The Washington times., 1926-09-01

He was an obscure ACTOR Wnen
/ they married and It was said that
her ambitious friends chided her
and made fun Of her for the match.
Yet it was sure that jean Acker
loved him. that this love persisted
To the time when he lay dyirg, and
depressed itself IN tears e sincere
grief over his floWer.laden caslket
Valentino never lost his feeling
for Jean Aclxer, It appeared.
They were often together in his
/ last visit To Broadway. The slave
bracelet she gave him hung from
/ his eEnaciated wrist as he lay
/ fighting his final Illness. II was
possible that reconciliation might
have been II view at the time Of
Ibis death.
Certainly. the darixly beautiful
actress was his FIRST love, and one
he never forgot.
Paths Separate
But their paths separated. Jean
divorced him III 1921. after two
years 81 married life that were far
from happy.
The ill-advised counsels cf friends
played its part. The reported spite
/ Of Nazinova, whose protege Miss
Aclxer had been, may have had it,
effect. Miss AcIrer appeared Tor
some time thereafter as Mrs. Ru-
dolph Valentino. the fame cf her
husband being more Of an asset
than her own reputation.
Winifred Hudnuk, skepdaug hter Of
Richard Huduut, the millionaire
perfumer, also known as Natacha
Ramb0va, the dancer, was his next
| love. 1t was whispered of her that
She married Valentino Tor conquest,
20 capture the man who was the
idol of many women's hearts
They never were happy t0getleE.
Miss Hudnl1t was fierceIy ambitious.
even more 90 than her handsome
| husband. TO whom fame now was
coming 90 readily. She felt THAT
Valentino should give her career
first consideration.
Valentines marriage To her, with
1 iii d few months after Jean Aclker
had divorced him. also brought
/ legal complicati ona. They had gone
across the Mexican border Tor the
ceremony. The California laW did.
not recognize Valentino IS one free
% marry until year after tho
/ Initial decree had been issued ~
the former Mrs. Valentino
Charged with Blgamy
when Valentino and Mis- Hudnus
returned to California he was
charged with bigamy. he Was ar
rested, but the grand jury acid
there were insufficient grounds Tor
indictment and the charge was
dropped.
After the approved legal period
Ihad passed, Valentino and Miss
Hudnut were remarked ii q quiet
IceremOny at Crown Point. Indiana
Their troubled romance was not
long lived. A marital vacation
was tried. the great lover and his
ambitious wife believing that some
time spent apart might heal their
differences.
There was gossip aplenty It this
time that the second Valentino
matrimonial venture had come upon
shipwreck. Both Valentine ana his
wife denied Il.
But denials meant little when
word came from Paris that the
second Mrs. Valentino has sued
Tor divorce.
'T'm led ND with Rudy, she
said, when she secured her de-
cree.
Her indifference toward him ap.
parently persisted even when he
lay Ut the door Of death, III con.
trast to the warm interest shown
I.by his first wife.
Silent on Death
When word was brought to Miss
Hudnut IN Paris that her former
husband was dead her only re-
Spouse was:
Il have nothing whatever to
say"
After Miss Hudnut divorced him
Valentino also was apparently Gas
tiated with marriage. Ills trials
OF It had been far from triunnphs.
Nowhere had he approached the
| felicity that the characters he
played 80 winningly on the screen
seemed 30 sure to find.
II win enjoy the freedom Of 81
bachelor for some time" he made
It known after the second divorce
81 cannot marry before 1890, as
have made q bet Of $50 900 that
I Will remain unmarried until that
time"
This apparent appreciation OK
freedom was not at rue reflection
OF his wishes, however. He always
wanted home and children. I'll
was q bitter disappointment to him
that neither Of the women to whom
he gave his name cared to make
such q home and bear him children.
He was extremely fond Of babies.
Walking along Park Avenue, with
his friend and manager, s. George
UIman, the screen hero always
was attracted when he saw a pretty
child. Passing baby carriage, he
would peer into 1t, or with the
nurses permission, raise the cover
let to look at the tiny face.
That's q cute kid" he woulc
remark to Ullma1.
The children OF Hollywood az
knew and loved him. He was for
ever buying them presents. He
loved the mischievous boys and the |
fresh-faced little girls Of the film
colony, and they loved him.
That he never had any OF his
own probably was the greatest dis |
appointment Of his life. He had |
money, fame, applaqseha wanted |
children.S
CTo BE Continued Tomorrow.
Some folks only wish fI,ev