, 1881-10-27
SPANISH BOURBONS.

King Alfonso and His IJrAt Wife,,
Nlerccslen-Iile 1sx.tluecn 1Aabclln
and Her Husband.
In american CaMsti IN Spatn IN tn Attp Turk Hour
During stay Of twenty-five years lii
Europe Ind tho good fortune. through pc-
cnIiar circumstances, to know llaiiy nelll-
hers OF the Spanish bourbon family, i'll
cludtng Ktng Alfonso. Ills mother, cx.(luccn
Isabella, nnd grandmother, Queen Cllrlsstn'l.
Tliu l,ewHlapcr correspondents rtyAllcd caclt
other IN itlycMtfnE stories OF Altohso's
conrtstllp nllu lnarringe will tho Princess
Mercedes. Residents OF Afndrll at tile
tiluo used to slnlto ut tho enthusiastic nc
counts Ut Tho tlol1,gs OF tic hetrothed couple;
tlleir utmost plelleia,, l0yu, which Threatened
tu break asulltlur tho etfqnrt Of ruyalty nltA
gnlnt,lata III u GretHA GreeM r0l,lni,ce. All
these pretty loyo sturles were Inventions
Tho Klug had never met Ills bfide but
twice betoru llo ,naslo lIer Ills Wits.
WHEN Ills mother left Santalsdcr III
lSGs md lied Into Frullce-taktng
with her own jewels and thosn Df tho Stntc.
l,ur fu,ai!y un1 ltor loyer, Marforl-ynll'ig
Alfonso, lien about 10 years old. was sent
to school at Vfcl,na. Ills vacations wero
passed III Iaris ut his motlser's l4ousc, where
lio wus tn 10 found w,en mt learning tllo
Vices of parls III company Will, his governor,
the Uuku of Suxt0, wiI0sa reputation fur gal-
lantry Ii only etI,latol by ta.at OF tho famous
Duko of Orleans.
The toyoIy and v|rtuous Mercedes enlerul
| tho paluce Of Madrid to becoH,u u martyr.
Tln young King retg,lc.l. wllllo tho Duke of
Sexto, tira,,d Chamberlain Of the Court, gov
crned. This tall.ous nobluAan Ia ubont 1t
years old, but wllvn freshly painted, per-
TUNED, i,Al dressed might pass for 10. lilo
short III stature, weMrs blacl: whlskcrs,
IL very coartIy. und g!orles In his
reputallnn or y Loysaee. TIE nHs'sess
Ills pnssIon, aud when sl!o dlea ut l'atis lle
went nto ase!' II, '!GtHr,tns y To Epress;
tuAu Il wife, Md h'.e married HIN ~ the
| widow nf tile Due 10 N0rlly, uiutl.or Ut ses-
eral Children. al!d t!ls puasess1r ~ !h;!lly
|iS: sE Yts s M Re o P9Ee e Sr E|F. t's1 1'eks @ IL
i5S So d. ss svxto e' isiSrnc. to Mata VII wit lis
funtly, where the proclamation, Ut Alfonso
fs +" ui.a ill., is aant i!asS siacS ssSerns.! IL iii
uMyoy to ask tho ln!l.l of Alcfretes. II was
DO who sat ut tt,o lctt Ut tie 9oy-kny VIM,
t!lo 9lr and u seek for 9alIant adventures,
Which tlle Duke inntle 10 seelut of prcsi'artnE
for lIiusclt alupnrtl. Out Of theso g''llantrlca
grew. tl9 s!rcun,sta''scs t whc ,gg;, gyy ts
quickly, end"! her days. Tug "kIan!!e:s
insipuutc IL iIcr thu litlaelity 1t Alfonso,
N,l1 sl,u soon ysrtl!o. their .rep0rls.. Dunes
t!e sce,Ies, excuses, mud vltupuliltl0lls, such
III characterize lnnrtAls III everyday llfr, III,
Hued. II ~ salA ttlat tlle royal col,piu went M
su fur u to t,r0w bouts Vt ol,o another. Thu
in0,ment WIS NNpr0ptt0nK with tho Mol'!t
aud yirtuOua McrCedcs. Shc took tU llcr bct
| allli never rose n9nlll.
Alfona.l IL ttslRursa with u scrofl,laus
sear or his neck. ll0 IL short, llaA larku blur
eyes, llk0 Ills mother, nn i,.lnlcise fout MUD
hQpd, alul Wllai lle walks III las moro ttlt
Watldliny movement vi duck tAan Of U