The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-02-25
Selected.
The MdcEey Romance.
THE POOR NEVADA WIDOW WHOSE DAUGH
TER HAS JUST Welded TIE PRINCE
COLONNA.

Some twenty odd years ago there dwelt
in California fanny OF three persons, IA
Their mother, and daughter. The latter
was mere child. All We're young. The
her WAS II physician. Unfortunately he
injured his not very extensive practice by
intempeiancc. His hahits became SO dis
spated that the poor wife, uespalrlEg of
his reformation, aud also of the possibility
of ind, p ndenL action on her own part to
secure support for herself and child, pro-
posed u separation. The man agreed to it:
but he WAS not put up like Rip Van Wink
lie. He was assured that while he lived she
would never cease to help him, and that
when he mcndcd his ways their old rela-
tions should he restored. He departed to
cure himself, if possible, and become
worthy Of the womIn who, Sorely beset,
undertook the maintenance of the family.
Encouraged by his wile's prayers, letters,
aud heroic conduct, the doctor redeemed
himself. AL least he thought so, and his
poor wife was more than willing to believe
it. He returned to her home and heart,
warmly welcomed back 10 both. Unucki-
ly, he had either miscaIcuated his will
power, or the demon of Indulgence was
simply asleep, and by no means dead with
in him He went back 10 his cups, aud
very soon the skeleton finger of poverty
was laid upon his domestic Alters. The
devoted wife, unwilling to undertake an ex-
perinental separation, and unable to re-
main where she was, determined to Try
what change of scene would do for this
miserable man who naturally kind, talen-
ted, and wholesome, seemed To be iDsane'y
abandt ned to the devil of strong drink.
just at this crisis rumors had reached Cali
iorna of the Comstock lode discovery, and
thither many of the mining population
drifted. Across the Sierras to Virginia
City this little and most wretched family
journeyed..
The doctor pulled himself together for a
while and did some business, but his health
was gone, and very soon he died. Wild
ow and orphans were lett in the very depths
OF poverty. The generous miners had
dubbed together TO bury the doctor. They
made up purse for the mother and child
from time to time, and thus saved both
from utter deprivation of food, shelter,
and raimcnt. There was at that time, su.
pcrintendent of one Of the mines, sturdy
young freshman, who from the lowest
Of the ladder, had begun TO push
his way 10 fortune. He was not then more
than moderately well off, aud little dreamed
of the Monte Cristo casket in store for
him. He used to carry the weekly or
stipend to the widow, and his Wis
It's to her became more and more frequent.
At last he married her, and her days of
fear on the score of poverty were over.
She possessed "A well-tc-do husband, who
was the master Of his possessions, and
certain to make his way in the world. But
iu the days of distress the unhappy wo-
man had resorted TO the morphine habi',
and could not, Of her own effort, release
herself from it. A young physician at Viz
GINA City, who had recently graduated in
France Informed her that If she wouli Wis |
it Paris and put herself implicitly under
the care of his old master there, her cure
cout be guaranteed While the husband
remained to uncover, with the present jun
ior Senator from Nevada, the richest sil-
yer deposit the world has ever known, the
wife crossed the seas and submitted to Il
rigorous medical treatment. 1t WAS sue
cesstul after many months OF endurance.
Meanwhile, the famous California and Con-
solidated Virginia mines were penetrated |
by the husband, and the world-renowued |
bonanza, OF which he Was principal owner
made him At least forty times millionaire. |
The wife in Paris, now perfectly cured aud |
blooming, at once rose I'M o pl uminence and |
celebrity, for how could the marvcl-lovins
Parisians help adoring woman whose tai
eDts and beauty were matched by such Tab
ulous wealth 80 romaniically discovered. !
For years this lady, who is no other than
MIS-. john MaCkcv, mas Dttn SliNtI queen |
in the most splendid capital Of Europe. |
She has lived in palaces. Noblcmen and
men of genius have paid court at her
shrine.
Now all Paris and therefore all the uni
verse, is in a ferment over the approach
ing marriage of Miss Mackey and the |
Prince Colonna. The drift is nuptially TO
Rome, the City Of the soul, and 10 Italian
nobility. 1t is a miraculous bridging of |
the chasm that lies between the mining |
s uich of the Nevada Mountains aud St.
Peters Church, where stands in superDal
spendor, "the grandest dome tina mortal
hand has painted against Gods loyeliest !
sky" Little did the widow of the wretch |
ed doctor OF Virgioia City imagine that
she would fairly roll in wealth, dwell in
palaces, be courted by Church and State, |
be familiarly associated with the proudest |
names of The descendants of the crusaders, |
aud finally became the, motherin-aw of a
Prince Colonna, whose nobility dates back
almost to the time of Saladn. The family |
name is as famous as any in history, and |
the heir of the Colonna family is, at 81
ears of age, to wed the daughter OF the
poo" doctor who fell by the way side in Ne
vada, aud sleeps his last sleep in That stony
dessrt.-FrOm the Augusta Cons, .tutionai-
tsi.