The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-27
WOOING PRINCESS CHIMAY.
Roumania Royalty Seeks Her Hand
in Marriage.

IN marriage
London, Aug. 27.-The Princess de
Chimay, otherwise Clara Ward, former
~ of Detroit, is neither dead nor ILL., In
fact, she is very much alive, as the fol-
lowing story will show. 1t comes from
Paris: A formal offer of marriage
few days ago came from a ROumanian
prince. This Roumanian, who offers
his heart and hand, thinks he is just
as good prince as Chimay, who mar
ried Miss Ward in 1890.
AS Clara's fortune has become some
what slender, her chivalrous sutton
promises to enrich her, though since he
is a Roumanian prince, his potency in
this respect may well be doubted.
In pressing his suit he appeals to her
sense of honor, her love for her children,
and above all to her spirit of revenge
for the way the world has treated her
since her downfall. He promises to
rid her of her present encourage, mean
ing thereby the redOubtable R1go. He
appeals even to her poetic nomad1c IN
Stincts and declares he Will carry her
off to his great forests in ROumania,
where she will forget her unhappy
past; where an idyllic future viii open
up for them both.
But here is the princes letter; let 1t
speak for itself:
Madame and Dear Princess-I called
upon you yesterday evening about
o'clock, but to my great regret you had
gone out. AS you are much occupied
I have concluded to write you this let
ter, which will sum up all had to say
to you, and, very dear princess, look
forward to a response from you which
will make my heart happy.
You will curse US both If you SHOW
any displeaSure when l tell you love
you. respect you too much, madame,
to think merely of your physical
charms. I address myself to your very
soul. You must realize that for me
your smiles force me to sacrifice my
life. The depth of sadness now ex-
perience when I see you insulted on all
+I9@ ~ 10
which will be mine when I shall have
the power to defend you-yes, angel of
my life-do not refuse this favor 1 ask
you on my Bonded knees.
Il wish to make you my wife. l
wish to carry a high head that your
fault of the moment may be forgotten
for the sake of your own honor ana Tor
the love you bear toward your babies.
By this one act you can again mount
the pinnacle from which you should
never have descended. You Will hnd
a husband who will adore you Hou
will become rich again; you will avenge
Yourself and these considerations
should induce you to mediate. II Is
sweet to avenge oneself noDly IN She
manner I propose.
cat the same time it will not be diff
cult for you to throw off the influences
which caused your downfall L nave
come from France to save you from
yourself. My task will be abandoned
only with my last breath to diVeSt you
of YOUR surroundings. Permit me to do
at once that which will force people 10
speak of you only with respect.
shall have you in such environments as
cannot fail to give you pleasure. we
will go to Roumania. There in our Tor
ests communing with nature, you VIII
quickly forget your troubles and past.
with your permission will rid you
of all others Dear princess, beg you
let me know if you will receive me to-
morrow about 4 o'clock.
DO not forget that love can do nuch'
particularly when it finds itself in the
presence of an unfortunate caprice OF
such a woman as you. In hearing me
YOU risk no more than a vision OF your
beautiful eyes, all wet with tears. InaI
YOU will love me you may be certain
You will bless God for having put me IN
your path and for allowing you to De
led to that fate that is fixed in advance
for every human creature.
Everything tells me shall be your
slave Do not wreck the hopes OF
man who would die for you. Receive,
dear princess, the assurance OF my
pi0'-o PRINCE A. GHICA."
Notwithstanding this prtncely out
burst of affection, Clara, who is at
present at San Reno, assures our cor
respondent at that place that she sun
clings to her Rigo and will continue 10
do so.