Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-14

Society did not take his love affair very
seriously-for the two were so dissinilar
In taste and outlook on life. The girl was
used to the superficial but very delightful
manners Of the Continental men.
Stevens. on the other hand was a down.
right, rather stolid American who looked
upon women as more or less his equals
lie had graduated from Columbia III 1900,
studied law and was already we'll known In
his profession. He was also deeply inter
csted in politics. and had been appointed
counsel to the Bronx Parkway Commission
His family tradition was one OF serious ef.
fort and splendid accomplishment. He was
the grand-nephew OF the Edwin a. Stevens
who founded the Stevens Institute OF Tech
nology in Hoboken and whose engineering
prowess had given him an International
reputation.
Into his life, at forty-two, hoated the de.
liGhtfully brilliant young butterfly from
Philadelphia. girl who knew little OF and
cared less for law and politics. Mrs. Dick
saw her chance to make a match, and
woman-like, did her best TO bring 1t about
irrespective OF what might happen after.
With the passing OF time and the press
ing tragedies OF the three years OF fighting.
Miss Watts had outgrown or controlled the
sorrow brought to her by the death Of her
reported lover. She first became mildly
interested In her new admirer, and later
apparently fell in love with him In
January, 1917. their engagement was an
nounced and in March they were married.
Following short wedding trip the happy
couple settled down in New York. and
society having given them the uncover
left them alone as objects OF gossip. All
looked most happy on the surface And
in the beginning they were happy.
Several months went by before any un-
easiness was reused. Then 1t became evil
dent that all was not well in the new house
hold Runors OF friction, OF Quarrels even.
over money matters and over Temperament
tai differences went up and down Fifth
Avenue. Finally these rumors reached the
castle over on the Jersey side of the river
and great was the CONSERVATION in the
family stronghold The Richard Stevenses
flew TO the rescue but the objects OF their
solicitude would not talk. They wero
patiently unhappy, but would admit moth
ing Neither would they accept money
from their richer folk.
And in this regard it was recalled that
young Mrs. Stevens had always been de-
terminedly independent in money matters.
Indeed. not long before her marriage she
found 1t difficult to get along on her own
small income and decided to 60 upon the
stage. But so shrunken were her resources
that although position was open to her.
she did not have money enough to buy
her costumes for it. She went into motion
pictures-hiding her real identity-and In
a few weeks earned enough to buy the
dresses and hats for the more ambitious
part. After that the play went upon the
road. but failed. Although her relatives
in Philadelphia are numerous and wealthy,
she would accept no help from them.
SO 1t was not long after the wedding that
the clash Of ideals and temperaments be-
gan. AS member Of the Stevens family
Theodosius had a goodly income and this
he added to with his law work. But there
is an appalling difference between what is
necessary for a single man to be comfort
able upon in fashionable society and what
is necessary for a young couple. They
we're entertained and had to entertain in
turn. Mrs. Stevens had known, OF course,
before she married that her husband was
not In the multi-millionafre class. But she
had not realized the difference between
good income" and a>Teally big fortune.
Brought up as she had been by indulsent
American parents. she had been given
everything in reason and assumed that her
husband could, of course. give her great
deal more. She had no dot. because Ethel
bert Watts was in no position to settle