacles for seven long years, It ,\|;;i3 4n„W7 -that, the attention of'tlio public was lirst attracted by tho romance of the struggle between the royal diiko hJk] the plain American youth of. moderate' means for tho. hand. m : one of the-richest -and most beautiful heiresses ill tin.' tinned btat.es. Miss Kikins was then just twenty-one years of agtv—a tall, dark, handtomoj athietio girl, and an accomplished musician and horsewoman.

Tho Duke of.tho Abruzzi spent a great part of tho winter svitli the Klkins family in Florida and later went to Washington, whore, ho was often seen motoring with Miss Jiikins. Soon reports wore circulated that, tho Duko of the Alumni and Miss Elkins werebetrothed, and Mr. Hill's many frkiids begaa to express keen sympathy with him. In March, 1003, it was .reported from Homo that'a wedding had been arranged to take place in tho following autumn in Washington, and Miss Elkins came to New York, where, she was understood to be occupied in buying her trousseau. In tho December'a denial that an- engagement existed was issued. This was followed by a report that Miss Klkins had decided io k-t-omo a nurse and bv the announcement that the Duko of the Abrtw.i was starting on an expedition to th« Himalayas. Two months later- an official denial was issued of a report that Miss Elkins was engaged to Mr. Hilt. "Heart Affection." The heiress in June. 101)9,. departed for Europo, and her father declared that sli". had gone abroad "for an- alloctiou of "the heart." A little later Italian newspapers stated that the Duke of the \bmzzi had not gone to the Himalayas, hut had met Miss Elkins in I'ltiropc and was to be- married to her m Paris. In October she reivsmea to Washington. h«r father said that the couple had met- in London*, and that there was an uudcrstantW botween them. . The following year Miss tons visited Lugano (Switzerland) for tho purpose, according to popular report, ol amiug. i„,r f ol . Tier conversion to Uift lUmny Catholic faith. Another• incotmg.bvtttUn the roval lover awl tho American P ir"l iyi-ccocfcd"a report that tho King of fh'v had aercrd to lira match, but that iiiVWsrnt "had been withdrawn on- the ,-i.mv filiations <>'' &* o<licr »«" übw ' s of' the Italian ltoyal Family. Mr Klkins about this time announced tlpt iu's daughter would Rcvrr consent, a inorcaviatic marriase. Soon after he died, leaving; a fortune ot £S00,(!00. After further meetings wit.lt Ih" Dnke of the Abrttswi Miss Elkins turned to the 1-iiil.ed Stales in mo e-ii"i)ii"v of >'''■ Hill, wito lbivni;;bm;t. j,Wlranainr>iiraithrul't.)l!er..Mr. hut wns a member of the narvy m wlucii Miss Ktkiits travelled to Panama last * V Yesterday bo was rewarded with the hand of the heire», Hie weddtn;; arrangements being mane sn st:eh hnst ( « ami Fcereevthat none ol Jbo .brides rcklivcs liad time to obtain gtits >or her Silo received from then; sever:'l chorines for larpe amounts, Ihe couple are spei\din« their honeymoon at an idyllic retwa^J^;™^.