The Washington times., 1912-07-08
BESSIE MCCOY TO
Be WRITER'S BRIDE
IN SECRET TODAY
Neither Dancer Nor Richard
Harding Davis Can Be
Located.

NEW YORK, July S.-If the plans Of
Richard Harding Davis are carried out
today Bessie Mccoy will be Mrs. Rich
ard Harding Davis by nightfall, anl
Will be on her honeymoon.
This report came from one of Mr..
Davis close friends who declared that
the author had told him that the we'd
ding would take place on Monday, July
s, and that the happy couple would sail
Immediately for a tour abroad.
The whereabouts Of both Miss Mccoy
and Mr.. Davis have been a secret for
several days, but it is thought they are
visiting friends in Connecticut, and that
tho wedding will be performed at tho
country home of another well-known
author they are supposed to be visiting.
In answer to r telephone call late last
night Miss McCoys mother. who lives
In New Rochelle, said she was unable
to say anything regarding the wedding
as she had promised her daughter that
any Information she had concerning the
wedding would not be made public.
The mother of the actress did say that
she did not think the wedding would
take place for at least two weeks, al
though i: is said by Mr.. Davis friends
that the ceremony will be performed
1t is doubtful If they will sail from
New York as the sailing list of the out
BOinB steamships uOeS HOt inCluue tHe
name of the author or actress.
Romance Aplenty for Them.
When MIR. Davis, at the height of his
fame as war correspondent, in 1899,
became engaged-by letter-to Miss
Cecile Clark, daughter Of a millionaire
telephone magnate, he was in London
and she in her Chicago home. Mr..
Davis pressed a button in his club and
summoned a messenger.
Yes, sir; very good, SIR" said the
boy, touching his cap beside r. H. D.
chair.
Il wish you to deliver parcel to
Chicago, Illinois, United States of
America said Davis.
Yes, sir; thank you, sir, responded
William Thomas Jaggers. No: 557, to
whom any place beyond 'Empstead
'Eath was terra incognita, but who
was a game little cockney withal. Ave
you the parcel, sir?'
Davis had. 1t was solitaire diamond
ring-the engagement pledge. And No.
557 spectacularly carried II from Pic
cadilly TO the Michigan Lake front and
was rewarded. with a kiss and many
large tips and much envy from the
American messenger boys.
And so-they were married. And
what girl (even though she wasn't tine
bride In question: could wish for more
romance: Especially with such nota-
Charles Dana Gibson, John Fox. jr..
Horace Howard Furness, and Lloyd
Griscom. That was May, 1899, in Mar
ion. Mass. 1t was on lawn, with the
men in blue serges and straw hats and
the girls in summer frocks. Delicious
But within a year or so-for rea-
son which intimates know. but have
agreed to live their lives apart. The
bride returned to her home in Chicago.
and the bridegroom travelled pretty
much over the whole earth on one war
assignment or another.
Meets Pretty Dancer.
In 1908. while he was here in New
York, there was a Bohemian party
given at the Cafe France. The golden
haired dancer, as the premiere OF the
theatrical folk present. sat at one end
of the table. Richard Harding Davis
0ike the Scot, wherever he sat was the
head anyhow was at the other. Thai
was their first meeting.
At the height of the Bohemian jollity
Miss Mccoy. then starring in The
Three Twins" with her. Yama- Yama
chorus. began artillery practice with &
lunch of Tokay grapes which were II
front of her. Mr.. Davis kindly con
scented to allow himself to be the bulls
eye. There wers many shots scored
Cne of which seemed to have gone t,
the authors heart.
There after he was constantly devote,
to the pretty dancer. Where she wen
when The Thre, Twins ard subse
Quent shows took to the road-h
went. OF course, he vas perfectly fre
to do SO. sine he and Mrs. Davis, TO
good and sufficient reasons. were liv
inc their own lives.
Early in 1919 Mrs. Davis brought
suit in this city, placing her case in tn
hands Of William Travers Jerome
Whether it was for separation or di
vnrcc lid not become known: nor di,
the name of the person df there wa
any. person namedl become public. 1
never came 70 trial.
Divorce Soon Granted.
She went to Chicago and ther
brought a suit for divorce on the tech
nical grounds of "desertion," and thi
was granted on June 1S, Mr.. Davis nc
defending. Last week, after the fina
papers had been signed, the announce
ment was made of the coming marriag
of the author and Miss Mccoy.
Mr.. Davis has reached the age (dis
illusioning, for his readers) of forty
scven. He was first a reporter on hi
fathers Public Ledger, in Philadelphia
then wrote short stories, novels. an
plays.
MISS Mccoy Is accredited by Broad
way (gallantly) with still being in he
twenties. II agility and good look
testify rightly, she probably Is.