Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-05-11

formed the great bulk of his support.
But If he allowed his daughter to abb
jure her faith, become a Protestant, and
marry a Protestant prince, that support
would be alienated, and all hope of an
Orleanist restoration destroyed. He
therefore told his daughter she must
wait. In a few months he might be
crowned at Versailles. Then she might
change her faith and marry the man
of her choice.
She did wait, impatiently. And her
fathers prospects waned, until it be-
came evident that his schemes would
not succeed. Still he kept on hoping and
plotting and insisting that she must
wait. Finally she and her lover grew
so impatient that she went in person TO
Rome, had an interview with the pope
and begged his aid. She explained to
him that she would become a Protest
ant in name only and asked him to make
that fact known to the French clergy,
so that they would not object to her
marriage. She dWe1t on the great gain
1t would be to the Roman church TO
have one of it's daughters on the throne
OF England, even under the gulse OF
Protestant. And the pope confessed
himself very much moved by her plea,
though he was not willing to do quite
all that she asked.
1t is entirely probable, however, that
the Count of Paris would soon have
agreed to her change of faith and mar
riage. But another difficulty arose. Ihe
British government ceased, for pohucaI
reasons, to favor the Orleanists, ana
began to cultivate friendship with the
French republic, until it was evident
that the proposed marriage was no
longer regarded with approval. Then
the oldest daughter of the Prince OF
Wales married the Duke of Fife, ana
the public began to be apprehenslVe
that child of the Duke of Fife might
thus become heir to the throne Such
surely would be the case unless the
sons of the Prince of Wales should
marry and provide other heirs. Then
Prince George fell seriously i'll and
seemed likely to die, and thus there
would be nothing but the one fra1I lie
of the Duke of Clarence between the
throne and the Fife succession-the lat
ter a thing most repugnant to the Eng
lish people There was, therefore,
strenuous demand that the Duke OF
Clarence should get married at once.
His health was failing and he would not
live long. But if he got married at once
he might provide an heir to the crown.
And it was desirable that he should
command the affection of the people.
Poor Princess Helene was therefore
unceremoniously brushed aside by an
imperious mandate of the British court.
Princess Mary of Teck was selected as
the most available bride, her fondness
for Prince George being altogether dis
regarded, and a match between her
and the Duke of Clarence was soon ar
ranged. The people of England hailed
the announcement with rejoicing. But
the duke felt himself made martyr to
the cause Of the dynasty; Princess
Mary, who was to be his bride, was
sulky and reluctant, because she pre-
ferred his brother; Prince George, slow
ly recovering from his illness, vainly
ragged against the taking of his sweet
heart to be another's bride; and Prin-
cess Helene was utterly heartbroken;
at least, so she seemed.
Then another change occurred, and
startling one. The Duke of Clarence fell
i'll and died. People greatly pitied the
young princess, Mary of Teck, who was
to have been bis wife. But that was
pity largely wasted. No doubt she was
much grieved, Certainly she was not
heartbroken, for she had never loved
him, and his death left her free to marry
his brother George whom she did love.
And when the season of mourning was
ended, she and George were happily
married, and they have since given Eng
lang lusty young heir to the throne,
and thus put the nose of the Fife baby
hopelessIy out of joint. But Princess
Helene was really to be pitied. She was
indeed bereft. And, as the world knows,
she mourned as an actual widow might
have done. She was literally Frustrated,
and no secret was made of the fact or
of the cause of it. The Orleanist press
of France demanded in her behalf the
sympathy of the nation.
There is no reason to doubt the sin
certify of the princess grief. But she was
young and buoyant and could not be
kept always in the shadow Now she has
apparently recovered from her sorrow,
at least so far as to be able to find sol.