Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29
How Young and Beautiful Girl Has
Ruled a Great Country,
TORN WITH CIVIL DISSENSIONS.
A To bacconist's Son Assembled the Steps of
a Throne.
STRANGE STORY OF SPANISH ROYALTY
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.

advisers, but this young girl came unex-
pectedly to the throne of country torn with
civil wars, a country where she was looked
upon with hatred, and she has made her
position strong, not only with power, but
with love.
Alphonso was handsome and good ma
tured, romantic from his many amours and
the pathetic story of his first Queen, This
new intruder was an Austrian. She had
disappointed the nation twice in giving
birth to girls, and it was thought the throne
might go to pieces or to tine everlasting
Carlists, when she rallied herself, as it were,
gave birth to a son and took the reins of
Government with such tact and ability, that
she is now loved with almost fanatical de-
votion.
She understands the power of personality,
and is always herself on the spot reviewing
the arlIy in person, opening the Cortes, at
tending all national exhibitions, going to
the furthest part of her kingdom in case of
calamity, taking active part in all Govern
ment reforms, in fact, proving herself one
of the most active and able of existing SOW
ereigns.
will not repeat the well-worn tales of
the court of the baby king, his nurses and
his uniforms. 1t is of the kinglet's great
grandfather that my revelations will this
time speak. For remember story an old
Spanish grandee once told me, under
pledge of secrecy, in little old Bohemian
Spanish inn in Paris, frequented by For
tuny and Madragar, where I was staying to
gets bits of color for a Franco-Spanish
novel. 1 promised never to tell, but moth.
ing was said about writing.
The story is different from that published
in court history, but the grandee was a dis
tant relation of the hero, and the story of
such a nature that I do not think he would
have told it if it had not been true.
A LOYAL CHILD.
The ruler who preceded Queen Isabella
was strange, coarse man of violent temper
and repulsive exterior. Extremely suspi-
cious of his subjects, he was always trying
to test their affection, to penetrate by dis
guise into their homes that he might learn if
he was beloved by his people. 1t was point
he was exceedingly tender on. One evening
toward dusk he left the palace in disguise
Some new rumors that he was unpopular had
disturbed him and he could not rest till he
had investigated them. AS he approached
the borders of the royal park he found that
he had forgotten his tobacco, and seeing
light CLEAN from a little shop where his
soldiers were supplied, he bent his steps
towards it. On entering he only found a
boy, who had been left in charge by his
father, the tobacconist. While making his
purchase His Majesty noted the singular
beauty and intelligence of the child's face
and asked him his name, which the boy
said was Lorenzo. The King then lighted
a cigar and skillfully led the conversation
till he had induced the boy to speak OF his
feeling for his sovereign, when the uncon-
scious child disclosed a heart of such loyalty
Iar ,Ia- -, e1.&o sc
| which he freely babbled of, that the mon
arch exclaimed: "Would all my people
were educated like this; then would my
throne stand frml' Then he left him gaz-
ing with astonishment at gold piece in his
hand.
The next morning the king called his
chamberlain, and said: "The tobacconist on
the borders of my park has son of great
intelligence; wish him placed in the royal
college "But, Your Majesty, the college is
only for the sons of mobiles" "obey my Or
ders"
Some time after this the king paid visit
to the college to learn of the progress of his
new favorite. The teachers praised the boy,
but complained that the other students i'll
treated him, and would not associate with
him. because he was not a noble. "Lorenzo,
come here" the King cried; and putting his
arm round him. said, before them all: kiss
me, nv boy" Then taking a decoration
from his breast, he pinned it on the child
and said: ST make him noble; treat him as
if he were nv son"
The poor old King had married his fourth
wife, and still was childless. His infrmities
grew upon him and he was now stricken
with fearful disease-so horrible and
repulsive that all fled from bim. Lorenzo
had now left college and entered the army,
and the King had lost sight of his little
favorite. The boy had grown up to be
handsome young officer of the most luscious
Spanish type.
DEATH AND INTRIGUE.
One day the monarch, i'll and almost de-
serted, heard someone playing sweet little
melody on a mandolin from the garden out
side. The air soothed him, and he cried:
'.Who is that?'' "It is Lorenzo, your
Majesty" "Send him to me-" Then, as
the young officer stood before him, he dis
missed his attendants and said: "Do you
love me, Lorenzo?' The poor old King was
disgusting to behold, swollen beyond
semblance to humanity, sans eyes, sans
| teeth, sans everything, and in the clutches
of his dreadful disease. Lorenzo's great
feeling could forget all, and bursting into
tears, he threw his arms around that mass
of corruption, crying: 81 love you, your
Majesty. would give my life to save you
one moments pain" ''Then you shall
never leave me-"
After this Lorenzo was always at his side.
| But now comes new actor on the scene of
this strange drama-the Queen. The Prin-
cess Christina, daughter of the King OF
| Naples. AS the disease progressed even
the attendants fled and in all the crimson
| and gold of the royal chamber only Lorenzo
and the Queen were left to watch the bed of
death. Lorenzo was one of those who seem
to be born to die for their sovereign, but
the young Queen did not look with the same
loyal eyes on the dying King and she soon
! fell in love with Lorenzo.
Before her child was born she caused
new law to be passed securing succession to
it whether male or female and that is how
Isabella came to the throne.
The young Queen now plunged deeper into
guilt, and fearing for the future began to
secrete great sums of money and even to re-
place some of the crown jewels with paste.
In this she wanted Lorenzo to become her
I accomplice. Reluctantly led before, he now
saw his chance for power over her. Soon
the time came when they sat on either side
of bed with a corpse between them.
Lorenzo" she said, 81 will always remem-
Der your services. I will reward you with
| great honors and titles" "One title will
be sufficient, madam, I" he said, with smile.
"Whas do you mean?" she cried. "Your
husband or you 60 to the scafoldP"
A POPULAR QUEEN.
And so the tobacconist's son mounted the
throne. But let us turn from those times of
intrigue and horror to the present. If we
do not find Queen Christina riding or sitting
In the park with the little King, we will
surelv find her handipo over her en hro;darx,