San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-20
MISREPRESENTATION.

THEPRINCE'S STRATEGEM.
In Sicilian city lived q prince, pos
sessed of large fortune, and opposite
his mansion risided Don Ambrosio, a
professor of the healing art. The doc
tor was an old man, exceedingly avari-
cious. One morning the prince caught
a glimpse of one of the loveliest faces
he ever beheld, peeping behind the
flowers in Ambrosio's garden. He fell at
once in love with the beautiful creature,
but strived in vain from his domestics
and neighbors to ascertain who she was
and her name. The doctor admitted no
one in the house save an old bag, who
served him as housekeeper. The prince
finally succeeded, by putting money
into the old woman's hands, in asser-
tanning that the young lady was word,
lately left by deceased relative to Don
Ambrosio's charge; that she way emit
tied to fortune when she became of
age; and that the doctor sought to mar
~ her himself. He kept her a close
prisoner, and she led a sad life.
The prince made many efforts to
secure an interview with his charmer,
but the old house-keeper assured him
that the only opportunity he would
have of getting near her would be on
Christmas eve, fortunately close at
hand, when Don Ambrosio had, as a
great indulgence, promised to take her
to church that she might see the cere-
monies usual on the occasion; but, not
to discover the secret Of his having a
ward, or to give cause for suspicion,
the jealous doctor intended to disguise
her as capuchin. The prince present
ed the old woman with several pieces
of gold who conveyed an impassioned
message from him to her beautiful
mistress.
The evening at length arrived. The
Prince watched until he saw the doctor
and his monkish companion leave the
house. He followed them to the church.
Pretending to fall in with them by
accident, he said:
"Ha! Don Ambrosio, are you here?
and who is this young friar in your
company"
"Only capuchin novice, a relative,
whom the prior has permitted to pass
the evening with me" replied the dis
ciple of Esculapius, who, wishing the
prince good evening, tried to shuttle off
into the middle of the crowd.
But the prince managed adroitly to
keep in their company, and, at the con-
clusion of the ceremony, declared he
had received so much pleasure in the
doctors company that he was resolved
to take him and his young charge to
supper with him. Tho alarmed doctor
was in no hurry to accept the suspicious
honor, saying that it did not become
person in his situation to sit at table
with prince.
"Pshaw!" said his excelleAcy, I'VE
are all of the same flesh and blood, all
sprung from the same forefather. If
you will not sup with me, I swear 1 will
with you. Here he said to one of
his domestics, whom he recognized in
the crowd, order my supper to be taken
over 10 the house Of Don Ambrosio;
well make night Of il"
The doctor, not knowing to what
length so wild a young man might carry
his folly, agreed TO accompany him
home, il the time could be limited to
an hour.
They seated themselves at supper.
No sooner we're the covers removed
than the prince, casting his eye from
one dish 10 the other, getting into q
ury, started up in an ecstscy Of rage.