The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-07-21


from Mississippi and the English actor
were playing. she Lady Plymdale and he
Lord Dombey, in Lady Windermere's
Fam" with Miss Anglin, that they met and
were magnets to each other.
Two months after his service began at
the French front he cabled, 81 have been
promised a four-day leave in the Spring.
II you will come over we can be married"
Obstacles began to rear their heads.
"WfTl you release mel" she asked Of man
ager with whom she had signed contract
for next season.
Then will go over and get married
and come back in time to fill my con-
tract" she said.
But she reckoned without passports.
Five Senators, friends Of her fathers,
were set at the task. But their labors
with that potent instrument called "fn-
fluence" did not avail to secure the pass
ports before the next sailing. When at
last they came much precious time had
passed. One hour before the steamship
was to sail the passports had not arrived.
She left the house saying, 81 will be on the
boat and at the dock and viii try to
go anyway But II my passports arrive
send them after me-" Ten minutes before
sailing time a freckled messenger boy
arrived waving the document above his
tousled red head.
But the elements conspired against the
lovers. The first half Of the voyage was
calm as happy love. The third quarter
was lowering The fourth was tempestu-
ous Miss Jane Houston, though 1t was
her first crossing, did not fear the storm.
But her heart quailed when she heard the
captain, from his place at the head Of the
rocking table upon which the dishes had
been chained say, Wen be two days
late in landing"
At Falmouth a detected, seasick Ameri-
can beauty landed. Her greeting was a
cable from France. Detained at camp.
Go to Ernest Denny's in London" Two
hours from London the train was abruptly
halted.
"Zeppelins about All lights out" called
the guard
In darkness the American girl walked
about, accompanied by an English nurse.
She knew the precious hours were being
wasted and she could do nothing but
await the unfolding Of events. Next
morning Mrs. Denny. wife OF the play
wright, clasped her in her arms.
There are two letters and seventeen
kilograms awaiting you" she said. They
will explain everything" They did, with
terrible clarity. The soldier lovers four
days leave had expired. The delays in
securing passports and the storm at sea
had consumed the hours granted him. He
had been compelled to return to France.
Then there's nothing to do but take
the next boat back to America" mourned
the bride who had arrived too late. After
a day spent in sightseeing she sailed back
on the ship that had brought her to Fal-
mouth
Ensued one futile attempt after an
other. He tried to meet her in Canada
for the nuptials. She passed him in mid
ocean on her way to London. The wire
less that might have apprised the anxious
lovers of their nearness could not be
used lest the enemy lurking in the deep
might intercept the message and rise and
destroy them and several hundred others.
Several leaves of absence we're per-
mitted him, but before the bride could ar
rive the leaves had expired. The pass
ports were refused because war is a stern
master. and girls fleeing across the ocean
to marry take up space and are in the way
of soldiers bent on conquering the foe.
Mars is impatient with Venus. Even Nep-
tune holds her back.
Miss Houston tried to enlist as a Red
Cross nurse. The time for training was
too long to serve her purpose to reach her
impatient lover.
After her own country entered the war
the girls hopes of crossing grew less. But
another of the score of cables raising
dropping hopes arrived.
Am trying to get leave to go to Paris.
Can you Gomez"
will try, Of course" was the return
message.
aCan,t % 20 po-;, TIy;r -, g., 7 o,5o,
Better come"
These were the preamble to the final
and successful effort And so, after two
and half years of trying to get married
they have succeeded. He in the trenches
somewhere in France, she as nurse for
wounded American officers in London. are
hoping for the end Of the war when they
will resume their interrupted honeymoon