The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-21
BUT ONE WOMAN
TO WE'D.
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IOriginal-

lOriginal.l
Many years ago there existed in Eu-
rope principally, Calpurnia, SO small
that its population numbered only a
few thousand persons. They were very
exclusive, never adopting foreign cit |
liens and intermarrying among each
other. The consequence was that he
reditary diseases became so plentiful
among them as to threaten their ruin.
Theodore VII, then prince, at last is
sued a decree prohibiting marriage be-
tween persons related within the fifth
generation. Under this law marriage
was extremely difficult.
One of the first persons on whom the
edict reacted was the hereditary prince
Theodore, who, like the people, must
marry within the principality. At the
time it was issued he was studying at
a foreign university, but was about TO
finish his course and was expected to
return and marry in order to secure
the succession. Meanwhile his father
directed the heralds to examine the
family trees of the nobility with a
view to discovering some family into
which the young prince could legally
marry. They reported that but one
family, the Count of Vervin's, came
within the limit. In this family was
one unmarried woman, Vergtlia, TWEEN
! ty years old, in every way attractive
and a very suitable match for the
| young prince.
| Theodore at once sent the prime min
lister to the count Vergilias father,
with a proposition for his daughter.
| The minister returned, reporting that
the count felt greatly honored by the
! proposition, but his daughter had de-
clared that she was not inclined to
marry She was a hayward girl who
had always been used to having her
own way, and her fathers command
| that she should return suitable an
swer to her sovereign had had no effect
! upon her.
Theodore was much perplexed He
wrote of the refusal to his son. But
! Theodore paid no attention to it and
soon after his graduation wrote his
| father that he was minded to travel
To this his father replied, advising him
he was overload Of the boy and sell
dom communicable come home at
once, that the only woman he could
marry was accepting the attention Of
q young foreign artist who had recent
ly appeared and solicited the privilege
Of painting her portrait She sat for
him every day, and her father feared
the headstrong girl was in love with
him and would disregard not only the
| vic Of hQr f,r&
custom of marrying only within the
country. To this warning the prince
| did not reply, and his father concluded
that he had gone beyond the reach Of
| his letters.
Meanwhile the artist, Rodrigo NuneZ,
a young Spaniard, was busy with the
| portrait. He was very respectful, keep
ing his distance from the highborn
dame, but she noticed whenever he
strove to interest her in order to catch
her best expression that he was a man
OF culture. Gradually as Virgilia gave
him encouragement ne showed by his
manner that he loved her, and one day,
forgetting herself, she called out
declaration. Then the girl, with ner
eyes bent upon the floor, told him OF
the proposition for her hand Tor the
young prince.
And viii you accept?" asked Rodrl-
go mournfully.
81 have declined 1t thus far
And in the endT'
What would you consider my outy
The artist did not reply. Turning to
the portrait, he painted absenuy. Inc
girl repeated her question
1T is for you to make up your own
mind what that duty directs" he said
IF do not marry the prince our
people will be the sufferers"
And if you do marry him-you viii
be the sufferer
Yes"
Her face was averted. He stole up
/ beside her. placed bis arm around her
waist. and her head dropped on his
breast
Suddenly he released her.
4 love you too we'll" he said, ito
ask you to do that which you do not
conceive to be your duty"
When the artist left Vergelia il was
the last seen Of him in the principally.