The Washington times., 1918-06-02

r IKE the story of some enchanted
princess in an old fairy tale is that
- Of Helene Demarest, the romantic
and original New York beauty.
She had travelled all over the world and
known many adventures. She had married
a lively young Pittsburgh millionaire and
divorced him. She had been courted by
princes and noblemen in every European
capital.
Every luxury, every privilege. almost
every talent was hers, but she could not
find her heart. The most fascinating men
could produce no more effect on that OBJ
durate organ in its beautiful setting than
If it were made of stone. None regretted
the fact more than Helene Demarest.
Then amid the heroism of the great war
she found her heart. A young officer,
once wounded and again nobly doing
his duty at the front, helped her to find it.
By remarkable turn of fortune the officer
proved to be the younger brother Of a Brit
ish duke.
Helene Demarest, who was for a time
Mrs. John G. A. Leishmar Jr., is now the
bride Of Captain Lord Alastair St. Clair
Leveson-Gower, brother and heir-presump-
tive of the Duke of Sutherland.
The captain is an officer of the Kings
Horse Guards, in times of peace a regi-
ment greatly admired for its stalwart men
and splendid uniforms, but now one that
has suffered most severely in the terrible
fighting on the Flanders front.
The young officer, who is twenty-eight
years old, has been in the great war since
the beginning. He was twice mentioned
in dispatches, a very great honor as every
soldier knows, for bravery in action. In
1916 he was severely wounded while TAX
ing part in the fight for Peronne, on the
western front. For this he received the
Military Cross, a decoration for personal
bravery introduced because the famous
Victoria Cross could not be bestowed on
all who we're worthy Of it.
He recovered from his wound and re-
turned to the front. There Mrs. De'Iarest
Leishman, who was seeking to reanimate
her heart by working for the war sufferers.
met him. She showed her bravery nuFs-
ing wounded men at the front and also
as a nurse at a Paris hospital.
He marvened at the delicate hands that
so deftly smooothed the pillow Of a suf-
ferer or brushed away the tears of a poor,
with scarcely concealed admiration the
American beauty's face flushed. A miracle
had happened Her heart was futtering
for the first time in years
MAY I bring some OF my friends to see
this wonderful institution" inquired the
young officer discreetly.
"Why, certainly" was the answer
He had a weeks feave of absence in
Paris and he put it to good use. The next
- + -g-k I aa,. Doc
Leveson-Gower, a splendid young war or
ganizer Another day he found time to
discuss his own affairs, and so it was that
the wedding occurred in Paris with the
speed that has become usual in war times
The romance, which has progressed so
Interestingly, began when Helene G. Dema-
rest, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warren G.
Demarest, of New York, made her debut
in 1910
She had completed her school life in a
convent in Paris, and pink teas and debu-
tante dances held but small allurements
for her. She won the consent OF her
parents to tour the Orient. and with an
elderly aunt and Miss Agnes lie Roy Edgar
who is now Mrs. Steuart Davis, she set out
on the trail that has beckoned to conquer
ors in all times. Out to Cairo and Alexan-
dria. where the fashion of the world sooner
or later comes 10 sit on the broad verandas
and contemplate the lazy landscape and
the lazier passers, she went, and then fol-
lowed tour of the continent. There were
British OFFICERS in uniforms that had not
then known the trenches to be found
around the Egyptian field.
They were more familiar in those days
with the amenities of the drawing room
than with the grim necessities Of the
trench. The hour for tea was better known
than the hour for going over the top. They
courted the fair American. They gave for
her many parties.
And the experience was repeated on the
continent where every capital had its
prince willing, ready to exercise his wiles
upon the girl from the States. Offers Of
marriage came. The elderly aunt had great
trouble trying TO keep pace with the effer-
vescent young beauty who had notions of
her own and fund Of life and energy that
was as new to the continent as a COW pony
would be in a London riding academy.
where the stirrups come long and saddles
have no cinches of the Western type.
When she came back to New York her
parents had decided to make journey to
Paris, and she went along. 1t was at this
time that John G. A. Leishman, the Pitts
burgh millionaire, had risen up on the
wave Of dollar diplomacy" so marked for
several administrations before the present,