Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-12-22

MY lalner was cut from the same pat
tern. a wild and reckless spirit in
those crowded times. The two became
friends such as you Inc Mr.. Merrihew
are. Their exploits became famous.
My father was also rich and a nan 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 Italy. Italy itself
was in turmoil. II Re Galantuomo,
that Piedmontese hunter, Vittorio
Emanuele, wished to liberate Venice
from the grasp Of Austria, to wrest
temporal power from the Vatican and
to send the French troops back to
France. Well, he accomplished all
these things. and both my father and
the prince We're with him up to the
time he entered the QuirinaI. After
victory, peace. My father invested in
villas and palaces and settled down to
end his days in the Venetian palace on
the Grand canal.
Then my father, still young, remem-
Der, fell in love with the daughter Of
a Venetian noble. 1t was a happy
union. Shortly after the prince also
married. He was. with the exception
of my father, the most lovable man l
ever knew-brave, kindly. %impetuous.
honorable. witty and wise. 1t does
not seem possible that such a father
should have such a son.
There came a 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 1 grew up 1 became
my fathers constant companion. We
were always out of doors. By and by
he sent me to America to school. 1
returned from America to enter a 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
signorina. 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 If we two young people
declined the bargain the bulk of the
estates should revert to the crown.
Again, if we married and separated
and were not reunited inside Of five
years the fortunes should become the
crowns. If, having separated from
my husband, either for just or unjust
reasons, 1 should secretly or publicly
occupy any villa or palace mentioned
in the will it would be a tacit admis-
sion that l accepted my husband. Wa
there ever such an insane tangle kind
~ meant? 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. I was taken under the wing Of
a duchessa who was popular at court.
At this period the young prince was
n Of the handsomest men in Europe.
He was brave, clever and engaging.
On completing my education I de-
cided to live in Rome. The old duchess
sa mothered the rich American girl
gladly, for, though I was half Italian,
they always considered me as the
child of my father. 1 was presented at
court. I was asked to dinners and re-
ceptions and balls. I was quite the
rage because the dowager queen gave
me singular attention.
The prince by this time seemed
changed in some way. But I was
blindly young. Often I noticed the
long scar on his cheek. He had re-
ceived it. he said, in some cavalry ex-
ercise.
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 mar
AASo INV pO"p' HoACIAJ, hAoI az
the magistrates and then at the
church. At last the day came.
We passed through the streets to
the magistrates. I did not know then
that I was not in love, that I was only
young and curious. I threw roses to
any who asked. The prince sat beside
me in full dress uniform, looking very
handsome and distinguished. The
prince smiled, but he was nervous and
not at ease, I thought nothing Of this
at the time. I believed his nervous
ness a part Of my own.
The magistrate performed his part.
Legally we were man and wife. We
were leaving for the church when at
the very doorway a handsome woman,
sad eyed. weary, shabbily dressed,
touched me on the arm.
"a rose, signoraw
I gave it to her, smiling pityingly.
God pray" she said, that this man
will make you happier than he made
me!'
"Let us be onw said the prince
eagerly.