Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1903-09-11
MIcAELA DE LOS ANGELES.
Story Of Spanish Girl wLO Lived in
Mexican Convent.

Mexican Convent.
The story Of this young Spanish
girl in Mexico, wholived mysterious
life in a convent, may be truly called
legendary history, says Modern Mex
leo. Micaela de los Angeles was be-
lieyed to be a daughter Of Philip II.
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 convent
was founded in 1878 by two Span
isrds, Pedro I. Denia and Gregorio
de Pesquera, purposely for the de-
scendants Of the conquerors. 1t was
placed under the rule of Franciscan
nuns, and jealousy guarded. None
but daughters of aristocrats and no
bic and royal houses were admitted.
just when the Nina Micaela entered
the convent no one seemed to re-
member, her presence at first being
scarcely noticed by any but the
mother superior. She was plainly
dressed and kept in great seclusion
for time, but by and by it was OBJ
served that she was gradually being
surrounded with royal Injuries. 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 Micaela was direct descendant
Of the king and that her brother,
Archbishop Pedro de Contreras, had
special care over her. For a long time
it was thought that Micaela had been
brought to the convent while a very
small child, but her increasing un-
happiness and longing for scenes Of
which the nuns knew nothing con-
WINGED them that she had been rude
ly torn away from all that her affec-
tions held dear, or that she had been
falsely lured to her imprisonment in
a foreign land. The walls Of the old
convent of Mexico were very high
and thick. and a nun once behind
them, and protected also by the SOL
emn oaths that she and all about her
must take. was'a nun for life-and
yet even those walls had ears, and
there were eyes that saw and tongues
that told tales. 1t was always so.
Even Abelard and Heloise heard
from each other at times.
Whether Micaela's lover was
priest or not neither records nor ira
ditions tell us, only that she had one.
Perhaps he followed her over seas.
Perhaps it was to part her from him
that she was sent to Mexico to the
ROYAL convent. Perhaps the parting
had the usual result. Of strengthen
inc she 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.
ttheconventwas attacked,
whether by Indians orrobbers orher-
| etics it could not be discovered in the
darkness. for Mexico had no street
! lights in those early days. But by
whomsoever. theattack was repulsed,
the doors doubly barred and guarded.
and on one entered and none es-
capped. -~4
After that those who passed by the
royal convent frequently heard sad.
meanings and demoniacal laughter,
and loud calls, repeated and repeat
ed, until the voice seemed to die
away in the distance. or to be shut of
by many walls and closing doors
at times even by the sudden placing
of a strong hand over the mouth of
the maniac. When the mad nun of
the royal convent died it was known
that Micaela de los Angeles, the
daughter Of Philip II. Of Spain. was
free and many secretly prayed that
she had Joined her lover in Heaven.
A Painting Room.