Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06
Spanish Girl Who Lived in Mexican
Convent

From Modern Mexico.
The story of this young Spanish girl in
Mexico. who lived a mysterious life in a
convent, may be truly called legendary his
tory. Micaela de los Angeles was believed
to be daughter of Philip IL of Spain who
was brought to Mexico and immured in the
royal convent of Jesus Maria for reasons
best known to the royal father. This con-
vent was founded in 1918 by two Spaniards,
Pedro I. Denia and Gregorio de Pesquera,
purposely for the descendants of the con-
querors. 1t was placed under the rule of
franciscan nuns, and jealousy guarded.
None but the daughters of aristocrats and
noble and royal houses were admitted. Just
when the nina Micaela entered the convent
no one seemed to remember her presence
at first being scarcely noticed by any but
the mother superior. She was plainly
dressed and kept in great secluson for a
time, but by and by it was observed that
she was gradually being surrounded with
royal luxuries. This fact naturally melted
inquiry, and with curiosity on one hand
and knowledge. even in the minds of a few
on the other, it was soon known that Mi
caela was direct descendant of the king
and that her brother, the Archbishop Pedro
de Contreras, had special care over her.
For long time 1t was thought that Micae-
la had been brought to the convent while
very small child, but her increasing un-
happiness and longing, scenes of which
the nuns knew nothing. convinced them
that she had been rudely torn away from
all that her affections held dear or that
she had been falsely lured to her imprison-
ment in convent In a foreign land. The
walls of the old converts of Mexico were
very high and thick, and nun once behind
them. and protected also by the solemn
oathS that she and all about her must take
was a nun for lfe-and yet even those
walls had ears, and there were eyes that
saw and tongues that told tales. IL was
always SO. Even Abelard and Heloise
heard from each other at times.
Whether Micaela's lover was a priest or
not neither records nor traditions tell US.
only that she had one. Perhaps he fol-
part her from him that she was sent to
Mexico to the royal convent. Perhaps the
parting had the usual result, of strengthen
ing the ties of love and making the lover
more determined. Who knows? Alas, no
one in Mexico. But that does not matter.
Micaela was unhappy. and she had
lover who would have taken her from the
convent If he could. That is enough to
stir the heart.
One night the convent was attacked
whether by Indians or robbers or heretics
1t could not be discovered in the darkness.
for Mexico had no street lights in those
early days. But by whomsoeyer, the at
tack was repulsed, the doors doubly barred
and guarded, and no one entered and none
escaped.
After that those who passed by the royal
convent frequently heard sad meanings
and demoniacai laughter. and loud calls.
repeated and repeated. until the voice
seemed to die away in the distance. or 10
be shut off by many walls and closing
doors-at times even by the sudden placing
of strong hand over the mouth OF the ma
MAC When the mad nun of the royal con-
vent died IL was known that Micaela de los
Angeles the daughter OF Philip II of
SPAIN was free. and many secretly pryaed
that she had Joined her lover in heaven.