The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-03
IN THE DAYS WHEN DfWFY'S
BRIDE LIVED IN MONTANA.

George Dewey, the stern soldier, the
strict disciplinarian, sthe brave fighter. has
always been q man with heart His af-
fect!on. are deep and lasting. For twenty
years and more he has remained faithful
to the memory Of his young wife, who died
almost while bride. Such constancy Is
rare. Now at last he has found happiness
In a good womans love. This Is one Of
the matches that was made in heaven"
those who know them say reverently. And
after all Il Is an old. old story. for Admiral
Dewey has known Mrs. Dewey since she
was chubby, rosy-cheeked girl. with two
long brown braids OF hair hanging down
her hack. He saw her character unfold like
a beautiful flower He knows better than
anyone else the purity and strength and
wondrous sweetness of MiIdred's nature.
She grew up TO womanhood. Perhaps abe
never gave a thought then to the young
widower. who was merely an unknown
naval lieutenant He was somewhat Sc
rious then. He had known sorrow. He had
not forgotten. Mildred Mclean was beau-
tiful and joyous. Life to her was roseate.
She had never known a care. She was
simply a merry. light-hearted girl, with
infinite possibilities. 1t was about this
time when she met and married Col. af-
terward Gen.. Hazen, and Dewey. then
lieutenant commander, busy with the du-
ties Of his profession, dropped out OF her
life. II was not until 1859. when he was
summoned to Washington to become for
four years the chief Of the bureau Of
equipment and recruiting. and later 10 take
charge Of the lighthouse board. that he
once more took his place prominently In
the society Of Washington and renewed
his acquaintance with the beautiful young
widow. Then he frequently saw her while
a guest at the fine old Mclean mansion.
on Fifteenth and I streets At that time
his attentions to Mrs. Hazen were SO mark
ed as to excite mildly the gossip of the
capital
When> as a commodore he was ordered
In November. 1897. to sail for the East
and take command of the Asiatic squad
ron, It was thought that IL he had any
serious Intentions he would declare them
before leaving for the Orient. But the
commodore left Washington without salts
flying the gossips.
Though he was still widower. he car
ried with him sweet memories of the graci-
ous lady left behind, and during the months
OF preparation at Hongkong, and later,
during the perilous days when he cut the
cables and sailed into Manila bay, he kept
upon. the bureau of his stateroom In the
now world famed Olympia photograph
of the charming woman who was very. dear
to him.
Letters crossed the sea and told of his
busy life. of his hopes. Of his longing to
get back TO his native land. But the secret
was well kept. No one guessed that Dew
ey had left his heart behind. No one knew
that a woman's prayers and love Were
cheering him In his heroic achievements.
Not until the time came for Admiral
Dewey to go to Washington to receive the
jeweled sword presented to him by con-
gress did the gossips begin to whisper that
perhaps after all Dewey had a love af-
fair. The fact that Mrs. Washington Nc
Lean. the mother of Mrs. Hazen, turned
her home over to him to use during the
ceremonies in his honor first gave rise
to the rumor. The admiral was reticent.
So was Mrs. Hazen. The matter hadn't
been quite settled, and both kept their
own counsel.
1t was Dewey, the impetuous lover, who
at last told his happy secret. The delega-
ton from Tennessee came to ask him to
go to Nashville to participate in the re-
ception given to the First Tennessee regi-
ment on their return from the Philip
pines. The admiral declined. giving as a
reason his arduous work on the Philippine
commission. The delegation wouldn't be
refused. They insisted: they begged him
to reconsider. Dewey is a frank man,
sometimes blunt. after the manner of the
true soldier. He is also truthful. He
walked up and down the floor of his library
in perpiexity. Then he threw back his
head and. facing them, said, firmly:
Gentlemen, there IL another reason why
1 cannot be present. much as I would like
/ cannot be present. much as would like
whom am acquainted"
Here the courage OF the man who has
made history by his sublime bravery failed
him. He hung his head like school boy.
He b.irted out desperately:
THE fact of the matter is have Just
this day secured the promise of the most
charming woman in the world to be Mrs.
Dewey"
That was the modest way Dewey an
nounced his engagement. 1t was such a
charming sequel to his brilliant career that
every one rojoiced with him.