Gunnison news-champion., 1910-06-10
CHAPTER Mn.


during the civil war ON
= = General Lees STAFF was an
Italian named the rrincipi di Monte
Blanca. Rich. titled. a real noble. he
was at heart an adventurer a word
greatly abused these inglorious DAYS
My father was cut from the same pat
tern. a wild and reckless spirit in
those crowded times. The two became
friends such as you and MIR Merrihew
are Their exploits became famous
My father was also rich aud a 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 %
return with him TO Italy. Italy itself
was in turmoil. u Re Galantuomo
that Piedmontese hunter. Nittorio
Emanuele. wished to liberate Venice
from the grasp Of Austria. TO wresi
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 were with him up 10 the
time he entered the Quirinal. After
victory. peace My father invested in
villas and palaces and settled down 10
end his days in the Venetian palace on
the Grand canal
Then my father. still young. remem.
ber, fell in love with the daughter Of
a Venetian noble. 1t was happy
union. shortly after the prince also
married. lie was. with the exception
Of my father the most lovable man
ever knew-brave, kindly. impetuous
honorable, witty and wise. II due-
not seem possible that such a father
should have such son.
There came great day A young
prince was born. and the rough King
stood as his godfather. Later l added
my feeble protest. at the cost Of ny
mothers life. As | grew up I became
my fathers constant companion We
were always out of doors. BY and l.,
he sent me To America to school.
returned from America To enter a con
vent out Of Rome and later went tc
Milan and studied music.
One fatal day the old prince and my
father put their heads together and
determined that this great friendshir
of theirs should he perpetuated. The
| young prince should marry the Young
signorina. They drew up the strangesi
of wills. Both men were in full con.
trol of their properties. There was nc
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 ne
art treasures should be sold or trans
ported. Fortunately for me. my moth
er's property Was considerable.
The impossible clauses In che joist
viii read that if we two young people
declined the bargain the bulk Of the
estates should revert TO the crown.
Again, IL we married and separated
and were not reunited inside of five
years the fortunes should become the
crowns. II. having separated from
my husband. either for just or unjus:
reasons. ] should secretly or publicly
occupy any villa or palace mentioned
In the will 1t would he tacit admis
sion that accepted my husband was
there ever such an insane tangle Kind.
ly meant: We must marry: we mus,
he happy. That our minds and heart,
were totally different did not mattei
at all.
Time went on. The old prince died
suddenly; his wife followed And tber
my Kind and loving father went TIN
way. l was taken under the wing n
q duchessa who was popular Mt court
At this period the young prince wss
ono Of the handsomest men In Europe
He was brave. clever anA engaging.
On co0pseting my educsticn I Se
csded 70 live in Rome. The cld auche.