The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-11-18
CHAPTER XIX.

THE LETTER
xY father was Colonel Grosve.
N nor OF the Confederate army
during the civil war. On
\ 1 General Lees staff was an
Italian named the Principl di Monte
Blanca. Rich. titled. real noble, be
was at heart an adventurer. a word
greatly abused these inglorious days
My father was cut from the same pat
tern. wild and reckless spirit In
those crowded times. The two became
friends such as you and Mr.. Merrihew
are. Their exploits became famous.
My father was also rich and man Of
foresight His real wealth was IN for
eign securities. mines. oils. steel
steamships When the war terminated
the prince prevailed upon my father to
return with him to ltaly. Italy itself
was IN turmoil II Re Gaantuomo,
| that pIedmontese hunter, Nittorio
Emanuele. wished to lberate Venice
from the grasp OF Austria. TO wrest
temporal power from the Vatican aud
| to send the French troops back TO
France. Well. he accomplished all
these things, aud both my father and
the prince were with him up TO the
time he entered the Quirinal After
victory. peace My father invested In
villas and palaces and settled down tc
end his days In the Venetian palace on
the Grand canal.
Then my father. still young, remem
ber. fell In love with the daughter oi
Venetian noble. II was happy
union. Shortly after the prince alsC
married. He was. with the exception
Of my father. the most lovable man ]
ever knew-brave. kindly. impetuous
honorable. witty and wise. 1t does
not seem possible that such father
should have such son
There came great day. A young
prince was born, and the rough king
stood as his godfather Later added
my feeble protest. at the cost Of my
mothers life. AS grew up became
my fathers constant companion. We
were always out of doors BY and by
he sent me to America to school. !
returned from America to enter con
vent out Of Rome and later went to |
Milan and studied music.
One fatal day the old prince and my !
father put their heads together and
determined that this great friendship
Of theirs should be perpetuated. The
young prince should marry the young
signorlna. They drew up the strangest
Of wills. Both men were in full con.
troll OF their properties, There was no
entailed estate such as one finds In
England. They could do as they
pleased And this was before Italy
had passed the law requiring that no
art treasures should be sold or trans
ported. Fortunately for me. my moth
er's property was considerable.
The impossible clauses In the joint
will read that II we two young people
declined the bargain the bulk OF the
estates should revert to the crown.
Again, II we married and separated
and were not reunited inside of FIVE
years the fortunes should become the
crowns. IL. having separated from
my husband, either for just or unjust
reasons, should secretly or publicly
occupy any villa or palace mentioned
In the Will II would be Ncit admis.
sion that accepted my husband. Was
there ever such an insane tangle kind
ly meanti We must marry; we must
be happy. That our minds and hearts
were totally different did not matter
at all
Time went on. The old prince died
suddenly; his wife followed And then
my Kind and loving father went the
way. ] was taken under the wing OF
a duchessa who was popular at court
At this period the young prince was
one OF the handsomest men In Europe
He was brave, clever and engaging
On completing my education ! de-
cided to live In Rome. The old duches- ,
sa mofhered the rich American girl
gladly, for, though was half Italian.
they always considered me as the
child OF my father was presented at
court was asked 10 dinners and re. |
ceptions and balls. was quite the
rage because the dowager queen gave
me singular attention.
The prince by this time seemed ,
changed In some way. But | was I
blindly young. Often | noticed the
long scar on bis cheek. He had re- I
,eived II, he said. In some cavalry ex-
srcise.
Now, there was another clause In
his will II was the one thing which
made the present life tolerable and
possible to me. We were to be mar
ried without pomp. quietly. first at
The magistrates and then at the ,
,hurch. Al last the day came.
We passed through the streets TO
he magistrates | did not know then !.
hat was not In love. that ! was only !,
Young and curious. ! threw roses TO !.
any who asked. The prince sat beside
me In full dress uniform. looking very !.
la ndsone aud distinguished The :
prince smiled. but be was nervous and !
,ot at ease. thought nothing OF this
II the time. believed his nervous {
ness a part Of my own
The magistrate performed bis part
legally we were man and wife. We 9
we're leaving for the church when at
he very doorway handsome woman.
sad eyed. weary. shabbiiy dressed.
ouched me on the arm.
"A rose, signors"
gave IL 10 her. smiling pityingiy. I,
God pray" she said, 'thst this man
riil make you happier than be made .
neF' 4
~Les as be onr said the prince
ssgeriy q