The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-05
A Sad Romance OF Real Life.


Who will say that this practical age has
killed all romancep The following narrative
is true one, and is youched for by very
high authority. The charming grace and
dramatic expression with which 1t was told
Is, of course, lost In this second edition; but,
as sad yet true tale, of which an American
girl Is the heroine, 1t Is given herewith as
nearly as possible as related, One of our
rich oil kings Tor If it was not oil, he was
king Of something rich) went to Paris little
over year ago, taking with him his wife
and his beautiful daughter, q lovely and
childlike maiden, who showed not the slight
est trace of resemblance to the worthy peo-
pie, her parents. All that money could do
to develop this charming creature had been
layished upon her. She could sing most
sweetly, play with charming Interpretation
dance like an houri, draw and paint with I'M
common talent-in short, she was perfection,
and her parents simply idolized her. She
had not been long In Paris when she attract
ed the attention OF young Prince n heir of
one of the oldest families of Italy. Through
an eminent American whom the prince num-
bered among his acquaintances. he obtained
an INTRODUCTION to the young lady and be-
came her devoted cavalier, surrounding her
with attentions and sh0werlng upon her
flowers, bonbons, everything ttat the world
deems 1t permissible for a young man to be-
stow upon maiden. The father, however,
viewed his attention with cold dislike, aud
finally took his daughter away from Paris.
Our American family found pleasant
quarters In Naples, and thither the prince
finally waited upon the father to request
permission to win the girl for his wife. He
met with prompt and decided refusal. Dis
appointed and astonished, the prince. who
was was young; handsome and rich, and. whose
tion. II have three reasons" said the
sturdy American, each one of which would
be sufficient to settle the question. In the
hrst place. would never give my daughter
to Roman Catholic; secondly, she shall
never marry foreigner, and last. and by no
means least, she Is ali we have. and her
mother and could never consent to be sep
arated from her," In vain the prince pltad-
ca the father was durate, and aRain the
fully passive 10 the affair, was takfn
away-this time back to Paris. Prince
u. remained at home dsconsoIaie.
And now comes toe part of the story which
Is equally disappointing and romantic. The
girl died after few days of sudden illness.
or course she ought to have lived and mar
ri d the prince, but this is true story and
we cannot change the facts. A mutual
friend wired the prince. who arrived. how
ever. too late to see the face of her whom he
had loved so passienately and suddenly,
Meeting on the common ground of grief for
the loved and lost, the prince and the father
were reconciled. A large ship was chartered
and Its largest cabin beautifully fitted up as
chapel. In which upon bier In front of the
altar, was placed the coffin containing the
embalmed body of the dead girl. Then the
ship, with father and lover on board, set sail
for home.
All through the long voyage the candles
are kept burning aud daily service Is held in
the mortuary chapel, which the two mourn.
ers invariably attend. The millionaire owns
his own docks and the stately ship sails up
into the harbor. coming to anchor at the
very portals of the maiden's own dearly
loved home. On the dock are 1000 workmen
OF her fathers with Grape on hat aud sleeve,
waiting for their dead. Slowly the coffin Is
lowered to the boat; reverently it Is carried
on the land wherestand the many men with
barred heads to receive it. Very carefully
and tenderly it Is lifted by six chosen bear
ers and slowly and solmenly il is borne ND
the long ayenre to the house. The father
and the prince become intimate through
their weird journey and In mutual sympathy
walk together In the procession, the men
forming two by two and falling into rank.
The last rights are paid, the body committed
to Its native earth, and without one look at
the New World the prince takes steamer
the day after for Europe. That this man
should have been fated to love this woman
with love as strong as death seems passing
strange. That this medieval story should
belong to our own time and country seems
strange yet; but it is all quite true and re-
cent.