The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-10

promising order.
For him to hold communion with a foi
lower Of the house Of Savoy would D
considered as ordering On treason. Black
and Whites cannot visit al each o-ner
houses, and when. as n The. case OF III
prtncely Colonna family. one brother 1.
for the Pope and rhe other brother is 70
| the king. the families are estrange6 as /
they had been lifetime enemies.
1t is not unlike this in me Ruspoi: FAN
| ily. The Prince OF Ceveteri and Master O.
| the Sacred Hospice holds haughtily aloo
| from the other member of tae family
| Don Emmanuel Ruspoh. Prince Of Pog
| gto-Suasa, who is the presen, syndic .,
Mayor of Rome. and who .s-rhe HUSBAND
| of q beautiful New York lady. the dauga
ter of the late Joseph Beers Curtis.
MOST BEAUTIFUL OF PRINCESsEs
Donna Laura Ruspoli. 1t will according
ly be understood. Is placed IN the ;npcs
sibility not merely Of ever attending
| Italian court balls and receptions, out
even OF visiting at the houses Of those
| who frequent similar functions. How
! then, 1t may oe inquired, did he Couni
| to become enamored OF her?
| Donna Laura is a maiden who has
never sought TO advertise her grace and
| beauty. Her younger sisters and she
are unanimously admitted 10 be the most
peerless among the galaxy of beautiful
| women that the aristocratic circles OF
Italy comprise. She is tail and stately
as goddess. with auburn hair and rich
toned complexion. and with bew:.ching
work hovac with the hearts of those who
come within her range.
POPE AGAINST KING.
And yet, in spite of the relative seclu-
sion in which q noble maiden of the Vati-
can side is kept, occasions were not alb
solutely wanting when Prince Victor
Emmanuel of Savoy Aosta could see and
even approach this beautiful girl. Rome
is circumscribed city, and its :nhabi-
tants have their routine of customs of a
rather conservative character. The aris-
tocracy during the Winter season take
their afternoon drives through the Corso
and on the Pincian Hill, and whoever
goes abroad may make sure of Yiewtn 2
all the beauty and chivalry of the city.
Rome, furthermore, has one species of
social function which is not made the
scene Of party contention, and where
blacks and whites may mingle, ignoring
each other if they will, or entering into
friendly relations if so they choose
This is the charity ball. or fete de bien-
faisance, which is among the customs of
the large hotels of the Eternal City. IN
der the patronage mostly of some foreign
ladies of nota!bility. the big houses or
game festivals and dances, the proceeds
of which are to go to a local charity
On what or how many occasions Prince
Victor Emmanuel had the opportunity of
seeing and admiring the daughter of
Prince francesca Ruspou no one but
themselves know. Certain it is that a ball
given in the Grand hotel he came for
moment in contact with the princess.
and it seems in that brief space to have
irrepocably lost his heart The sump-
tuous edifice in the Piazza San Bernado
had among its guests that evening al
most all that was gayest and most bril-
liant in Roman society. futter of ex-
element passed like a rolling wave over
the long vista OF lovely women when the
arrival of the Count of Turin was an
nounced.
A thousand hearts beat rapidly at the
approach Of the elegant young man. in.
whose veins coursed the royal blood of
generations of kings To the nobility of
his pedigree and the comeliness of his
had
diuonal attraction of chivalry and man
liness. He had gone to seek in his own
country and to can out TO armed fight
that prince of the house of Bourbon who
had raSey traduced the valor of the
italian soldier. 1t is a small wonder that
fair danes OF the Italian aristocracy were
losing their beds over this accomplished
young prince.
THEIR FIRST MEETING.
But in the vast ballroom of the Grand
hotel the Count of Turin seemed blind
to the number of ravishingly beautiful
women, whose swelling threats and barsd
shapely arms were exposed to his gaze.
His eyes caught those of a modest and
lovely girl, who obviously sought no
prominence in that assembly.
To whom is 1t given to divine Donna
Laura Ruspolis feelings on this occasion
Was she battered at the Princes atten-
tons? This much at least Is probable.
But was a deeper chord stirred within
her? Or did she rectprocate the tender
feeling Of love now clearly manifested
by the Prince? Here IT is impossible 10
be positive or categorc But II would
seem that the young nobleman regarded
his advances as favorably received by
Donna Laura. His hopes az once ran high
II so happened that on that very fatefuI |
evening another young member OF the
White Society had profted by the same
charity ball TO make his advances 20 !
the Princess Laura, and posi- SILLY win her
hand This was Marquis Carlo di Rudini. /
son OF the ex-Premier himself a member !
Of the Chamber Of Deputies, and young /
man of soome ability. Carlo di Rudiri /
was born in 1858, the Count Of Turin |
IN 1S70 and Princess Laura in 1873. As
far as aage goes. there was accordingly
no striking disparity. Nor was tire as I
10 rank, wealth or reputation.
TWO RIVAL LOVERS
The Count Of Turin. taking his courage !
in both hands-as the French express fl
advanced TO pay his respects % the Prin /
cess. Toe young lady stood in an angle 4
II one Of the reception rooms conrersinE
with Princess Maria Colonna. The latter.
who was on intimate terms both with the /
over and the maiden. formally presented 4
them 70 eac other. few minutes con
yersation ensued. the Prince to the calook
ars having an air OF one who had stljt
10 plead. and WHO desired 10 unourden Ms
bosom and make as loug q declaration
As Qassibls Il the orletest interval CT