The Washington times., 1920-01-27
Climax of Seven Year Struggle.

You NAV say that she has been
having that very thing ever since she
discovered seven years ago that the
Henry watson Children's Aid Society
had baby Marjorie. But during those
seven years II wasn't really a fight,
because IL takes two to make fight.
and the Henry Watson Society took
Damaris' onslaughts passively-with
a shrug. Now it. too, is fishting.
In Judge Gorters court yesterday
the socicty's attorney. Donald Is.
Creecy, said frankly and bluntly that
he thought baby Marjorie would be
better off with the simple, quiet folks
who had become father and mother TO
her than with Damaris Easton, her
own mother. whom she probably did
not know.
Somewhere Near washingtcn.
Judge Gorter took the case under
advisement and his guide, OF course.
will be baby Marjorie's welfare. He
has two alternatives-take her from
her present home and give her to
Damaris Easton or leave her where
she is. 1t may be presumed that the
Henry Watson Society has made GER
tain that Marjorie's present sur
roundings are wholesome. simple and
homelike. She is somewhere in the
country near Washington" they
said.
What Marjorie's career would be
with the mother who wept and
pleaded for her yesterday, Judge Cor
ter has only the things he heard and
saw in hj<coNrt to indicate.
OF cSGrse. hA saw Damaris Easton.
now twenty-five years old, and as
wise in the Ways of the fighting
world as a woman her age can well
be. He heard her break down and
ing for her baby girl: he heard her
snap at Attorney Creecy as he binted
in his questions that suites at the
Hotel McAlpin and $40 a week in a
chorus were not decently consistent;
he heard her say she had saved $4,000,
and that she would work. sew. slave,
cook-do anything-if she could have
Marjorie.
He saw, too, Jacques Bustanoby-
one of the powers behind the bright
lights OF Broadway-the powers you
know are there but who so seldom
mean more than a flash of clectric
light and a name on a cafe check
Bustanoby, all French in accent and
manner-all American in dress and
spirit-who got up there on the wit
ness stand and began so politely, so
suavely;
IT ask her would she accep' me as
her hosban'; that I would be highly
honor IL she would do so. An she
unfoP to me zis tale. I swear-I
have come here to help her out-if ]
can"
Would Marry Her In Court.
And whose voice broke there
Ubosa nolitonnse apd suayit,, Lee, l.; -,
briefly, il is true-but left him, red
eyed and without poise.
81 will marry her here and now"
Judge Gorter heard Jacques Bus.
tanoby say, time and time again
saw him clutching the little box con-
tanning the wedding ring, and heard
Damaris repeat that she would marry
no man until she had her baby back
again. He heard, too, that jacques
Bustanoby can make his 100000 a
year in the restaurant business at any
time at all: heard II from Bustanoby
himself He learned that Bustanoby
was about to close a deal in San
Francisco: that he had closed his
great restaurant in New York and
would reappear on the West coast
that he and Damaris proposed to take
Baby Marjorie out there with them
to live happily ever after.
Wealth VS.. Ginghsm.
Could there be better things in life
for an eleven year-old baby than n
pretty. worldly-wise mother who has
beautiful clothes and knew how tc
wear them and who knew and could
point out the worlds pitfalls? Could
she have a better stepfather than the
dapper. debonair Bustanoby, rolling
in money, knowing how to live and
able to live as he knows how? Could
she live in a lovelier fairyland than
land OF lifting music, sparkling
lights. spIashing fountains, wonder
full food, and lordly headwaiters who
would dance at the crook OF her
finger?
Apparently Judge Gorter thinks
she might. Undecided between the
Yarn and the simple gingham frock
on the one hand and the bright lights
and silken gowns on the other, Judge
Gorter is. doubtful, even when real
mother love leaps into the scales
against the farm and gingham.
Demsris told her story simply and
convinoingly, with a minimum Of
tears and drsmstics. with a bit OF