Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-10
''RE|NE'S' BROKEN
ROMANCE IS TOLD
Pleading Letters Reveal Her
Efforts to Hold Gallant
"Americaine"
CALLS BRIDE UNFAITHFUL

New Yorts. Aug. 1O.--The parting Of
the ways has come for little Refine
Pugnoud and the gallant Lieutenant
Americaine' whom she married that
never to be- forgotten Christmas week
that followed the signing Of the armis-
tice in 1918.
The licutenant--now plain Dudley A.
Beeknan-sucd her for divorce yesterday
His story is that of fond husband.
deserted by his young French wife for
two of her fellow -countrympn. Hes Is
the story Of a struggle first to hold, ,
then to give up, and finally to win again
the love of the man for whom she left
her homeland.
Between them. Supreme Court JUS
tice Lydon must decide whether Beck
man is to have the divorce he seeks. or
whether Refine. now only twenty two,
ls to have the separation she reluctantly
asks.
Start OF Romance
The romance started in October. 1918.
at Talence. France. where Lieutenant
Beekman was Il convalcnsccnt in Base
Hospital No. 6, and where Refine. then
only eighteen, was n govcrness in
wealthy home.
After their wedding Lieutenant Beck
man sent Refine home to his mother. lie
came back in July. 1919, and they gayly
set up housekeeping in a little Hat In
Brooklyn.
Thus far the stories of Beekman and
Refine agree. But no further. The hus-
band alleges she became enamored of \
Frenchman, Aime Dumaine.
He says his mother and friend
trailed the pair to Inspiration Point in
IN automobile, and there obtained evil
dence against her. Again. he charges.
Refine was caught in the company Of
Henri l.. Petit, a restauratcur. Finally.
he says. she left him---on Christmas
Eve, just two years. less five days, after
the wedding in France.
She denies both charges. The near
est she ever came TO impropricty with
either of her COuntrymcn. she declares.
was in pouring out /" them the story of
her shattered romance.
Beekman shattered her romance. she
asserts. first by speaking unkindly to
her, then by striking her. then by tell
ing her he no longer loved her and,
finally, by urging her 70 provide him
with grounds for q divorce.
The Documents in the case include
letters from Refine to Dudley. One.
written on the night she left him,
reads:
''Dudlcy-As you told me. am gone
and shall never come back. If you want
q divorce or separation ! am ready.
You shall have it. If you want to speak
70 me you can put a red ribbon at the
window and you can meet me in front
Of the house here, downstairs. hold
no grudge against you. Guard good
remembrance of me- RENE"
"A later letter contained this plea:
Pleads to Return
"My Dudley Dearest:
Take me back Listen, my Dudley
dear. Take back your little wife. II
You knew how unhappy | am since I
left you. l cried for you all the days,
but, too proud. did not want to come
back. / have no more courage to suffer
any longer, and | want to come back
] wish--by my love and my fidelity
to make you forget all the bad did you.
You say you do not love me any
more. You believe that. But you loved
me too much not to love me any more.
My dearest. love doesn't die. You are
and always will be my little dearest
husband. Remember the beautiful days |
past which can come back and last
all your lifetime, if YOU wish.
You say that your mother would /
not want me to see you. Yes. and she
will see you the day when you send
her the photo of pretty baby who
will unite US still more, one to the |
other.
Take back your little wife. my
dearest. You cannot think of leaving
her at twenty years, and think we'll that
no word can change my ideas. Return. (
little husband. take back your little
Refine. She wishes so much 10 forget
that she caused YOU main. ALWAYS yOurs !
and for always, RENE"
The end of the series:
'Since all is over and you have all |
that is necessary for n divorce against .
me, why do you not act with frankness
and retake each our entire liberty? .
have left the domicile cOnjugal since
one year; l give you all the rights in
the divorce. Do all that you believe IL
IS well to do against me. but remember
Just the same always that | was your
wife and that once you had love for
me -