Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-26
MAGAZINE SECTION for March e6, 1916

and the groups OF curious spectators
lowering about, it was the most solemn
marriage l ever witnessed
And when it was all over the girls told
their story.
"ON that Friday morning before dis
appeared, began Roberta, II had
made up my mind to marry man did not
care for so as to inherit my grandfather
money-not for my own sake, but for that
of others whose fortunes were bound up
with mine And when | left my car at
Fiftieth Street, it was, as told my chauf-
feur, my intention to walk home. But,
finding myself at the Cathedral, an i'm
pulse seized me to go in. l am not
Catholic, and it was simply the thought of
the big, quiet place that drew me. i
wanted to be alone for a while where no
one would notice me and where l could
look as unhappy as felt.
II don't know how long l sat there in
the shadow of one of the big columns,
watching the altar lights, and the people
coming in, kneeling, and going out again;
but when reached the street it was dark,
and | walked to the corner to wait for an
empty cab to come along. AS l reached
the curb, a girl who was standing there
watching for chance to cross, turned,
and we recognized each other She was an
English girl whom had met two years be-
fore on Channel boat. Through some
body's installing me for her. we had hap
pened to discover that we were amazingly
alike both in face and figure. The differ
ence in our hair was so great, however,
that, with it in evidence, the resemblance
between us was largely annulled; but with
it hidden, as it then was, by hats and wells,
the likeness was strong enough to confuse
even people who knew us.
Meeting her so unexpectedly in New
York, l naturally asked how she came to
be there, and she told me she had come
over from England with theatrical COM
pany which had failed, most of the men,
bers returning home. On promise of an
engagement with an American company,
she had stayed on until, her funds ex-
hausted, she had been forced to accept a
small place in stock company at Port
Edgar, Ontario, and was to leave for that
town within the hour. AS l listened, a
startling idea came to me. Why should
not l go to Canada in her place? She
wanted to stay in New York and wait for
a better opportunity; wanted just such
chance as this. You see, since the
breaking of my engagement, l had
thought seriously of trying the stage as
way to support myself and my aunt.
thought l had some talent, but was not
sure; and, while the newspaper publicity
had had might secure me an engagement
in New York, what really wanted was a
chance to stand on my own merits. to
test my ability.
"THERE was no time to hesitate. and
at once suggested the plan to Miss
Warren. told her frankly my position,
emitting only the reason for the breaking
of my engagement. The idea staggered
her at first, but it attracted her, too; for |
the chance to stay in New York meant |
so much. And everything seemed to favor |
the scheme. No one in the company at |
Port Edgar had ever seen her. The man.
ager had engaged her through an agent
after seeing her photographs. She was
not even sure he knew the color of her |
hair. Anyway, she consented. and we
hurried on to her clearinghouse in