As this story is written, Tyrone Power and Linda Christian have just been married in Rome. In the past few months countless columnists and correspondents have been saying--publicly or privately--that this would never come to pass. But all along, those really in the know--and I've been one of them--have smiled at the reports about the "cooling" of the Power-Christian romance and the "easily readable signs of break-up."

Months ago, Tyrone was eager to marry Linda. He was willing to by-pass conventions, the studio and California law--which forbids remarriage until the final divorce decree is granted. Tyrone's final decree of divorce from the French actress Annabella was scheduled for January 22, 1949. Ty didn't want to wait--he wasn't going to wait!

And then Linda's mother wrote to him: "My boy, waiting will give you that much more time to be sure. And waiting is best, for everything, present and future, in the life you and Linda will have together. Be patient, Tyrone, for all of us."

Ty stopped insisting. He had never been married to Annabella in church--therefore, the Catholic Church did not recognize his first marriage. Careful conferences with Roman Church bishops enabled Ty to obtain the consent of the church. He would wait--but only until his divorce was legally final--no longer!

My knowledge of the way things were really going between Tyrone and Linda came from the intimate view afforded me as a close friend of Linda and her family and as an old friend of Ty. Just the other night I spent several hours visiting Linda's mother, Senora Blanca Rosa Welter de Alvarez Amezquita. You see, we both live in Mexico city. I sat in a bedroom of her beautiful home in the exclusive Lomas de Chapultepec district while Blanca, in a pale blue housecoat, reclined on the oversized bed and gave Jose Rene his 7:30 bottle. Jose Rene, then all of one week old, is Linda's brother--whom, of course, she has yet to see.

The feeding over, Blanca spread on the blue coverlet the treasurers I had come to see--messages sent to her by Linda and Tyrone from Europe--cablegrams, photographs, postcards. Unfortunately, Blanca had thrown away all their letters--except the latest one, dated January 12, 1949. In this, Linda wrote from Rome: "Mumsy Darling: We are nearly bursting from anxiousness over you. Every possible noise like a car or motorcycle which comes up the hill where we live, we say, "The baby!"...

"Right now for us--this is a very busy and confining time, too. The holidays were a mad rush. On Christmas Day, we had about fifty people in the house. The tree was lovely with all the presents around it. We came back from Venice with only two days to prepare everything and from then on there wasn't a spare moment. We had so much to do, and so many places to go.

"We went to the opening of the Opera with all the 'other' important personalities of Rome. Every magazine cover has our picture and the newsreels are full of your three Pusses, too.

"New Year's was rather hectic and we kept on remembering our lovely '47-'48 and then Acapulco. This new years we spent in the snowy mountains of Austria near St. Anton, someplace. I persuaded Tyrone to go to Austria instead of Switzerland...it is much cozier there...

"Now we are making all the arrangements for the wedding! We are waiting for a telegram from Tyrone's lawyer and if the 27th is all right, we are planning for that date. My dress is going to be a dream (white) with lace appliqu�d with seed pearls, tiny opal sequins and tiny, tiny beads. The dress with be fitted but the train attached to the waist will flow freely."

At this point in the letter, Linda had sketched three different views of her wedding gown, with alternative bouquets and wedding veils.

"I don't know yet," the letter continued, "whether a short veil or a very long one. (See drawing No. 3) As the dress is not ready yet, we have not been able to judge. On my head will be a (Juliet) fitted cap, also embroidered. Maybe you can help me as to whether I should have a tiny bouquet of flowers (see sketch No. 1)--a big one (sketch No. 2) or, instead, an embroidered muff (sketch no. 3) with three white orchids on it. this would be quite different and in keeping with the dress. What do you think? I must tell you that the embroidery is so fine that it looks like spun glass and makes it glitter very faintly."

"I wrote her I preferred the muff with the orchids, and a short veil," her mother said. "Now, we'll see if she takes my advice!"

(Linda's actual outfit was a compromise: She wore a Uliet cap, a long veil, the white satin gown as described--embroidered with lace, sequins and beads--and a muff covered with whit orchids.)

The letter went on: "Arias (Ariadna, her sister] and Lulu will be the bridesmaids. [Lulu is an old school friend of Linda from Florence, Italy.] They will wear dainty dresses of lace--white, with pink petticoats (Lulu) and aqua or pale blue (Arias). We haven't completely decided yet...

Love from the pusses...

"Before I forget, would you ask Rene to insure my diamond (engagement) ring of 8 3/4 karats, first color--round cut. I think $4,5000 would be enough. It is set in a platinum setting with two small baguette diamonds. You won't forget, 'cause if I should lose the ring--it would be catastrophic!"

"Catastrophic indeed!" smiled Blanca, refolding the letter. then from a huge envelope, Blanca extracted a cablegram and handed it to me. It was from Linda and Tyrone in Rome, addressed to Jose Rene Alvarez and read: "WELCOME JOSE RENE HOPE TO MEET YO SOON OUR LOVE TO YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (Signed) THE THREE PUSSES."

The third puss was Ariadna, Linda's 18-yearf -old sister, who had been living with her in Rome.

Leaving the pile of souvenirs for a later moment, I urged Blanca to go over the details of her daughter's exciting romance as she had seen it first-hand in the past year.

"Well," she began, "if I recall your first story about my 'Pusses'--in last April's MODERN SCREEN--it ended with Linda and Tyrone together again in Hollywood after spending New Year's with us here in Mexico City and in Acapulco last year."

I nodded, and she continued: "I went to Hollywood to visit Linda and Tyrone last February and also again in May. My first night with them, on my first trip we all had dinner together at Tyrone's home in Brentwood. His lovely mother was there. she is delightful, very intelligent woman and I was very happy to meet her. Linda was living in Westwood with an old family friend, the Countess Rose Van Horn, whom we have known for many years. It was nice seeing her again, too. And it was even nicer to watch Tyrone being so kind and thoughtful and considerate of me and our friends, whom he didn't know.

"Tyrone would kiss me 'hello' when we would meet, 'goodnight' when we would leave his home. He loves the 'family feeling' and seems content to have dinner at home, spend his evenings at home--especially when he is making a picture, which is practically always. but he does enjoy traveling when he isn't working.

"while I was there in May--I had gone to Hollywood this trip to say au revoir to Linda and Tyrone who were leaving for Europe in June--Tyrone gave a farewell dinner in his home. the guests included MR. and Mrs. Gary Cooper; Clark Gable and Anita Colby; Mr. and Mrs. Rex Harrison; Clifton Webb and his charming mother; Prince Mike Romanoff; Van Johnson and his new wife, Evie--and a number of other celebrated people.

"I did the cooking, and the table--buffet style--was laden with shrimp in mayonnaise (I made the mayonnaise, Dutch style) there was a string-bean salad, which was made from another old Dutch recipe of mine.

"Tyrone was like a little boy on a picnic, watching his guests return to the buffet time and time again for refills. He kept telling them proudly, 'Yes, my future mother-in-law is a wonderful cook--don't you think?'"

On June 20th, Linda and Tyrone flew to Lisbon aboard a Trans-World airways Clipper. Then began the stream of letter and postcards which they sent to Blanca and the family in Mexico city. The first postcard, dated July 7, 1948, was from Lisbon, with a picture of the centuries-old "Batalha Monastery" and the following scribbled message: "Much love from both of us. Your loving rabbit--Linda."

The next one, dated July 8, 1948, was from Madrid, Spain, and featured a colored picture of the virgin of Hope. the message: "Much love to all. this is such a beautiful place. Your two faraway Pusses. Linda" (Also signed separately by Ty.)

royal road romance....

Then came a wonderful, romantic photograph of the two of them standing on the Rock of Gilbraltar, dated July 10, 1948.

Postcard number 4 was sent from Barlecona, dated July 20, in Linda's handwriting, signed by both Linda and Tyrone: "Hello there! this is quite a place with very excitable people! As Ty says 'The natives are restless tonight!' We are having so much fun and hope you, too, can join us in Spain, and that everything is well and [you're] both as happy as well. Love, Linda and Tyrone."

From Nancy, France, on July 24, 1948, they sent the following postcard: "Tomorrow we leave for Ste. Paul--remember, from last year? It's close to Niece. We are having a perfectly heavenly time. Love to all. Your loving Rabbit." Tyrone adds this note--"Just to add my love and to say again that we wish you were with us. By the way, we had Spain! Always, Tyrone."

Two weeks later, on August 8, they sent another card from Portofino, Italy, with a fantastic photograph of the dream city at the edge of the lake. They wrote: "Just a 'hello' from this lovely little place. Your loving--Rabbit." (Tyrone signed it, too.)

They were making this trip from Lisbon to Rome in an extremely roundabout way, like ordinary tourists. With them was Linda's sister, Ariadna, who was on vacation from her finishing school in Lausanne, Switzerland, and who had met them at the airport in Lisbon. They toured in Tyrone's new Mercury sports car which he had thoughtfully shipped to Lisbon ahead of them.

Many more postcards came during this period. Tyrone's latest picture, PRINCE OF FOXES, filmed entirely in Italy took him and Linda and Ariadna on location jaunts to such enchanting places as San Marino Florence and other historic spots. The castle at San Marino, atop a towering jutting, sea-[pounded rock, fascinated them. Tyrone wrote to Blanca, telling her of the exciting scenery and of the odd little Republic of San Marino--smallest in the world--with its six policemen! They were there for three weeks and were continually under the spell of the place.

The next two weeks found them on location in Florence, where Linda was constantly surrounded by her former schoolmates from the "Poggio Imperiale," a young women's finishing school located in an old castle of the Medicis in the mountains at the edge of Florence. Legend claims that "once upon a time," when Bacchus (the god of wine) was returning to paradise, he took Ariadna (the goddess of the Straight-and-Narrow) to these mountains for the purpose of introducing her to the heavenly wines of Tuscany. (Linda's sister, Ariadna, was named for this goddess.)

The returned to Rome to film interiors at the studios, and PRINCE OF FOXES was completed January 6.

On January 4th of this year, Tyrone organized a world premiere of his picture, THAT WONDERFUL URGE, (in which he is co-starred with Gene Tierney), at the CINEMA BARBERINI of Rome. The cream of Rome's society was on hand, headed by Italy's Premier de Gasperi. The benefit was for Italy's patron saint of poor children (ragazzi). Ty's premiere was a great financial success.

coming events...

When Tyrone stepped to the stage to make a brief announcement before the collection boxes were passed, a news photographer snapped a picture of Linda together with Premier de Gasperi--and the picture hit page one of one of Italy's leading news magazines. (She sent the front cover to Blanca--for the collection.)

Insofar as Blanca had told Linda, Tyrone and Ariadna that she and her husband already had a name selected--in case the new baby were a boy--the three European globe-trotters made a game of selecting a name for the baby--in case it were a girl. Linda wrote: "We have been thinking terribly hard about a girls' name. Tyrone likes 'Maya' Alvarez Amezquita. Sounds lovely! I like 'Nora' and Ariadna likes 'Fiamma' (Flame) or 'Fiorella' (Little Flower) in Italina."

In a revealing letter to me from Rome, dated January 16, Linda wrote: "Dearest Maxine: Your letter arrived this morning--so I want to drop you a line...we are getting married the 27th of this month...our honeymoon....we plan to spend in the snow mountains of the Austrian Tyrol! (Deep dark secret!)

"I can tell you already that it will prove quite interesting--being the first time that I will try skiing!...

"This is a hectic period, believe me, and I don't know if I am coming or going. Tyrone will make another film beginning in March--THE BLACK ROSE--in North Africa and Scotland--to be finished in London. We are looking forward to it.

"We were delighted with our new brother, Jose Rene! Ariadna is staying in Rome to make a film for an Italian company, as she already has mastered the language. Besides, she did a nice little scene with Tyrone in PRINCE OF FOXES.

"Excuse my dreadful scribble, but I did want to drop you a line. How is the hubby? Please give him my best. And for you, a great big 'abbrazzo' (hug). Love, Linda."

Tyrone adds this footnote:
"Dear Maxine: Just a line to say hello and to wish you all the best of everything. Always affectionately, Tyrone."

With Ty's new picture coming up, it will be several more months before he and his new bride can see her family--either in Mexico City or in Hollywood, but in the meantime there will always be the letters, the photographs and the cablegrams and postcards for the family album.

When I asked Blanca what this marriage would mean--what Linda could give to Tyrone--she said simply:
"Linda will try to be a good wife and a good mother, because Linda loves him! There is no substitute for love in a happy marriage. It is the thing that enables us women to be patient, to overlook faults.

"There is no question about Tyrone's being famous and important. And certainly, Linda loves glamour and glitter and fun. she is young. But she is a good, serious and honest girl who truly loves Tyrone. Yes, she will give him the thing he has always wanted--a happy, comfortable and loving home. She will give him love and complete understanding. These months together in Europe have given them both time to know each other. they are not questioning anything about the future. They are not confused. Each has deep respect for the other--and mutual love."

Linda's mother also told me another bit of inside news. Linda and Tyrone are trying to persuade the long-time family child governess, Annie Stainer, to return to the States with them, and care for their children--just as she cared for Linda and her sister and brothers. Annie now lives in the little village of Gabletz, near Vienna. she was with Linda's mother until 1939, in Yugoslavia, but had to return to her native Austria when war began.

In a recent letter, Linda wrote her mother: "We will send Annie to you--on a sort of a loan--for the new baby when it comes. but you must understand this will be a loan because we hope to be needing Annie ourselves, eventually."

From 'way down Mexico way, so far from the quiet church in Rome and from the snowy mountainsides of the Austrian Tyrol, we send Linda and Tyrone a very warm and sincere prayer for a lifetime of married happiness--complete with the "family of three" which they both desire.

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