The Washington herald., 1917-09-27


There have been SO many stories
OF horror and disaster about the
present war. that IL seems delight
ful to come across one that has
any good fortune or happiness
about IL.
Since THE Little American" was
produced I can't tell you how many
letters I have received from sol
diers both abroad and here. and
how many stories Of the battle field
have been told to me. I received
a post card from England. yester-
day. that was the latest news from
"Marya." II said:
Were married in London. Am
leaving for Russia, Marya remains
at school Eric"
There was such a world OF ro-
nance and adventure encompassed
in those few words. We had met
Eric two years ago in New York.
He was. doing dramatic work then
for one OF the papers and Incl
dentally was acting as New York
correspondent for a Russian paper.
Because of his knowledge of the
Russian language. he was chosen as
one OF the first to go abroad to rep
resent the press.
So~h 10 poi loiiA VI AaA-
and we enjoyed his letters i'm
mensely that first year he was
abroad. He used often to speak Of
some friends of his who were rev.
| olutionists and especially Of their
beautiful daughter. Marya. Then
we heard that the girls father had
been killed. 1t was just before the
downfall of the Romanoffs. and he
was afraid for her safety IL she re-
| manned at the capital. Several OF
her friends had been shot. and
dreading lest she share the same
fate. he had resolved to get her out
Of the country.
/ only wish I knew all the de-
tails of that strange flight. Whether
they went by land or sea, whether
in disguise or not. somehow they
managed to reach London and from
there he wrote a letter. the first
real news we had received in
months.
Il am marrying Marya for her
safety's sake during these terrible
times. She is "nly a child and
feel must protect her. Her father
asked me to do this before he died.
but ] doubt whether he knew how
close the desire lay to my own
heart
| Thus far. we have come in safe
| ty. 1t is only a question of a few
weeks. / firmly believe. before the
| Romanoff dynasty will fall. The
revolutionist of Today is the hero
I of tomorrow. 1 wish you to love
and guard my Maya for me-
YOU don't know how thrilling II
! was, when the word flashed oveI
the world of the fall of the Roman
OFFS Instead OF being the daughter
of a criminal. Marya could return
to her own land. and hear her IA
theirs name among those who hao
died 1 at a new Russia might bt
born.
And best of all. we heard that in
stead of the marriage being a mere
matter of form Cor her protection
she had really grown TO love him
1t will be long while. I fear. be-
fore they are reunited. but at least
the one lesson they have gained
from the war has been one of love
and loyalty % the ideal they both
carried in their hearts.
:. Jack was saying that he would
never marry girl under such cir
cumstances. as IL was not fair e
her. He didn't see why Eric hao
not taken the girl to England. anc
just left her there. paying for hel
board and schooling.
The idea of waiting for a war tC
end before he could claim the full.
. fillment of his romance did not ap'
peal 10 Jack. l am sure. but Eri'
is thirty-two and sees life at a diff
ferent angle. Personally. / thinl
he acted mighty well. and | an
longing to see the little orphan o.
. Russia Ehom he befriended and en-
dowed with his name and love.