The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-03-10

, San Francisco, but it was noticeable
that the way to all these places lay
through Detroit. lie spoke English
) marvelously we'll now, and so won up
on the hearts Of Mr.. and Mrs. St. Clair
that on the 23d Of April, being his
twenty-frst birthday, the marriage Of
the conde dc Alvala and Helen St.
Clair was duly celebrated. I could
not leave my school to be present at
the wedding, but the young couple
came to Boston to take leave Of me
before sailing for Europe. They were
radiant with happiness, and | could
hardly tell which I loved best, my
boy or my girl; but if the italian had
been there to ask if ever saw more
beautiful couple, I should have an.
swcred no with great emphasis.
! will copy Hecn's first letter in or.
der to prove that chateau en- Espagne
is not always castle in the air:
ALvALA, near Toledo, June 20, 1872.
"DEAR MADAME FLEMING: You
have heard from mother, of our voy-
age and safe arrival. We are now at
home, Francisco and |, if | can ever
learn to feel ut homo in such q grand
place, whore l can hardly find my
way round. 1t is like one of the old
palaces at Rome, the Borghese or Col,
onna, that we used to admire so much
with vast halls opening into one an,
other, hangings of tapestry and Cor
dovon leather, marble statues aud old
paintings-family portraits by Titan
and VeIasQuez one or two of Murillos,
and-but | cannot write catalogue.
You must come to see US and the pic
lures. am not sure which you will
like the best. Francisco is very good
to me, and 80 are all his friends. His
sister and her husband were here to
welcome US.
"Ono of the first things we did was to
60 down to the rose-tree walk, along
the banks of the Tagus, for moro than
q mile-white and delicate pink and
dccp-rcd rose blossoming above our
heads and dropping their petals at
our feet all the way. Francisco said
he would make my life like that walk
among tho roses, all sweetness and
beauty, but that he cannot tell. 1
"There is the old cathedral, with q
wonderful head of Saint Francis and
a whole forest Of columns; and when
you come wo will bribe the sacriston
not to lock you in, as they did at St.
Roch. l shall never be q Roman
Catholic, but I 90 TO mass sometimes,
for there is no Protestant service here
and one cannot be quite a heathen
where everybodyis so devout. What
| dislike most is to have q chaplain in
the house, walking about in his black
petticoat, but Of course | never say O
word to Francisco.
"By and by we are going to our
house in Madrid. Our house in Ma
drid! does not that sound very strange
1t all seems so unreal that am afraid
of waking up AND finding it dream"
"Do, dear Madame Fleming, give
|up Shaving in that old school and come
and live with Francisco and me. He
says he wishes you would, and it
would make everything seem more
real if had you here. Think of it,
now. You will, won't on? AS ever,
your dear child.
"HELES ALvALA."
This true story suggests little
sermon in two heads: 1st. TO all pos
siblc and probable lovers: 1t was not
the counts rank or wealth, b1t the
fervor aud constancy Of ideal love and
his whole souled, exclusive devotion,
that won the heart Of the American
girl.
I'd. To all sensible American pa
rents: Do not permit your pretty
young daughters to make a tour in
Europe unless you are willing to leave
them there. MARY +. BLAIR.