A MUSICIAN'S ROMANCE

Evening Star, Issue 17394, 2 July 1920, Page 6

A MUSICIAN'S ROMANCE

There was- quit© a dramaiio ending x>f what was called the "musical romance,'' and -what excited a vast amount of interest in London recently. 11l London was searched for a pretty student at the Roval Academy of Music, -who mysteriously disappeared! from her parents' residence one summer's rooming in March last. She answered to the name of Leonora Darbey, and it was surmised that she had eloped with a younsr Frenchman, also a musical .student. This proved to be the case, for the couple were ran to earth in May at Liverpool. They were traced by a resident of Ramsgate, who gave the cine in these terms to the police: lam a railway guard. Last nigh* I and irty daughter went shopping at a store in> London road, Liverpool. We entered the music department, and listened to Home fine playing by a lady violinist. The photo circulated' in the newspapers is something like her in the face.

The girl and' her younjr male companion were found at a bcarding-house. Mi ss Darbey seemed in good health and! quite happv. When the police, prosecuting their inquiries, called at the address they found the pair, absent. On their arrival eventually they were interrogated, and frankly admitted their identity. They did not appear perturbed, and: accompanied the officers to the police station, where thev were made comfortable while the welcome news was wired to the anxious parents, who later left for Liverpool. The conple appeared devoted to each other, and volunteered the information that tbey were married, that they had had a good time and travelled extensively since their disappearance from London. They went to Liverpool, where they stayed" at an hotel for a short while, then going on to Scotland. Subsequently they returned to Liverpool. They did not go back to the hotel where they previously stayed, but took up their residence at the house where they were eventually found. Irt an interview Mies Darbey "told the story of hex runaway marriage, "We stayed the night at an hotel in different rooms." she said, "and got up early the next mornine. Wo tried l 16 places before we could find suitable lodgings. Some landladies wanted as much as £3 a week, but we eventually found lodgings at 15s a week. Our capital when

we left home was £lB, and the fare from Euston and the tasicab had already absorbed a good deal. We next caught the train for Greenock, where the marriage ceremony was performed in the neighbor hood of the town. After the wedding we returned to Liverpool to the lodgings we had already taken, which we occupied happily -until' the police came for us. We began housekeeping a week previous to their coming: Daniel did most of the cooking and nearly all the shopping, and did it very well." Variety artists are likelv to take up a firm stand should' Miss Darbey accept the offer of an engagement on * the variety stage at what the profession consider ''notoriety" rates. There is, however, no likelihood of Miss Darbey making anv appearance on the music-hall stage, either in London or elsewhere. It is correct that many offers, have been received from musichall agents, up to as much as £BO a week, for a contribution to a variety programme by Miss Darbey. Mr Darbey staffs, however, that there was never any question of any of these offers being accepted. Miss Darbey desires to resume her life with her husband as soon as possible, and has no thought whatever of going on the stage. _ The alarm •which seems to have been occasioned' in soma, professional quarters is therefore groundless.

—Another Marriage Necessary.— Miss Leonora Darbey will be married to Flouch in London. The young couple have given formal notice to the superintendent registrar at. the registry office at St. Paneras Town HaJl that they propose to be married, and the registrar has received from Miss Darbey's father his consent to the marriage. In the marriage notice book the violinist gives* her fnll name as Leonora Elsie Darbey, aged 18, and) describes herself as a spinster. Mr David Edward Flouch also gives his age as 18, and describes himself as a bachelor and a banking clerk. It was quite obvious that, whatever ceremony was gone through in the neighborhood of Greenock, neither of the parties to it had lived long enough in Scotland to make .the contract a legal one.