Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-17
XH|1E HOUSE ROMANCE
Grace Mckinley Gave Up Social
Career to Teach School in
Philippines
TO BE MARRIED AT DEs MONIES
Met Her Future Husband When He
Was an Officer With the Army in the
Far East-Weddins to Be at Des
Moines Tomorrow-Misht Have Been
Mistress of White House.

of Miss Grace Howe Mckinley, niece
of the late president, William McIlin
ley, and sister of Capt. James McKin-
ley, to Captain Grayson Willard Heidi,
of the Eleventh cavalry at Fort Des
Moines Wednesday, is the climax of a
romance which covers two hemispheres
and completes a story which tells of
a young girls remuneration of a social
career as the practical mistress of the
White house, in order that she might
become a school teacher
Miss Mckinley has been in Des
Moines for several weeks, making her
home with her brother, who is station
ed at Fort Des Moines Captain Heidi.
who Is also attached to the Eleventh
cavalry, after service in the Philippines
with the Fifteenth United States cav
airy, has been at the fort for some
weeks. They met here by arrange
ment TO prepare for the wedding, the
troth of which was plighted under the
tropical trees of the Philippines.
When Miss Mckinley was but 8
years old her father, James Mckinley,
died. She was made the member of
the family of her relatives and was
reared as one of their own children.
While a student at Mount Holyoke
college. she visited her uncle at the
White house and there made her debut
into Washington society. she being
welcomed as contribution Of tho
White house to the younger social
set of the national capital.
Offered Social Leadership.
Prospects of social leadership faced
her If she remained in the family of
the president, where home was open
to her. Instead, her life ambition to
become a school teacher called her
and she turned her back on the pros
poets of the social whirl of Washing
ton.
She continued her studies at Mount
Holyoke and in 1899 graduated. The
occasion was the cause Of the visit
of President Mckinley, his wife, and a
large party of friends from Washing
ton to attend the ceremonies. Even
then it was the presidents earnest de-
sire that his niece should live in Wash
honors with his wife which comes with
being mistress of the nations palace.
Only one winter was spent there and
much to her uncle's disappointment
she began her career as an instructor.
She secured a position in a high school,
and later taught at her alma mater,
Mount Holyoke college.
1t was after the debut at the White
house during the administration of her
uncle that she first met Captain Heidi.
He was called to the front and, with
Miss McKinley's brother, Capt. James
Mckinley, went to the Philippines.
Meet Again in Tropics.
There they fought side by side and
were mess1nates at the front. Miss
Mckinley visited her brother on the
island of Jolo. and there the romance
actually commenced. Thrown con-
stantly in the company of Captain
Heidi, her old acquaintance with him
was resumed. Rumors Of a marriage
were then heard, but Captain Heidt's
fit for white woman to live in told
the story of the postponement.
Before the presidents niece returned
to this country she promised to wait
for the soldier who was fighting the
black men Of the Philippines His two
years service in that campaign came
to an end few months ago and upon
his return was stationed at Fort Des
Moines, where he found his companion
of the Philippine campaign. Captain
Mckinley Miss Mckinley came to visit
her brother, and the date of their we'd
ding was set and the ceremony will
be carried out in military form We'd
nesday.
Captain Grayson Willard Heidi is a
graduate from West Point in the class
of 1899, and was appointed from At
lanta, Ga. He has four brothers in the
army. all of them officers, standing
ov,1r