Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-21
A Profile Picture Of Mrs.
Widdecombe.

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 four-day leave in the Spring.
II you will come over we can be married"
Obstacles began to rear their heads.
"Will you release me?" she asked OF man.
ager with whom she had signed contract
for next season.
Then will 20 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 "!n.
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 will try to
go anyway. But II my passports arrive
send them after me-" Ten minutes before
sailing time treckled 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.
Gus. Miss Jane Houston, though 1t was
her first crossing. did not fear the storm.
But her heart quailcd when she heard the
captain from his place at the head OF the
rocking table upon which the dishes had
been chained say, We'll be two days
late in landing
At Falmouth a detected. seasick Ameri.
can beauty landed. Her greeting was a
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 we're 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 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.
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 were per.
mitted him, but before the bride could ar.
rive the leaves had expired. The pass
ports we're refused because war is stern
master. and girls fleeing across the ocean
10 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 cablen raising
dropping hopes arrived
Am trying to get leave to 20 to Paris.
Can you Gomez"
"Will try. Of course" was the return
message.
Cant go to Paris. Will try for London.
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, ara
hoping for the end Of the war when thew
will resume their interrupted honeymoon.