The Irish standard., 1886-09-18
MISS KATE FlELn.

MISS KATE FlELn,
veracious Account Of Her Only Love Al.
fair by One who Ought to Be Posted.
[Eugene Field, in Chicago News.l
There is not an toto of truth in the Phila.
delphia Ne,os' rumor that Miss Kate Field is
about to be married to Western journal
list. Miss Field will never wed, and the
secret Of her celibacy will be found in a
singularly sad and romantic tale which
has never, we think, been put i'll print.
Some years ago Miss Field made a visit
to Spain, with view Of aoquainting her.
self with certa. old Castiiian legends
which she desired to make literary use OF.
She took with her many letters of intro
duction to Spanish grandees, among them
q letter to Marshal Serrano. This wealthy
and influential noblemen received her most
cordially and entertained her at his castle
in Madrid for several weeks, his wife, q sis.
ter Of the Comts de Paris (now deceased>,
being particularly charmed by the vigor OF
Miss Fields intellect, and the insinuating
grace Of her manners. It happened that
during her stay at Serrano castle tho beau.
tiful young American met among other
Spanish noblemen tho young Alvaredo
Lopez y Jesus de Ratz, one Of the wealth
lest, handsomest and bravest cions OF
Spanish royalty. He was hidalgo of the
thirty-second magnitude, heir-apparent to
the dukedom of Aragon, and, what was
considered better than all else, he possessed
large political influence and stood high in
the favor of the dominant party. Alvaredo
Lopez de RaM fell a willing victim to the
personal and intellectual charms of the
fascinating American girl, and with that
precipitancy peculiar to the impassioned
sons Of stately old Spain he avowed his
love at the second meeting. Somewhat
startled by the suddenness Of his fervid
declaration, though not insensible to his
exceeding eligibility, Miss Field coyly en-
ployed those evasive, Fabian arts which
so admirably beseen1 her sex and which
render beautiful girl all the more beauti
full in the opinion of mankind So: there
fore, Alvaredo set himself bravely to the
task of melting the marble heart Of the
proud American at whose inperious feet
he had incontinently cast down his heart,
his titles, his hopes, his all. Day after day
he weaved sonnets to her eyes and hair OF
pursued her with sighings and avowals:
night after night he fingered beneath her
in amorous serenades with the throbbing
tones of his mandolin or lutte.
One day Miss Field, accompanied by the
young Alvaredo Lopez de Ratz, went to
the amphitheater to witness a bull-fght,
the same being celebration of the feast
of st. Jsadore. When they reached the
place they found that their seats were on
the other side of the amphitheater, and to
save time they thought to cut across the
arena, the combat not having yet begun.
Scarcely, however, had they reached the
center of the arena when, by some fatal
blunder, the door to the bull-pen was
thrown open and out rushed monstrous
Andalusian bull, lashing his tail wildly,
paving the earth and following fiercely.
"Suave mio Suave 1nio!'' (Save mel
Save meD cried Miss Field in tones that
would have wrung the most callons heart.
s'Carissima mial'' answered Alvaredo
Lopez de Ratz ste suavo spezzaV DEAR
est, will save 5heeN
Then drawing his stiletto the brave
young lover threw himself between the in
furiated bull and the red parasol which
Miss Field had unfurled, and behind which
she stood, pale, shrieking, trembling.
While the bull gored at Alvaredo Lopez de
Ratz that valiant young nobleman carved
and whitfield the shaggy monsters froth-
ing nostrils right dexterously. Meanwhile
divers picadors, natadors and cavaliers
fastened to the rescue Of Miss Field, who
was borne insensible from the arena
But what Of Alvaredo Lopez Jesus de
Ratz9 Alas his gored and lifeless remains,
mutilated beyond recognition, we're raked
up and gathered together after the mata-
dors had slain the infuriated bull A
braver man was never borne from the bat
Me-field on two-score and ten dustpansl
Ever since that tragedy Miss Field has
disdained she advances Of the masculine
SEX Pondering ever on the fate Of her
young Spanish suitor, she never hears an
impassioned avowal that she does not
droop her pretty head and rsgretfully
murmur: "RatzV"