Delaware City press. (Delaware City, Del.) 1913-19??, 1913-10-31
CHG I
HAUNTED
BY DEAD i
WIFE . 90

I
nand alone has the key. 1t contains
no precious documents. no costly jew
elry, no bullion chest. but only the
full-length portrait of a princess long
since departed. The gentle Marie
Louise gazes sadly out of her gilded
frame, and though Ferdinand in mo-
ments of exhilaration passes by the
room with head averted, in days OF
stress and trouble he seeks to hide his
misery in the silence of the locked
and secret chamber.
During the last ten months mys-
FERROUS rustlings have been heard in
the National Museum and the horror
stricken palace as of some one wan
dering unhappily from room to room,
seeking something that could never
be found. On these occasions, when
King Ferdinand bethought himself of
leaving the chapel door open, his dead
wife's shadow has been seen to pass
the portals, and he has himself knelt
at the altar there, his face buried in
his hands, as though awaiting a SUI
pernatural visitant. No allusion to
these vigils has ever passed his lips,
for Ferdinand confides in no one.
Over her children the spirit of
Marie Louise also broods as fondly
as in her lifetime, and the people be-
lieve she visits their bedside when
ever they are i'll. The nurses who
cared for Princess Eudoxia during her
long illness last year attributed her
almost miraculous recovery to the
prayers of the dead mother, who was
seen in spirit form in the chapel
nightly, always kneeling in the same
place slowly lingering her diamond
rosary beads.
Owes Success to Wife.
King Ferdinand, who has had an ex-
traordinary career. owes his most
solid successes to the dead lady who
even now watches over him, as he be-
lieves, to restrain the impulses
against which she vainly warned him
when alive, and concerning which
even from the other world she has
given signs of sorrow and disapproval
He was the pet son of his mother
the cleverest daughter, of the late
Louis Philippe, king of the French
She never ceased to plot for the re-
storation OF the Bourbons to the
throne of France, but in the mean
time did not disdain to pick up any
possible crown for her sons Her
plans were mostly foiled, as in the
case of Philippe, older than Ferdi-
\ Riafd, who married Princess Louise Of
Belgium in the hope of succeeding the
late King Leopold. But the marriage
was so ill-assorted, and Princess
Louise showed such violent antipathy
to her husband, that a speedy separa-
ton was the result.
With Ferdinand, Princess Clemen-
tine had no such trouble. He was the
most docile and obedient of her sons,
inheriting her own subtle disposition
and tenacity of purpose.
When Prince Battenberg of Bull
garia had displeased the Russian en-
peror by his independent attitude, and
was consequently forced to leave the
country in the dead of night. with
only time to throw a coat over his
sleeping attire, the palace at Sofia re-
NAMED vacant. AS soon as Batten-
berg's friends recovered from the
shock of his being kidnapped they set
off on tour of Europe to search for
a princeling who would undertake the
/ difficult job of governing Bulgaria,
, Quietly Becomes Sovereign.
This quest came to the ears OF
Clementine, who, learning that a fav-
! orite haunt of these big game hunt
, ers when in Vienna was a fourth-rate
restaurant, sent her son to make their
acquaintance. After some friendly
conversation, during which they did
not suspect that he was anything but
what his uniform proclaimed him to
be-a simple lieutenant in an Austrian
' regiment-he declared himself tneii
man. Without further preamble he
took them round to his mothers pal
ace and thus proved to them the real
s ity of his claim to high birth and his
, connection with two great roya
houses. There was no reason why he
= should not start a dynasty Of his own
= and the bargain was quickly con
n Guided In few days the citizens o.
Sofia were greatly astonished 70 see
the flag flying once more over the
0 royal palace, and young man will
p prominent nose and serious face
driving through the town in solitar.
stateliness. There was no eluerry
e no display, no reclamation, no rejoic
I ing People were still asking them
!, selves. How long will Russia ALLOW
him to stay?"
8 Royal Wife Finally Secured.
AS soon as Ferdinand felt his thron
to be little more steady Princes
y Clementine began to cast mat5imon
y ial nets on her sons behalf Blu
n there were few aspirants. Royaltie
- held aloof. and nothing but blue bloo
would satisfy Ferdinand and his moth
e er. 1t was by working on the stron
religious sentiments of the Duke O
il Parma that the prize was at last Sc
cured in the person of an eldes
5 daughter. the Inflated Marie Louise
e to whom was entrusted the mission G
furtherng Catholicity in schismati