Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-06
A ROYAL Romance.

1t was in October of the year 1899
that the two young Coburg princes
came to England. They brought with
them letter from King Leopold,
which ran as follows:
my DEAREST VICTORIA Your cous-
ms will themselves DO the bearers of
these lines. recommend them to you.
They are good and honest creatures,
deserving your kindness--no pedantic,
but really sensible and trustworthy. l
have told them that your great wish is
that they should be quite at their ease
with you"
The young men arrived. Their
cousin, no longer the little girl of Ken.
singtOn in the homely, old fashioned
mouse, but great Queen, received
them at the top of the royal staircase
amidst all the magniticeAce of Windsor
Castle, as if these two wandering knights
had been emperOrs. But after this
grand reception the commonest of iuci-
dents brings back the priGcely travellers
and the royal circle into the sympathy
OF homelier life. Their purtmanteaus,
1t is to be- supposed, had gone astray,
40 happens to so many OF us-or at
least did not arrive in tlme-and tue
dinner nour was mar. /" Their clothes
not having arrived the Queen writes
Ia her journal, they coulG not appear
al dinner, but Came In after it, in spite
Yf their morning Clothes" There was
circle OF visitors assembled, and no
doubt some little tremor IN the air
wonderings and whisperIngs, aud close
watchings of all the looks and words
interchanged between the cousins.
Prince Alder. was now full grown, in
all the freshness of twenty, the age ut
which handsome youth Is handsom-
est, before any of the bloom has been
rubbed OFT. There was in his coun-
tenance a gentleness OF expression, and
peculiar sweetness in his smile, with
look of deep thought and high intel
llgence in his clear blue eyes and ex-
pausive forehead that added charm to
the effect he produced in those who
saw him, far beyond that derived from
mere regularity or beauty OF features. "
He was Us god as he was handsome,
full OF high purpose and the most deli
cate consclentiuusAess.
And the life in the beautiful old
Sootio AL thooC ASAloW outuuIb doJ
was gay and bright Us heart could de-
sire. The head Of the house was young
and light-hearted, the visitors all proud
and happy to contribute to her amuse-
ment, and to keep the palace gay. The
way Of lie iu Windsor during tho stay
of the Princes Was much as follows:
1.-The Queen breakfastinY in her own
room, they afterward paid her visit
there, and ut two o'clock had luncheon
with her and the Duchess Vi Kent. In
the AFTERNOON they all rode, the Queen
and Duchess and the two Princes, with
Lord Melbourne and most of the ladies
large cavalcade. There was great
dinner every evening, with dance al
ter it three times week." TINS pleas.
ant reaction Went on for week. The
brothers had arrived on the Sln, Prince
Albert and Queen Victoria being then
both of u mind Ito believe their owu
statements), that the tacit understand
ing between them Was over, ana they
would not marry-not they-for years
to come. But before the 10Th ha,
come, something had changed the no
lions of the young pair. Yet the WOO
Ing was not all easy and plain before
them, as before other pairs. These
were not the days III which any noble
knight, even a prince, would address u
queen. What hai to be said must be
said by her, not by nina strange ne
| cessity. But no doubt 1t seems u more
difficult matter in talking OF 1t than II
| was III the doing of it. When the young
| Prince was summoned alone to the
young sovereIgn's presence, no doub,
tho first glance, the first VOID, was
enough to tell him that his Cause was
| won. AFTER few minutes CONVERSE
ton the Queen told him why she had
sent for him." A happy mist falls over
all that was said and done. When the
| young pair emerge from 1t, and are seeu
again of ordinary men, there IL maze
Of y idness about them winch finds ex'
preston in the same words all uI'
awures: "These last few dsys have
passed like dream to me, and 1 am SC
much bewildered by it all that l know
hardly how to write, but do feel
very happy" writes the Queen to hel
uncIe-he to whom this good news
would be 50 welcome. Aud, More
can't write to you, Tor ut this moment
am too bew,ldered. says the Prince OIL
his side, striking, as became HIM, q
holder note, and throwing his rapture
and happiness into the words Of the
poet:
"Das Ause sieht d4u Himmel cff,n,
Is schNimmt das Herz IN 81 gkclt."
upon the eyes heaven opens bright,
Tao heart Is ilooded with delight"
All this charming little idyl is told
to us by the chief actor in it, the
Queen herself, in the tulln.ss of her
heart; and the wonderful humility and
simplicity with which she throughout
puts herself Ill the secondary place Is
one Of the most remarkable exhibitions
of womanly nature that ever was re
vcaled to tho world. Glow l will
strive to make him feel as little as pos
slble the great sacrifice he has made !!
she says IN her journal, noting down
the events of that wonderful day. :" ]
told him it oaS great sacrifice on his
part, but he would not allow it,