Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-07-23

Victoria. like all other girls, had
some lovers before the lucky one came,
says Writer in io@n Topics. Her
first wis the late Lord Elphnsione,
4 tall, siugular.y handsome young sco'-
fish peer, who Was sent 20 Madras rs
governor to ct HIM oul OF the way
Her next wa, Lore, Fl2allan. another
six-footor a splendid officer OF the FIRST
Life Guards. grandson of the then Duke
of Norfolk. and afterwards the Duke OF
Norfolk himself; but he WAS koman
n- Catholic "A fatal objection. FltzalIan
+ fell passionataly In love with pretty
4 sbar-maid, who administered beer III
tan oppositc the Horse Guards, and
wished to marry her lis family scr
him abroad 10 yet over his young pas
sion. and. falling i'll at Athens he mar
ried the daughter of Admiral Lyons.
British minister there. and sister OF
Lord Lyons. remembered rs minister at
Washington. who had attended him
through his sickness, and who Is SUI
living rs doWagcr duchess, Her third
lover WAS Lord Alfred Pagct, one OF
the Marquis of AnglcscyS splendid
sons. and officer of the "H!ucs. stand
ING about six feet two, who IS the father
of Capt Page,. married TO one Miss
Minnie Stevens, and who was then her
equerry-in-chicf, and has continued an
equcrry ever since.
This love affair was regarded as 50
dangerous that King Leopold Of Bel
GUM the queens uncle brother OF her
mother, the Duchess of kent, was sent
for. The result was that Prince Albert
was sent for next. Albert was at that
time a courteous. chastc, quiet, mild,
bland, accomplished prince, but here
and there a keen observer might have
detected ON his round. full face q flush,
and i'm his manner Il tiuttor, which
bespoke the agitation that swclled the
heart beneath. Over the chimney-piece,
too, of his student chamber there hung
one of Chalon's exquisite drawings OF
Victoria, which, though too iiatterng,
graceful, and airy even then, STILL when
surrounded with the interest which of
itself lent beauty 10 young girl placed
in such a position. gave = taircr idea OF
her than would be imagined in her
present groSser figure and highly-color-
ed face. Albert, though little noticed
had been present at Nictoria's corona
ton scene, a silent, but not we fancy,
an uninterested spectator When Vic
toria was seated on Prince Edwards
throne. and the shout which proclaimed
the Girl he was educated to look as his
wife Queen of that empire on which
the sun never sets. rang along the roof
of the good old abbey. and was borne
on the hoom OF guns down to the city
tower. he must have felt some emotion;
and when she tripped over, with agile
grace, to lift up old Lord Role, who
had tumbled may We not fancy that
emotion grew into some softer feeling?
Well, nj all events, when Leopold
sent for Albert, quick. and with luggage
light, - young American starting for
Arkansas. the appointed youth booked
himself in the small steamer which
staggers between Osten and Dover.
The affair wa. very quietly managed 10y
Leopold. In the court-circlc column
the princes name found rather a mean
and miniuned place, and rs the prince
and queen went out the evening after
his arrival for a saUnter i'm the woods
their stroll WAS moh-crycd except by
the select few vino W.r, iu lho secret.
We thOugAt il Very funny, bat Vic
toria's maid, Ho-aIc kind, mis-
? chicyou-. merry iol, cH from Longen-
schwalbach, and who wa, more excited
that evening than Victoria, herself -
prattlcd for a little gui.dcr, 10 the court
news man ol how AlhrrtS meek ewes.
when they returned were radiant with
Joy. and Victoria looked slightly flushed
and wore i'm her eirdic small flower
the flower OF a love which through all
the darkness of WidoWhood has never
lost lis froshncs,-and her ,traW-cottage
hat was crushed back in front. BE this
as it may. the clubman calling the next
], q .