Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-29

The Grave Of Quentin Roosevelt,
Near Fismes, France.

70 more interesting and unusual
nj romance of fashionable society has
l. come to the surface for years as
that of Miss Flora Whitney and young
Captain Roderick Tower, whose engage
ment has just been announced by tho
bride.to.be's brilliant mother, Mrs. Harry
Payne Whitney.
For Miss Whitney-those who are sup.
posed to know, have always said, nor has
it ever been denied-was engaged to
Quentin Roosevelt and the announcement
OF their troth was to have been made by
Mrs. Whitney on the eve OF that heroic
young flying mans tragic death in France.
And to young Tower-the son by the way
OF Charlemagne Tower, formerly Ambas-
sador to Germany, Austria and Russia
Quentin Roosevelt was not only one OF the
nations great heroes, but dear friend
and also his preceptor in his first stages
Of the flying game. 1t was one OF the real
SORROWS Of Towers life that he could not
follow Quentin overseas. Instead, he was
forced by the War Department to remain
in America as an instructor.
To the Texas training camp, where
Captain Tower was assigned came
Vanderbilt, the brother Of Miss Whitney,
for instruction.
A strong friendship developed between
the two, and when the heiress OF con-
siderable section Of both the Whitney and
Vanderbilt fortunes dropped down to visit,
the three were thrown together. Quickly
Miss Whitney and Captain Tower discov-
cred their mutual interest In the gallant
aviator abroad. The girls trips were fre-
Quent, and when in July Of 1918 news was
flashed over the cable OF Quentin's death,
the two mourned together.
For hours upon hours they talked =
minds strained to visualize that little
grave near Fismes, In France. where lay
all that was mortal of him who had been
the lover of one. the ideal and friend Of
the other.
What more natura! than in this harmony
OF interest the pair should have been more
and more drawn to each other; Should
have found out more and more In each
other to admire and at last to love?
The lonely grave was the connecting
link between their two hearts, and out OF
spirit OF the dead hero arose from it and
drew them together the SRI he had
hoped to marry and the fine, 2ean, cour-
ageous lad whose metal he had tested
among the perilour forces Of air.
There will have been e. narriages
which have united such inter families
OF mating OF two young p9 10 filled
with such unusual potent Flora
Whitney is one of the great ees In
the country. destined, as hid said, to
inherit large part Of the Vanderbilt and
Whitney fortunes representing an enor.
NOUS accumulation OF railroad property
and real estate in New York. Through the
Payne side OF tho house she will. also.
receive a share of the Standard Oil mil
lions She is q charming young girl who
inherits much OF the cleverness of her
mother. who Is a very distinguished
sculptor and artist indeed.
Miss Whitney was, in fact, mentioned as
one OF the possible American brides for the
Prince of Wales during that engaging
young royalty's visit to this country, head
ing, also, as matter OF fact, the list She
would be thoroughly at home in England.
where her cousin IS Duchess OF MARI
borough and where size has many other
relatives established in high society.
At the time when this matter was being
discussed. Miss Whitney laughed and said
that she guessed after all that when she
made up her mind, she would marry an
American" What she did not say was
that her mind was already made up.
On the Tower side there are many more
millions, and many mother in the exclu.
sive Rittenhouse square district OF Phila-
i delphia will receive with bitter disappoint.
ment the news that young Tower has been
captured by maid outside the Quaker
4Gity-and especially one Of the Wander.
bats, who for various amusing and curious
reasons. hda9o S.never been accepted by
Philadelphias fashionable Holy Of Holes
as having arrived. Both the mothers, 1t is
said-and especially Mrs. Tower-are very
happy over the arrangement. The mar
riage will go far toward wiping oct un-
pleasant memories Of the romance o. an
other son Of the Towers, Charlemgne, ST.,
to them O tragedy which they have never
quite gotten over. This happened not 80
many years ago when Charlemagne, Jr.,
was student at Yale. There he met
"Dixie" Burdick. very good-looking young
woman, who might have posed as the
heroine for George AIDES college widow.
The news of Charlemagne's wedding to
her shattered the very dignifed Tower
household like bombshell. During the
years abroad Mr.. and Mrs. Tower had &C.
auired many European habits and notions
mot the least Of which was that the par