The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-10

70 ner, Cnrlstlna ol napsputg Was uIoao-
fully mortified.
To show that she resented with proper
spirit the indignity, she declared, when
Alfonso proposed, that she would only
consent on further and mere intimate
acquaintance, and that he must assume a
supphant attitude for the hand which he.
had disdained for that Of another. "lf
he wants. to win me" said the Arch
duchess, "let him come and WOO me. It
Is his place to court me, and not mfne to
go and pick up the handkerchief which
he eondescends to throw down."
Alphonso did not think the worse OF
the Archduehess for the air she took with
his matrimonial agents at Vienna. Leav-
ing off signing over the. likeness of the
departed Queen, and dwelling with COM
placency on pleasing souvenirs OF the
Archduchess, he became an ardent sutton,
and sent word that, were be only to win
the Archduchess by penetrating into the
wilds Of, Central ASIA he would gladly
undertake a journey there.
However, when the Crown Prince Rur
delphi Of Austria visited Madrid with
view to become suitor for the hand OF
the poor Infanta Maria del Pillar, a meet
ing was arranged between King Afphonso
and Archducless Christina at Areachon,
near Bordeaux. The King, travelling
from Spain ineognito as the Marquis OF
Coxadonga, arrived ON Saturday, and
the Archduchess, accompanied by her
,,,nfhar a,,1 oyrita tim no "
before.
Princess Christina, still on her dignity,
proposed that the first interview should
take place at the little casino, where the
public assemble in the evenings for music
and other distractions, and be ostensibly
a chance meeting. But Alphonso over
came this conventional obstacle thrown
in his way by Fastening to the Villa Belle
garde Immediately after his arrival, to
pay visit. This show OF ardent court
ship dispelled the last reserve, and the
two lovers settled matters between them
in the garden, while their courties re-
manned in the drawing-room. When the
happy pair re-entered the villa, the cor.
respondent of Truth reports that Chris
tina, who had an engaged ring On hel
finger, led AL lphonso to her stepmother
whom she thus addressed in French: 81
have the honor, madame, to present &c
YOU my future husband" Alphonso gal
lantly Kissed the hand of tile Archduch.
ess Charles, who, be hoped, would accep'
from him the duty Of son. He theI
took his leave. ,...,.s t.
The next day the lovers attended higf
mass together, and in the afternoon went
out to sail ON the calm bay, where re
gatta happened to take place.
The next day there were some difficult
ties to be settled, by the Kings persona
consent, with regard to the future en-
tourage Of the Austrian bride. The in
variable etiquette On former occasions
had been for queen consort, on erossine
the Spanish frontier to take leave Of thu
ladies and gentlemen Of her father''
court, who had to return home withou
even appearing at the marriage cere
mony. But the Archduchess would no
submit to be made sort of state prison
er bv the rules of an antiquated etiquette
on the very day of arrival in the land o1
her adoption She stipulated to have hel
own German physician, German private
secretary, three Austrian chamberlains
and as many ladies Of honor.
What could King Alphonso do bat
agree, and face the ire Of his grandees
who had claimed from time immemorial
a prescriptive right to the principal
posts in the royal household? The Aus.
trian negotiatops also insisted On settle.
ment of a sufficiently large sum out Of
the Kings private fortune on Christins
to support her with suitable dignity in
case another .pronunciamento should
terminate Alphonso's lease Of the Span
ish throne. This dover was invested in
foreign securities out Of the reach Of the
Cortes. Afphonso's Hapsburg rose wa'
thickly set around with thorns, but thi
was the sharpest of all, considering tina
the young Kings private estate is no
everburdened with wealth, and much de
pends upon the goodwill Of his mother
Isabella, who is particularly we'll dis
posed at present toward her son.