The Washington times., 1919-04-20

prise In fashionable society of Amer
lea as the wedding of Mrs. Elsie
French Vanderbilt, divorcee of the late Al
fred Gwynn Vanderbilt, one Of the Lusi-
tania victims, and Lieutenant Paul Fitz.
simens, U. S. N. 1t was not the disparity
in the ages Of the two-Mrs. Vanderbilt
Fitzsimons is thirty nine, while her hus-
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 it the difference in their social
standing and fortunes-zMrs. Vanderbilt is
an acknowledged star Of fashionable so
ciety and worth many millions, while her
bridegroom has only his pay Of $4,000 a
year Such things have, happened often
enough, too, that they create no longer
more than a passing ripple Of interest.
And, besides, surprising matches OF this
sort are not at all uncommon in the Tuck
French family, of which Mrs. Vanderbilt
Fitzsimons is a daughter. Did not her own
niece, Julia Tuck French, marry chaheur,
Jack Geraghty? And her nephew, Edward
Tuck French, wed stenographer?
No. the really surprising thing about it
ali was how on earth Mrs. Elsie French
Vanderbilt was able to be wOoed and won
by her lieutenant without one OF her
friends suspecting even that romance
was in progress. Busily engaged as ever
I'm her after-war work, neglecting none OF
her social duties, in what golden hidden
moments was her romance ripened!
The mystery can now be resolved. The
answer is that there is no safer, quieter,
more secluded place to carry on court
shin than the side of a gun turret on one
of Uncle Sans warships. For tnat was
esTT1V1a wy0c
wooed and won-right under two wicked
looking guns of the destroyer Evans, Of
which her lieutenant was commanding
oficer, and her son William, known in the
navy as Bill, an ensign.
When, Mrs. Vanderbilt went out to the
Evans every one, of course, supposed 1t
was TO see son Bill. Everybody. that is,
exceut the crew of the Evans. And would
they tell any one different? Never, never!
"Stand together" is the slogan OF the
u. S. N.
There were guards at discreet distances
from that turret to ward on intFuders, and
there is one interesting incident told that
shows how thoroughly absorbing a de-
stroyer romance can be.
Young Bill had brought his mother out
one afternoon at o'clock. They all drank
tea together. and then Mrs. Vanderbilt and
Lieutenant Fitzsimmons wandered on to
their pet nook to watch the sun set Time
Dassed dinner was served, but the lovers
did not appear. The sun set completely
and the moon rose and made s1lVery
match all about the large black destroyer,
but no one disturbed the lovers. Young
BUl. grinning happily, sat in the ward
room. At II o'clock a pair Of dazed look
ing beings appeared in the doorway.
SVhat's the matter with dinner tonight?
Isn't it ready?" asked the C. o. And young
Bill pointed to the clock!
But TO start at the first chapter, let us
see how these two apparently so dissimilar
beings met. When America went into the
war William H. Vanderbilt, son of Alfred
Vanderbilt by his first wife, enlisted in the
navy. Bill, as he was called, had always
been mad about boats and cruising, and
his mother, being intensely patriotic, gave
her consent to his enlistment, although he
was barely seventeen at the time. He
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-
strover. and each day he hoped to be sent
across to'hUnt submarines.
On the Evans he made a friend in the
senior officer, stepfather-tO-be Lieutenant
The destroyer was on patrol
duty OF the Atlantic coast, but was able
10 put 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
vas graciousness itself to the good-looking
officer. as she always was to the men Bill
brought home There was nothing to in.
Iicate, during that first evening, that the
Jeeds Of a real love romance were being
)lanted in likely SOIL
The Vanderbilt home in Newport is on
Ialidon Hill, overlooking Narragansett
Bay. The beautiful lawns run down to the
Fater's edge and the house is one Of the