New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-09
Vision of Past, with Ger
tain Unpleasant Things,
Inspired Act, She Says.
WON'T LEAVE AGAIN,
SHE ASSURES MOTHER
Dream of Making Way in World
Vanished When Father Ar
rived in Port JeryiS.

81 am not going 20 go away from
home again in my whole life
Propped up in her mothers bed
childish haven of safety-Alma Myers
expressed this sentiment as she reached
out for the hands Of her father and
mother, extended TO her from each side
Of the bed
Simply and without a single reserva-
ton. she told the details Of her six
day adventure in the world while
police and volunteer detectives were
seeking her in every city in the coun-
try. As she talked the dimpled smiles
that have given her her nickname
broke through the new look of seri-
BUSINESS that has made its appearance
on her face.
From each side Of the bed her par
ents regarded her with worshipping
eyes, while jenkins, "Smiles's' digni-
fed cat. forgot his dignity long enough
to purr d welcome to his mistress.
I'm so glad to be back with those !
love more than anything in the world
said the girl. 81 just wanted to go TO
work. That is why ! left home:
wanted to do something worth while
so that father and mother would be
PROUD Of me-"
Didn't Think They'd Worry.
1--WE are proud OF you. dear" inter
rupted Mrs. Myers.
I'VE couldn't be more proud of our
little girl" added her father, stroklne
the hand he held. "There is not per
son in the world who can point the
finger of reproach at Alma. Not one
moment Of the week she was away has
+ teen unaccounted for"
Little Smiles" looked for a moment
as if she were about TO burst into
tears. Then she remembered she was
in the midst of q story and resumed 1t.
81 didn't mean to make daddy and
mamma so unhappy she said. Il
honestly didn't think they'd worry so.
Until yesterday didn't see any Of the
papers, and so | didn't know Of the
trouble | had caused them had in
tended to write just as soon rs got
work, but ! had 10 idea that 1t would
take so long.
Then | was frightened. | didn't
know they loved me so much. | guess
I'VE didn't mean 10 be hard on Alma
in any way" interposed Mrs. Myers.
1--WE have been selfish with her because
we loved her so much. We wanted her
all 10 ourselves, and We hadn't thought
that IL might be so uninteresting to
her"
II Just wanted 10 show folks that |
was a woman and not a baby" con-
tinued the girl, looking like child OF
ten years with her soft brown hair
falling about her shoulders. 81 just
had 10 have something of my own to
DO"
All a Sudden Impulse.
Coming to the point in her story that
referred 20 the young man in Orange
she had described as annoying her, she
admitted that she didn't know his name.
"IIe followed me wherever went"
she said. 81 was always looking up
and seeing him. was afraid TO men
tion the affair to papa. because knew
he would be so angry. II was silly TO
feel that way, but that is the situa-
ton"
The girl said she had left home on
sudden impulse and had not planned
IL for even a minute before actually
starting on her leap in the world.
" NtH 4fAb VA % .NNNN'' - ~ ~
Bronx, had no such idea in nv head"
she resumed. II was reading The
Glory of the Conquered when, just as
turned page, | had vision of my
own life. Right on the page before me
could see all the things ! didn't like
about my present life Then, over il all.
came the face Of the man who had been
annoying me. That was too much. |
decided 20 90 away.
Il went to Port Jervis. | went there
because | had been there of summers,
although | didn't know anybody to 90
20 for help. ] knew that ! couldn't go
by my own name, so ! chose the name
Of Grace Davis. | started i'm 10 look
for work Immediately because wanted
so much to write home that had found
employment. | just couldn't give up
after that. would gladly have gone to
work as a servant rather than aban-
don it.
"But when Daddy suddenly arrived,
was so happy | couldn't talk. | just
said; Hello, papa and began TO cry"
From that moment there was no hint
of the rebellion against home rule and
the inactivity of the homo that had
prompted Alma TO seek an avenue Of
escape
The trip home was made on the l :22
p. IN. train. The party occupied prl-
waite drawing room and boarded the
train from the baggage room. From
Jersey City they went 20 Rose
Vile. where they took an auto
mobile to the Myers home, at Sc FL
lngton Street, East Orange. The girl
had taken the red cherries from her
hat and draped it with a black veil.
She held the high fur collar of her
coat about her face and hid behind a
magazine whenever station bystanders
recognized her. The minister carried
her suitcase, and her father held her
arm tightly as IL he couldn't let her
20 nov that he had found her at last.