The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-30
LOVE OF HUSBAHlDI
DoNS MILITARY cARB
Mace % Rx-Prosiasnt, Formsr Grace
plclEiAlsy. Was = HUNGRY
LittIa Ttowaway,

W = bSALNAuk oS0H8WAJa VII NASy
transport, 10 the startling transforma.
ton which love worked in the life Of
Miss Grace Mckinley, niece OF the late
President Mckinley.
She is now the wife Of Captais Gray
son Willard Heidi, until recently of the
Eleventh Cavalry.
IT b q strange story which is being
unfOlded at Fort Des MOines, where
the gallant captain and his distin-
guished bride were married last July
with impressive military ceremony. It
is tale Of love and heroism, in which
the pretty niece Of the martyred Presi-
dent showed the stuff of which she
was made, and q win which did not
balk even when e matched against the
iron determination Of President Roose-
welt himself.
The story has just leaked out at the
army post In military social circle g0s-
sip, but the secret IL being guarded
there still as well as IL can be. The
girl wife of Captain Heidi herself told
the story In q letter which she wrote to
friends &C the post from Honolulu.
When Miss Mckinley became the
bride of Captain Heidi II was with the
INTENT N Of spending Q honeymoon with
the gallant captain IN America. Well
did she know the stern realities Of life
which an army officer bride must face.
Her own experiences were proof Of
that.
DECLINED TO BE MISTRESS.
When Miss Mckinley was only three
years old her father, James Mckinley,
brother Of the President, died. She
was educated at the White House. The
stately girl was aalSed TO remain Pros
poets OF social leadership, az practical
mistress Of the White House, with the
Presidents invalid wife, was offered
her. She declined. She wanted to be
q school teacher, TO be independent, to
make her own place IN the world. The
President urged her to remain, but IN
vain. She turned her back on social
triumphs in Washington and became a
when she was visiting her brother,
Captain James Mckinley, on the Island
of JolO, that she met Captain Heidi
II was love at first sight, but the cap
tain told the girl that the tropics was
no place for a woman, and that they
must postpone the wedding until their
return TO America. And so IL was that
the wedding was solemnized at Fort
| Des Moines.
Hardly had the wedding bells been
runR when all their plans for q honey
moon were spoiled. Captain Heidi re-
| eeived immediate orders TO go to the
Philippines. Miss Mckinley might have
used her influence TO have the order
changed, but she was soldiers wife,
and did not intend to use the prestige
of her name to influence the War De-
partment. But she had plans Of her
own. Though she remembered her
lovers opinion of the Philippines as a
place for women, she secretly deter
mined to accompany him.
REFUSED BY ALL.
Arriving at Seattle. Mrs. Heidi
! finally overcame the captains scruples,
and he agreed that If arrangements
could be made he would not oppose her
visit TO the Philippines. The Presi-
dents niece appealed TO the captain Of
the transport Dix, upon which her hus-
band was TO sail, for permission to
accompany him. She was respectfully
| referred TO rules expressly forbidding
any woman to travel on the transport
Dix or any transport used for the car
rying Of horses. Nothing daunted, the
! Rlfl appeared 10 TIC VuAfbSEulhbbcN-
( general for q special permit In her
case. General Humphrey said he could
do nothing.
Still undismayed, the military bride
sent an urgent telegram TO Secretary OF
( War Taft She also enlisted the SER
vices Of old friends of the late President
in her efforts to obtain the desired or
der. There was still nothing doing.
| In q last, desperate appeal, she asked
! President Roosevelt TO grant the de-
sired permission. The President was
| firm-the War Departments rules
could not be changed 10 satisfy wo-
mans within. Powerful Ohio friends Of
| President Mckinley also added their
pleas, but without success. To make
sure that the order should not be VIC
| lated the President directed the captain
| of the transport Dix TO keep q special
! lookout to see that Mrs. Heidi did not
transgress the departments ironclsd
rules. Captain Heidi accepted the in
eutable, and his bride apparently did
4 so also. He kissed her goodbye on the
day Of sailing, and hurried aboard the
/ Dix to escape breakdown. An hour
before sailing dashing cavalry officer,
| slight of build, but with a military air,
clambered aboard in full regimentals.
DISCOVERED IN THE HOLD.
Three days later, sailors and stokers,
shOveling fuel from the chips bankers,