The Washington times., 1918-08-04

A T the premiere of Allegiance al
~ Maxine Elliott's Theatre the audi
1 = ence that will assuredly be fashion.
able and of highest social position will in
response to the call Author Author!"
see issuing from between the parted velvet
curtains not only Prince and Princess,
but a pair of lovers whose happiness has
long refuted the cynical
Yet the love story of the pair, the Prince
side any situation in their play-or in any
other-for sheer dramatic force and origi-
nality. The true story of that mating. out
of whose ideality has ripened this --latest
fruit, is told here for the first time, and
will answer the many questions which
those who have wondered at and admired
the two have long desired to ask, but
never dared.
An old and intimate friend of this un-
usually well-mated pair tells the story Of
the romance that has had a happy fruition
in years of calm companionship and in
mental comradeship which is signified by
the play.
at is curious" said the friend, that
John Armstrong Chaloner chose his sue
cessor. 1t happened in London, at one of
those crushes of famous folk that one sees
there and nowhere else.
standing beside an American woman
and surveying the brillian aggregation, he
said, You see the tall man by the window?
Amelie should have married."
The friend, knowing that Mr.. and Mrs
Chaloner's marriage was, if not stormy,
far from calm, took refuge in silence. The
crowd parted, and its units moving about,
formed new groups, and the chatting and
smiling went on, but in their midsts the
surprised friend saw John Armstrong
Chaloner standing statuelike, his contem-
plative gaze, intent. analytic, passionless,
fixed upon the Russian prince. It was the
moment of the great decision.
Mr. Chaloner went home early. not as
the dramatist would wish, TO his gifted and
beautiful wife TO make her aware of his
decision. He might have done this, but
ally separated from him. So manifest to
both was their incompatibility that they
had agreed to live apart in reality. though
not in appearance. Airs. Chaloner and her
husband found many objections to divorce.
They had been reared in the old school
that bids unhappily married folk suffer on
without relief through the courts But
when both were in Paris or London they
ostensibly rejoined each other He occa-
sionally escorted her to the opera or to
the theatre or a brilliant reception.
I'VE must do this" they agreed, cor
people will talk"
In London one particularly brilliant May
they were occupying remote suites in the
same hotel, and were occasionally seen
driving together. One afternoon they we're
asked 20 a tea at Hamilton Ide's studio.
Mr. Chaloner did not go, and the Princess
arrived with a friend. Prince Troubetskoy.
his artists eye filled by her vivid beauty.
inquired, who is that lovely little Amer
ican?"
1T is Amelie Rives. the author of the
Quick or the Dead"
"Ah, have read her books" he said
quickly. viii you present me?"
At teas and luncheons given by the
friends they had in common Prince Trou-
betskoy and the famous young Virginian
met again and again, and their acquain-
tance was four pleasant meetings old
when, at the fifth, Mr.. Chaloner and the
Prince were presented.
The men met without restraint or con-
straint. Coming events cast no shadow
upon the Princes mind, nor apparently on
that of the husband. Their ways parted
soon, after the manner of persons of the
great world. Mr. Chaloner sailed for
America. The Princess went to Paris. The
Prince stayed on in his studio in London.