The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-09-26


msrrisd. An embassy is shortly to set
ont from Madrid to Vienns. to bring
the Archduchess Marie Christine to
Spain, when she will become Alfonso's .
bride. The poor young man has never
seen her. Hs does not even know what
her mothers temper is. nor TO what ex-
tent her brothers will borrow money Of
him, but. nevertheless. he will have to
marry her. ant live on friendly terms
with the whole Of her numerous Ger
man relatives.
Whether Alfonso has secured desir-
able wife or not remains TO be seen II
the Archduchess Marie Christine should
turn out to be q nice girl. 1t wonld.
however. be O mere matter Of luck. SO
fer - Alfonso. King Of Spain. u Gun
oernssl. he has not been allowed the
least liberty Of choice. but has hal 10
accept the Princess whom his Cabinet
thought proper to select.
And yet the young mAn is decidedly
more fortunate than most persons His
first wife WAS q Spanish girl. and he
WAS actually allowed some little liberty
Of courtship. She was the daughter OF
old Dakc Mont psnsier. who. having for
many years followed the profession OF
pretender to the Spsnish throne. agreed
to 90 out Of business on condition that
his daughter snoald marry tho King.
Montpensier sstherefore very friendly
10 his intended son in.lsw. and gave
him every shows Western t.tes-
uan would say. Alfonso was allowed
to como every Sunday night and sit in
tho Mont tpensier's hack parlor. and At
$3.50 the old gentleman went to led.
with discretion which could be- wish
ed that all fathers should initiate.
Moreover. Alfonso and Mercedes were
sllowel to take moonlight, walks. aud
it is said they once swa"g together Oh
the front gate. Still. the young King
was made to feel the burden OF his
rank. lie WAS never allowed to 90
courting without the company OF two
Cabinet Ministers and . squadron OF
dragons. It WAS ell very we'll for old
Nontpensier to 90 81 bed ut $50. but
it availed little so long as two Cabinet
Ministers persistent!y sat in the back
parlOr. Perhaps they were humane
men and occasionally heard u SUPP 'si-
tious cat in the dining room. wh.ther
they went in q few moments in pretend
ed search OF her. but i, is more proba-
bls th~, they strictly performed their
duty aud sat in the back parlor with
invsriable persistency. Then. too. the
romance Of . moonlight walk must
have been seriously marrcd by the ten
Dragons that rode clanking in front Of
them, aud tho ten more that came clat.
tering behind them. As for the alleged
trout gate exploit. i. must hav, been
large gate that held King. a Princess
Al d two Cabinet Minister'S, and in the
We can but regard the
gate-swinging asa prosGic failure. Nav
erthelsss Alfonso has had = little ex
periance "f real cour,ship. and in that
respect he i. far in advance Of any
other king Of modern times
But. alas' the good young Queen
Mercedes died. and Alfonso had not
even the poor privilege Of mourning
her aid remaining constant to her men,
ory. His advisers tell him he must
marry, psovidinR he intends 70 carry on
the business Of reigning monarch.
and he meetly obeys them. There re-
mains to him only few days in which
he can smoke quietly in the front par.
lor. and can 60 10 bed with consoliug
pipe. Before very long the Prime Min
ister will say: "Plesse. your Majesty.
the Archduchess has arrived. and you
must brace up and be married like .
man. After oil. her nose isn't so bad
- it might be. aud she has only two
brothers." And the poor young King
will msckly 60 to tho altar. envying
the lackey that opens bis coach door,
who can court the third assistant cham
bermaid when. where and how it may
please him.