THE WIDOW VANDERBILT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3891, 9 January 1884, Page 4

THE WIDOW VANDERBILT.

I hoard a piece of entertaining society gossip tho oilier day about tho Vanderbilts, and its truthfulness is vouched for by a gentleman Avho is acquainted Avith the parties. As AA'ill bo remembered, Commodoro Viinderbilt Avas married twice. His second Avifo avus a Mrs Elliot, a divorced woman, Avhoso husband is still living. Her maiden name Avas Frances Crawford, and she was at one time the hello of Mobile, Ala.,Avhere sho Avasborn, and for years lived with her mother. Sho av;is wooed and won by James F. Elliot, avlio is now, I think, a resident of Dallas, Texas. After marriage Mrs Elliot Avas unwilling to leave her mother, and at first tho married pair lived at tho Avife's home. It was not long before Mr Elliot began to find out that he bad a very bad attack of mothcr-iu-biAv. He Avas bullied, and every effort was made to mako him fool that ho Avas an inferior in the household. Being a gentleman of spirit and wealth, it Avas more than he could endure, so finally ho mado the issue fairly, but firmly. Ho prepared a home for his wife, and told her to como and live with him. It was a sharp, bitter struggle, but, contrary to tho usual course of such events, the Avifo preferred tho mother to the husband A divorce folloAved. Old C'nramodoro Viinderbilt afterwards met Mrs Elliot and Avas conquered. Now comes tho strange and interesting part of the narrative. After Vuuderbilt's death tho ividoAv's heart warmed towards her first lovo. Sho had millions; he Avas comparatively a poor man. Negotiations wero entered into and Mr Elliot visited Now York. He saAV Mrs Vandcrbilt and had a very pleasant interview ; but ho observed that the mother-in-law, who had separated tho young couple years before Avas still alive and iv vigorous health. Ho canto to Washington and consulted Avith an old and trusted friend, laying the facts of the case before him, and saying that enough had transpired in his visit to the metropolis to satisfy him that he eoidd marry Mrs Vandcrbilt if ho choose. This was the result of his pleasant interview, His friend told him that, from a Avorldly standpoint, it Avould be a great advantage for him to marry tho old Commodore's Avidow, but that it was one of those cases where every man ought to bo his own judge without outsido interference. Mr Elliot thought the matter over carefully for some time, and finally mado up his mind that ho would not again risk an attack of " too much mother-in-law," so that iioav the former husband is in Texas, Avhilo the widow is in Ncav York Avith her millions. This explains Avhy Mrs Vandcrbilt, young, handsome, accomplished, and Avealthy as she is, has not married again. — Boston Traveller.