Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-20

VCN marriages nave caused SuCn sur
r. prise in fashionable society of Amer
lea as the wedding Of Mrs. Elsie
French Vanderbilt, Divorce of the late AL
fred Gwynn Vanderbilt one OF the I.usi-
tania victims. and Lieutenau, Paul Fitz-
simons. t. S y. 1t was not the disparity
in the ages OF the two-Mrs. Vanderbilt
titzsimons is thrty-nine. while her hns-
band is only twenty-seven--that was the
main element OF this surprise. Such things
have happened before many times. and the
bride still looks like young girl
Nor was il the difference in their social
standing and fortunes Mrs Vanderbilt is
an acknowledged star OF fashionable so
ciety and worth many millions. while her
bridegroom has only his pay OF $1,000 "A
year Such things have happened often
enough, too. that they create no longer
more than passing ripple OF interest.
And, besides, surprising matches OF this
sort are not al all uncommon in the Tuck
French family, OF which Mrs Vanderbilt.
Fitzsimons is a daughter Did not her own
niece. Julia Tuck French, marry Chauffeur.
Jack Geraghty? And her nephew. Edward
Tuck French. wed stenographer?
No, the really surprising thing about it
ELL was how on earth Mrs. Elsie French
Vanderbilt was able 10 be woOcd and won
by her lieutenant without one of her
friends suspecting even that romance
was in progress Busily engaged as ever
in her after work, neglecting none OF
her social duties, in what golden hidden
moments was her romance ripened?
The mystery can now he resolved The
answer is that there is no safer Quieter,
more secluded place 10 carry on a court
ship than the side of gun turret on one
OF Uncle Sans warships. For that was
where Mrs. Vanderbilt FitZsimmons was
wooed and won--right under Two wicked
looking guns OF the destroyer Evans, OF
which her lieutenant was commanding
officer. and her son William, known in the
navy as Bill. an ensign
When Mrs. Vanderbilt went ont 10 the
Evans every -tne. ca course, supposed il
was 20 see son Bill Every body. that is,
except the crew of the Evans. And would
they tell any ono different? Never, never
Stand together" is the slogan OF tn"
L. s. y.
There were guards at discreet distances
from that turrei TO ward of intruders, and
there is one Interesting incident told hat
shows how thoroughly absorbing a de-
strOEer romance can be.
Young Bib had brought his mother ont
one afternoon al > o'clock They all drank
tea together, and then Mrs. Vanderbilt and
Lieutenant F,zsimmons wandered of 10
their pet nook 10 watch the sun sci. Time
passed dinner was servcu but the lovers
did not appear. The sun sci completely
and the moon rose and made q sivcry
patch all about INC large black destroyer,
hut no one disturbed the lovers Young
Bill grinnins happily, sat in the ward.
room. At i! O'Clock pair OF dazcd look
Ing beings appeared in the doorway
whats the matter with dinner tonight?
Isn't ii rcady?" asked the & O. And Young
Biz pointed 10 tho clock
But 10 start al the first chapter. let US
see how these two apparently so dssimilar
beings met When America wen, into the
war William II Vanderbilt, son OF Alfred
Vanderbilt by his first wife enlisted in The
navy. Bill a. he was called had always
been mad about boats and cruising aud
his mother being intensely patriotic. gave
her consent 10 lis enlistment. although be
was barely seventeen al the time He
served his time in Newport and then at
New London, where he earned his ensign.
ship. Last October he was detailed to the
Evans. a splendid, wicked locking new de.
stroyer. and each day ne hoped 10 he sen;
across TO hunt submarines
On the Evans he made q friend in ,ha
senior officer, stcpfathcr-tc-hc I.iouonan,
Fiizsimons. The destroyer was ON mario,
duty off the Atlantic coast but was able
10 put into its nome port, NcwporI. every
week or two.
One Saturday. Just after tho armisticc
was signed, Ensign Bill took his now
friend home for dinner. Mrs Vanderbilt
was gFaciouaness itself to the good.lookipc
ofilcer, as she always was to the men nm
brought home. There was nothing ia in.
dictate during that first evening. tina, tho
seeds OF a real love romance were bcnp
planted in likely soil
me Vanderbilt home in Newport is on
ramon iii!i, overlooking Narraganse;t
Day. ne beautiful lawns run down 10 tho
waters edge and the house is one of the