Wichita eagle., 1890-03-09

pains to impress on his memory, dld not
r,rove so attractive as the earliest west
ern train.
WHY make long story of what every
one foresees? In the course OF the au-
tumn and winter the count made Tying
visits to Washington, Philadelphia. New
Orleans. and even San Francisco, but 1t
was noticeable that the way to all these
places Law through Detroit. He spoke
English marvelously well now, and so
won upon the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. st.
Clair that on the Esd of April, being his
twenty-first birthday. the marriage of
the Conde de Alvala and Helen st. Clair
was duly celebrated. l could not leave
nv school to be present at the wedding,
but the young couple came to Boston
to take leave of me before sailing for Eu
rope They were radiant with happi-
ness, and 1 could hardly tell which /
loved best, my boy or my girl: but if the
Italian had been there to ask if l ever
saw more beautiful couple, should
have answered no with great emphasis.
will copy Helen's first letter In order
not always castle in the air:
"ALvALA, near Toledo,
June 20. 1872.
DEAR NINE. FLEMING-You have
heard from mother of our voyage and
safe arrival We are now at home,
Francisco and !, if / can ever learn to
feel at home in such a grand place,
where can hardly find my way round.
1t is like one of the old palaces at Rome,
the Borghese or Colonna, that we used
TO admire SO much. with vast halls open
ing into one another. hangings of tapes
try and Cordovan leather, marble stat
ues and Oil paintings-family portraits
by Titan and Velasquez. one or two Mu
rillos, and-but | cannot write cata-
logue You must come to see US and the
pictures am not sure which you will
like the best. Francisco is very good to
me, and so are all his friends. His Sis
ter and her husband We're here to well
come us.
lone of the first things we did was TO
20 down the rose tree walk, along the
banks Of the Tagus. for more than q
mile-white and delicate pink and deep
red roses blossoming above our heads
and dropping their petals at our feet all
the way. Francisco said he would make
my life like that walk among the roses,
al! sweetness ard beauty, but that he
cannot tell
There is the old cathedral, with a
wonderful head of St. Francis and a
whole forest Of columns; and when you
come we will bribe the sacristan not to
lock you in, as they did at st. Roch.
shall never be Roman Catholic, but |
go to mass sometimes, for there is no
Protestant service here, and one cannot
be quite heather where every body is so
devout. What dislike most is to have
q chaplain in the house, walking about
in his black petticoat, but of course l
never say a word to Francisco.
''By and by we are going tc our house !
in Madrid. Our house in Madridl does
not that sound very strange? 1t all seems
so unreal that L am afraid of waking up |
and finding it dream.
do, dear Nine. Fleming, give up |
shaving in that old school and come and |
live with Francisco and me. He SAYS |
he wishes you would, and it would make /
everything seem more real if l had you
here. Think Of it, now. You will, won't |
You? As ever, your dear child,
"HELEN ALvALA."
This true story suggests little sermon
in two heads: 1st. To all possible and
probable lovers: 1t was not the counts
rank or wealth. but the fervor and con-
stancy of ideal love and his whole souled,
exclusive devotion. that won the heart of
the American girl. I'd. To all sensible
American parents: Do not permit your
pretty young daughters to make tour
in Europe unless you are willing to leave
them there.
THE END.
A! / AROUND THE HOUSE.