The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-06
/, 4 CHECKERED CAREER.


a CHECKERE CIREER.
Alphopso OF Spatn--Callcd to tho Throne
at Slxtecn--Twico married. at tho Age Of
! Twonty-ono.
Queen Isabella, of Spain, was q
proligatc woman, and al unsatisiac-
tory ruler. During her reign Spain
was harassed by the claims Of Don
Carlos, and by internal disscnsions.
Finally Isabella vas forced to fec
from an excited mob, and abdicatcd
her throne. Spain became a Rcpub-
lie, then Amadeus, of Italy, was made
King, but he gladly resigned crown
that gave him only vcXation Of spirit.
AS last resort Alphonso, tho son Of
Isabella, was called to occupy the
throne from which lis mother had
been dcposcd.
At that time the hot blood Of the
Castilian was raging at fever heat;
when not two, but half dozen, differ
ent political parties were either opcn-
ly struggling or secretly conspiring
for supremacy; when all the savage
horror of civil war, not only in the
mother country, but in the colonies,
was rampant and appeared hopclessly
endless. lie came, too, as the son Of
dcthroncd and cXilcd, if not dis
graccd, Queen. Under these most
disadvantagcous circumstances did
this youthful monarch, lad of less
Than seventeen and q half years, enter
Spain to proclaim himself her King
and to rcgencratc and save his coun-
try from the ruin to which she APP
pcarcd fast fastening. Few who wit
messed it will forget the boy Kings tri-
umphant entry into tho capital on
hat bright January morning. a
handsome boy of seventeen, splendid
~ mounted and dressed in the sim
pie but withal imposing uniform of a
Spanish general, riding Darchcudcd in
advance of a brilliantly caparisoncd
stall OF the noblcst and bravcst Of that
once SO noble and brave countryl But
IL was hut a momcntary sympathy,
and the minds OF those statesmen who
brought him were not entirely at rest
after it was over. Under such not too
mcncc his reign, and life for him has
memorable day. That cares Of States
beyond the ordinary lot of kings and
domestic grictS beyond the common
lot of man have been his portion who
can deny? But he has come bravelv
and manfully out of these troubles.
Two dangerous and prolonged wars-
wars most bancful and disastrous TO q
c)untrY-hayc been overcome; Minis
tcrial squabblcs and party icalousics
for tho most part surmountcd, aud
the well being of the country in q
measure assured.
HIS FIRST MARRIAGE.
Eighteen months ago Alfonso led
Mercedes TO the altar, he but twenty,
she sweet sixteen. The daughter Of
the Due dc Montpcnsicr, and lis
cousin, he had loved her from child
hood, and for once State questions did
not tllwart tho promptillgs Of love.
The history of the fair and gentle
Mary Of the Alcrcics still lives in
popular memory, and few have for
gotten the royal idyll. begun in exile,
pursued amid countless obstacles,
which had its day OF triumph on
january %, 1873, when AIionsos
choice was solemnly blessed in the
Church of Atocha. In those stately
aislcs, filled with all that Spain could
i.s hoast Of m"hi,itIH, . ,cD Of weath ds ard 2:
organ, She advanced on the arm OIL
the Princess of the Asturias, in her
robe Of white satin and her snowy
mantle, with n diadcm of pearls ON
her brow and the lovc-light in her
eyes. Great and general national re-
loicing celebrated this wedding, SOL
cmUZcd under auspices so favorable.
traught with so abundant promise of
happiness. IN five months the royal
pair were parted forever. Death
came III between. Alfonso knclt at
Mercedes bedside and sworc that
nothing should make him faithlcss TO
her memory. Spain was plunged into
mourning that, for once, was no
mere outward show. Mercedes fair
young sister, the Princess Christina. q
vision Of beauty, with cloud of sim
shiny golden hair about her, received
the news as she lay on a sick bed.
ooh, Mcrccdcs!"' she cried, "why
could l not have died for you?" Fate
was 10th to part them. Christina
sank from hour to hour. TO the last
she kept souvenirs of Mercedes
lockcts and bracelets and rings, each
linked with some happy day in the
past. IN the young widowcr she sent
caskct, presented TO her on the
wedding day. "Give it back to
Alfonso" she cried; cit will remind
him Of Christina and Mercedes"
Then, turning gently to the weeping
family, "Ah, there is Nlcrccs!" She
whispered. "At last am going to
sec my little pct again." So one sis
ter driitcd out Of life to meet the
other.
TIME TIE HEALER.
1t was very soon after the death of
the first queen Of Alfonso XII that
Spanish politicians and statesmen cn-
tcrtaincd the idea that their sovereign
would have to seek another partner.
State reasons were adduccd to show
the necessity for Il now and foreign
alliance. 1t was argued that only in
this way could the King dispcrse the
hopes Of Carlisln and its supporters.