The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-31

VIEW marriages nave CduSeu SUCH sur
- prise in fashionable society OF Amer
+. Il lea as the wedding OF Mrs. Elsie
French Vanderbilt, divorce of'the late AL
fred Gwynn Vanderbilt. one OF the LIsi-
tania victims, and Lieutenant Paul Fitz-
simons, U. s, y. It was not the disparity
In the ages OF the two-MrS. Vanderbilt
Fitxsimons Is thirty-nine. while her huS-
hand ia only wenty-seven-lhat was the
main element Of this surprise. Such things
have happened before many times, and the
bride still looks like young girl.
Nor was II the difference in their Soclal
atandinR and fortunes-MrS. Vanderbilt IS
an acknowledged star OF fashionable so
ciety and worth many millions. while her
bridegroom has only his pay OF S"'VOV a
wear Such have happened often
anourh too ley create no longer
rnoro than ny ripple OF interest.
And, besides. ,,I priSiug matches OF 'htS
sort are not az all uncommon IN the luch'
French family: OF which Mrs. 'anuerolt'
E.,7simons is daughter. Did not her own
nee Julia Tuck French. marry chaHeur.
-. Cera yhty? And her nephew. Edward
-, French. wed a stenographer?
M the really surprising thing ABOUT II
oil r.os how on earth Mrs. Elsie french
E,nd"rhit was able 20 be woOed anu "o"
Nv her lieutenant without one OF hel
friends suspncting even that roH'a"'e
was In progress. Busily engaged as Eve.
IN ber arter-yar work. neglectinS none OF
her social duties, in what golden hlauen
moments was her romance ripeneu
The mystery can now be resolved Inc
answer il that there is no Sater' Qu'e'et'
more secluded place 10 carry on court
ship than the side OF gun luFret on que
IA inc III
whore Mrs. Vanderbilt FtZsimmons was
wooad and won-right under two wicked.
blocking guns Of the destroyer Evans, VI
(which her lieutenant was commanoiuS
nticsr and her son William, known IN the
navy as Bill, an ensign. 49,,
When Mrs. Vanderbilt went ont 10 the
Evans every one. OF course. supposed II
was TO see son Bill. Everybody. mat IS:
except the crew OF the Evans. Ana woulu
Athey tell any one different? Never. never.
"sSand together" Is the slogan or the
u. 8. n. . ,,-.,.
There were guards at discreet distances
,rono that turret to ward off intruders, and
there Ia one interesting incident told that
ahows how thoroughly absorbing de-
stroyer romance can be.
(, Young Bill had brought his motner out
one afternoon at 8 o'clock. They all aranH
tea together, and then Mrs VanderolIt anu
I3entenant Fitzsimmons wandered OF 10
THAR net nook to watch the sun set lime
nassed. dinner was served, out the io'e,s
AID not appear. The sun set compulsory
and the moon rose and made sii'ery
match all about the large black destroyel,
but no one disturbed the lovers: ioun9
Rj,I 1rinnlng happily. sat In the Wara-
rnorn Al II o'clock pair OF dazed look
49, hain "a appeared in the doorway.
aUhat's the matter with dinner to-nlgnt!
liant II ready" asked the c. y. Ana young
pill pointed to the clock.
ant 10 start at the first chapter. let US
aae how these two apparently so dlSslmliar
hsings met. When America went into the
SSar William H. Vanderbilt. son OF Alfred
Vanderbilt by his first wife, enlisted IN the
navy. Bill. as he was called, nao always
been mad about boats and cruising, anu
mis- mother, being intensely patriotic gave
her consent to his enlistment, although ne
was barely seventeen at the time. lie
served his time in Newport and then at
New London, where he earned his ensign
shin Last October he was detailed TO the
Evans. a splendid. wicked looking new de-
,troyer. and each day he hoped to be sent
across to hunt submarines.
Nm the Evans he made friend in the
senior officer. stepfather-tO-be Lieutenant
FItzsimons. The destroyer was on patrol
duty off the Atlantic coast. but was able
10 nut into its home port, Newport, every
week or two.
One Saturday. just after the armistice
was signed. Ensign Bill took his new
friend home for dinner. Mrs. Vanderbilt
was graciousness itself 10 the good-lookins
officer, as she always was TO the men Bill
Thought home There was nothing TO in
dictate, during that first evening. that the
seeds Of q real love romance were being
planted In likely soil.
The Vanderbilt home in Newport is on
Halidon Hill. overlooking Narragansett
Bay. The beautiful lawns run down 10 the
Saters edge and the house is one OF the