The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1878-04-20
THE QUEENS ENGAGEMENT AND
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.

HOW III CANE ABOUT.
An inquistlve contributor to the Figaro
(says London correspondent of the Chi
cago Tr'6une), who writes under the name
Of "lgnst'us," has apparently been diving
deep into the secrets of BalmoraI and
Windsor. Some Of his discoveries would
considerably surprise her Majesty, l fancy;
but, on the whole, the revelations Of "Ig-
natus" are sufficiently sober, and, if un-
reliable, at least charmingly recorded.
The following extract, in which he tells
the story of royal courtship, is, think, as
dainty bit Of writing as any have seen
in paper this many day:
Certainly, the young Queen thought
less Of England than Of marriage. The
Ministers would fsin have made her mar
riage sort Of international treaty. Be-
yond all doubt, Victoria was the finest
match in the world. The Queen, how
ever was full Of host Of little projects,
ever shifting and changing, like the little
heaps of sand the children gaise in the
Garden Of the Luxembourg. She told her
mother that she would wed with no one
whom she did not love. The Duchess Of
Kent reported the speech to the Ministers,
who thought it revolutionary in the ex-
treme. Coronation-day came, and next
day the bali at Windsor. Among the
dancers was q tall, handsome. slender stu.
dent, from the University Of Bomber
cousn-a Cobourg, like herself. The
Queen noticed him, and Prince Albert
did not return to Bonn. Even had he not
loved, he would have stayed and he
loved. But his cousin was the Queen
Here the woman had to make the advance.
Victoria, deeply touched as she was BY
this love (Which was never more to leave
her) could not easily conquer the maiden
" timidity due to her severe education.
Nevertheless. morning came. I assure
you invent nothing. Although the
Queen has not consented to relate these
delightful incidents, Prince Albert has told
them to his friends.
Nevertheless, then, morning came.
They were riding together, he and she,
down the great avenue Of oaks At Windsor.
Those oaks were younger then, but old
enough already. After gaIlop they found
themselves alone. We know how danger
ous it is for man and woman to ride to-
ge:her. Suddenly the Queen took = sprig
Of houeysuckle from her bosom, and,
STOPPING, offered it to Prince Albert.
Bending to reach it, his lips touched the
tips Of his Cousins gloves. Perhaps twas
the fault Of the horses. The woods Of
England and of France know we'll how
many loves the noble brutes have been the
cause Of. A silence followed, more sweet
than anything ever sung to the heart by
Mozart.
Next morning Prince Albert still wore
the honeysuckle 10 his button hole. He
kept it even when it had faded. A fort.
night after that ride the plenipotentiary
minister handed King Leopold Of Belgium
a tiny letter, closed by an enormous red
seal, as though it bid mighty secret Of
state. 1t began my Dear Uocle," and
was signed, "Victoris."
A month later, the Queen mentioned
her intentio, to marry Prince Albert Of
Saxe.C Cobourg Goth to her Ministers. She
asked their counsel, bat with . pretty Dir
Of decision which caused them to reply
with unanimous Eyes" The wedding
took place on the 10th OF February, 1910.
The Queen Of England had married for
iove-ike bourgeoise, l was going to
say, but the bourgeoises marry but little
for love now. Lord Melborne was right
when he told England that ''the Queens
marriage was the Queens romsnce."