Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-03-19
THE MAckEY ROMANCE.

THE MACkEY ROMANCE.
The Poor Nevada Widow whose Daus hter
has just Welded the Prince Colonna-
Some twenty odd years ago there dwelt
in California family of three persons,
father, mother and daughter. The
latter was a mere child. All were
young. The father was q physician.
Unfortunately he injured his not very
extensive practice by intemperance.
His habits became so dissipated that
his poorwife. despairing of his reforma-
ton. and also of the possibility of in
dependent action on her own part to
secure the support of herself and child,
proposed a separation. The man
agreed to it; but he was not put out
like Rip Van Wrinkle. He was assured
that while he lived she would never
cease to help him, and that when he
mended his ways their old relations
would be restored. He departed to
cure himself, if possible, and become
worthy of the woman who, sorely
beset, undertook the maintenance of
the family. Encouraged by his wife 8
prayers. letters, and heroic conduct, the
doctor redeemed himself. At 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 to both. I'm
luckily, he had either miscalcrlated his
will power, or the demon of indul-
gence was simply asleep, and by
no means dead within him. He
went back to his cups, and very soon
the skeleton finger of poverty was la d
upon his domestic affairs. The de-
voted wife, unwilling to undertake an
experimental separation, and unable to
remain where she was, determined to
try what change of scene would do for
this miserable man who, naturally kind,
talented and wholesome. seemed to be
insanely abandoned to the devil of
strong drink. just at this crisis ru-
mors had reached California of the
Comstock lode discovery, and thither
many OF the mining population drifted.
Across the S.erras to Virginia City
this tile and most wretched family
journeved.
The doctor pulled himself together
for while and did some bus ness, but
his health was gone, and very soon he
died. Widow and orphans were left in
thC Wei ucptiiS VI poverty. Inc gen
erous doctors had dubbed together to
bury the doctor. They made up a
purse for mother and child from time
to time, and thus saved both from ut
ter deprivat on of food, shelter and raj
ment. There was at that time, super
intendent of one of the mines, a sturdy
young Irshman, who, from the lowest
rounds of the ladder, had begun to
push his way to fortune. He was not
then more than moderately well off,
and little dreamed of the Monte Christie
casket in store for him. He used to
carry the weekly or monthly stipend to
the widow, and his visits to her be-
came more and more frequent. Atlast
he married her, and her days of fear on
the score of poverty were over. She
possessed a well-to-do husband, who
was the master of his possess ons, and
certain to make his wav in the world.
But in the days of distress the unhappy
woman had resorted to the morphine
habit, and could not, of her own effort,
release herself from it. A young
physician at Virginia City, who had re-
Gently graduated in France, informed
her that if she would visit Paris and
put herself implicitly under the care of
his old master there, her cure would be
guaranteed. While the husband re-
manned to uncover, with the present
Junior Senator from Nevada, the rich
est silver deposit the world has ever
known, the wife crossed the seas and
submitted to a rigorous medical treat
ment. 1t was successful after many
months of endurance. Meanwhile, the
famous California and Consolidated
Virginia Mines were penetrated by the
4
bonanza, of which he was principal
owner, made him at least forty times a
millionaire. The wife in Paris, now
perfectly cured and blooming, at once
rose into prominence and celebrity, for
how could the marvel-loving Parisians
help adoring a woman whose talents
and beauty were matched by such fabu-
lous wealth so Economically discovered.
For years this lady, who is no other
than Mrs. John Mackey. has been a
silver queen in the most splendid cap
ital of Europe. She has lived in pal
aces. Noblemen and men of genius
have paid court at her shrine.
Now all Paris, and therefore all the
universe, is in ferment over the mar
rage of Miss Mackay and the Prince
Colonna. The drift is nuptally tc
Rome, the City of the Soul and te
Italian nobility. 1t is miraculou.
bridging of the chasm that lies between
the m ming gulch of the Nevada Noun
tains and st. Peters Church, wher,
stands in supernal splendor 1.-The grand
est dome that mortal hand has painted
against God loveliest sky Little die
the widow of the wretched doctor o
Virginia City imagine that she weult
fairly roll in wealth, dwell in palaces
be courted by Church and State. be ia
miliarly associated with the proudes
names of the descendants of the cru
saders, and finally become the mother
in-law of Prince Colonna, whose no
bility dates back almost to the time o
Saladin. The family name is as famous
as any in history. and the heir of thu
Colonna family has. at twenty-sevei
years of age, welded the daughter o
the poor doctor who fell by the way
side in Nevada, and sleeps his last sleel
in that stony desert.-As:gusta Comsti
tuition.
WAYS OF WALL STREET.