Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-05

lered naturally Wnen | saw MIN, for
he was permitted to see me at inter
walls. Young girls have dreams which
in older years appear ordinary
enough. He was then to me Prince
Charming. was really glad that was
to marry him.
On completing my education I de-
cided to live in Rome, where the
prince was CHARTERED. l went into the
world with serene confidence, believ-
ing that all men were good like my
father and his friend. The old duches-
sa mothered the rich American girl
gladly; for, though l was half Italian
they always considered me as the
child of my father. was presented at
court, l was asked to dinners and re-
ceptions and balls. was quite the
rage because the dowager queen gave
me singular attention. My head was
in a whirl. In Europe, as you know, till
a woman is married, she is a nonen.
tity. l was beginning to live. The old.
err women were SO attentive and the
men so gallant that lost sight Of the
things that counted. AS was fluent
linguist, and as l possessed a natural
lightness of heart, my popularity was
by no means due to my property. l
believe l sang wherever I went be-
cause it was beautiful to send ones
voice across space in confidence; it
was like liberating the soul for mo-
ment.
The prince by this time seemed
changed in some way; but I was
blindly young. A girl of twenty in Eu-
ropean society knows less than girl
of fifteen in the States. Often l no
ticed the long scar on his cheek. He
had received it, he said, in some
cavalry exercise AS the Italians are
reckless horsemen I accepted this
explanation without question. I know
differently now! But he was as cour-
teous and gallant to me as ever.
Now, there was another clause in
this will 1t was the one thing which
made the present life tolerable and
possible to me. We were to be married
without pomp, quietly, first at the
MAGISTRATES and then at the church.
Have you not often seen the car
rage pass you in the streets? The
bride in her white dress and veil and
bouquet or roses? The ribbon round
the drivers whip? The good-natured
smiles of oilers, the children running
out and crying for a rose? They say
that a rose given by bride brings
luck. It was thus we passed through
the streets to the magistrates. I did
not know then that I was not In love,
that | was only young and curious.
threw roses to any one who asked.
The prince sat beside me in fulldress
uniform. looking very handsome and
distinguished. We heard many COM
pliments The prince smiled, but he
was nervous and not at ease. I
thought nothing Of this at the time. |
believed his nervousness a part of
my own To be sure there was a fair
gathering at the magistrates, for the
name of Monte Blanca was widely
known But there was none of our
class present; they would be at the
church.
The magistrate performed his part
lin the affair Legally we were man and
wife. We were leaving for the church,
when at the very doorway hand
some woman, sad-eyed, weary, shah
billy dressed, touched me on the arm.
"a rose, signora!'
gave 1t to her, smiling pityingly
God pray" she said, "that this man
will make you happier than he made
mel"
The prince was at my elbow, push
ing me toward the carriage. But some
thing had been said that could not be
lightly passed. l stood firm.
Let lis be on" the prince said
eagerly.
"Wait!" I turned to the woman.
"Signora, what do you mean by those
words?"
His Highness knows She pointed
to the prince. whose face l now saw,
strangely enough, for the first time.
1t was black with rage and ugliness.
"What has he been to you?" l de
manded.
She answered with gesture, pa
thetic but easily tTanslatable. 1t was
enough for me. I understood. In that
mement I became a woman without
Illusions Without looking at the prince
I entered the carriage and closed the
door in his face. He stormed he
pleaded, he lied l was of stone. There
was scene. He was low enough tc
turn upon the poor woman and
strike her across the face with his
gloves. Even had l loved him, thai
would have been the end of the 70
nance. I ordered the driver to take
me home There would be no wedding
that ACCOMPLISHMENTS
at the church that day There was
great scandal. Every one took up thu
princes cause, with the exception O
the king. But my determination wa:
not to be moved.
The prince was almost bankrupt
He had squandered the liberal fortune
left him Independently Of the will
He had sold to the Jews half of tn
fortune he had expected to get afte
marrying me. He had not the slightes
affection for me: he was desperate an
wanted the money How old and wis
became during that ride home from
the magistrates. The prince called
: but was not at home to him. H
wrote many times, but replied t
none Of his letters. He struck but on
string: | was foolish to let a littl
peccadillo of bachelorhood stand i
l the way; all men were the same: tn
5 position ! took was absurd. I neve
: answered. ] returned to Venice. ! hav
t seen him but twice since: once a
: Monte Carlo and that night al tn