Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-18

L. >. a., OF General perShing'S staff
during the war in Europe, youthful
veteran of the Philippines, Hawaii ant
Mexico as well, has succeeded at last il
marrying Miss Florence Kelley, yer,
pretty, quite accomplished. and one o
those girls who did their bit for incl,
Sam as Ycomanettes.
Behind this apparently uncxciting state
meni surgos perfect sea OF romance
hopes and hcartaches. Day after day foi
nearly five years, the hoodoo of Friday
theiiirHocnth-the day the scrgeant's
brown eyes and Msis lielley's blue ones
first mct--has doggcd this pair OF lovers
relentlessay pursuing them wherever they
went and doing its level worst TO keen
them from each others arms
Certainly there never was n more hate.
fui, more persistent jinx than this. It
stopped at nothing in its efforts to ruin this
romance. throwing all sorts of obstacles
III the way OF the lovers meeting and even
threatening them with death by wrecking
railroad train in which they were rid!nr
Six times tllc wedding day was set, hui ON
each occasion in stopped MI Jinx TO pre-
vent.
But Cupid had evidently marked these
lovers for his very own. and he was not
to be cheated of his prize, even by a hoo
doc as relentless as this one proved TO be.
IL was desperate struggle, but in the end
the little god OF love came out victor
IL was few minutes before midnight OF
Friday. August -, 1918, and the Southern
Limited was just about 10 pull out OF the
Jersey City station Down the Mat
Gfri1inp M I',l.
sturdy, good-looking young man. on his
way 10 rejoin the Sixth Field Artillery a,
Douglas, Arizona.
AS he passed a bevy OF laughing girls
and their escorts he heard tho words: Fri
day, the thirteenth" For the first time
it occurred to him that he was beginning
his journey on what is considered the nm.
luckiest OF days. But five years in the
army is not the sort OF ira aiming TO make q
man superst!t!ous, and the sergeant saw
no cause fGs %orrY.
VIVA, he did See that set his heart 10
nutterlng as il had never futtcrcd before
was a striking figure which stood Ont from
the little group OF people he was passing
and held his gaze fascinated. II was the
figure Of girl-a slender, graceful, viva
cious girl, black haired. blue eyed
"Lordy!" said Sergeant Walters, with a
sigh singularly ont OF harmony with hi,
stern military appearance. "I.ordy. why
couldn't have seen hat girl three months
ago when my furiough was Just beginning?
fridny'the'thirieenth hoodoo? III say
II is"
When ne reached The steps OF his car he
turned his head and searched the length OF
the platform with longing eyes. But the
vision nt loneliness who had won his heart
in one glance was no longer 10 be seen.
He did not know whether she had boarded
the train or left the station. Proba biy The
latter, he thought aoomily.
The memory OF what he had seen for iust
an instant however, was something that
would live forever All night long ,bn.,.
delightful blue eyes laughed ,hrongh li-
dreams, and when he awoko it was with a
feeling Of intense regre, that they were no,
reality
Filled with gloom b. thc CROWNS copyic.
ton that Friday. the thirteenth wa hoo.
doc after ALL the sergeant loft His Bor,N
and started down the swayinr Pullman
I aisl" toward The washroom. lie had taken
] only few steps when he saw something
I mat suddenly brought MIN IN "ln Mace
| Ha!t' In . section Just forward O. his
own mere sal the owner OF Tho black hair
4 and me smiling blue eyes whose IMAGE lad
shared his dreams
Lice magic the scrgcan''s gloom van.
I isAed An bunk, this Friday. the mir.
teen'h, sluti.' ne muttercd as he mad
| NJ nm Win unusual care and adjusted
ms UNIFORM to degree Of perfection that
would have amazed his superior officers
| Then he fastened back to make sire tbot
L IL was an true Yes, the girl was sim there.
But although lucky chance had ,b,nu,r
I h"I IN the same car with him al,bou,n
she sat almost within reach OF Mis- hond
Z now was he ever going 20 meet her?
:, one look at her was enough IN chou,
4 that she was not the sort OF ..ir, M
4 would respond TO Airtatious advances lie
was glad OF that and yet sorry, bu, oven