The sun., 1915-05-22
MISS BOWEN'S ROMANCE
OF DARK ALVA'S DAY
Story Of Masterful William the Silent His Marriage anc
His Trials, During the Time the Holy lnqustion Was
Doing Some Of Its Choicest Work.
he grueeome battle scene was pro-

the gruesome battle scene was pro-
jected and the black curtain fell.
The picturing in the story-the por-
traits Of people, the descriptions OF
furniture. dress and manners-wtu in
terest the reader. There is some in
sistence. considerable reiteration. We
are told good many times about
Williams small head dark face. shape
~ nose and fingers; quite frequently
we see him sitting In thought, his chin
cupped in his followed hand, his fine
profile etched upon some helpful back
ground of velvet or brocade. The
enamored lady-in- waiting, too. the
beautiful Renee. does good deal OF
weeping for the troubles OF William,
Renee felt the tears sting her eyes
at the misery. the wretchedness OF II
all; what was wrong. she wondered.
that things should be like this?" This
was when Anne in one of her petu-
lent hts had slammed door so hard
that the panels ratt,ed after she had
reproached her husband for his heret
ical sympathles and doings and had
expressed a wish to go to Cologne.
Anne was pretty bad There is a
how
Renee caught her consortlng secretly
ana bibulousy with Jan Rubens,
large and yellow bearded young Flem-
ish lawyer. who seemed satisfied 10
have princess for a companion, with.
out Insisting that she should be
beautiful princess The inner room
was glowing with rich f'rel!rht.
which warmed the chilly gleam of the
stormy daylight: the round table was
set with a lace cloth and all manner
OF sweets, cakes fruits and wines; and
before II on long couch sat the
Princess OF Orange and Jan Rubens.
the young lawyer. One Of his arms
was round her waist. one OF hers
round his neck: their flushed faces
were pressed together and they were
, endeavoring TO drink out Of the same
goblet. n rare thing OF rock crystal in
the form OF a fish mounted in rubies
and gold" The young lawyer was
afraid he would be hanged. but he was
not; the lady In waiting who had sur
prised the par never told and Prince
William never knew-at least Il is
not recorded in this story that he ever
found out.
The coming Of Alva's army to the
| Netherlands Is very picturesquely g..
scrioed. On Q hot August night a
charcoal burner. who lived IN the
I forest OF Thionville was reused by
J sounds unusual in that solitude Creep
/ ing out OF his bed and his hut into
tho moonlight he saw the Spanish
! Generals terrible ten thousand pas'
, by. There were foot soldiers from
! Sicily and Naples two regiments OF
them: they bore rich arms and were
adorned with silk starts and plumes OF
brilliant hue. The artillery tinEled b.
with a rattle Of wheels and a cracking
OF whips Twelve hundred Spanish
cavalry followed. at their head Don
Ferdinando de Toledo son Of the Duke
and prior OF that great militant church
order. tho knights OF 81. John he
wore the noble vesture OF his stately
office" and after his cavalry came the
musketeers. "all wearing inlaid and
engraved armor and each attended as
II he had been an officer by a squire
who bore his musket-that new
weapon not seen before IN any army"
In the soft glow OF the moon these
warriors IN their polished mail were
very beautiful Doubtless tho women
thought them SO, as d the gaping
charcoal burner for there were
women both walking and riding In the
ranks OF the army. 400 OF them on
horseback, Spanish. italian and
French beauties lavishly dressed n
silk and velvet. with flowing mantles
and precious enbro deries, some veilei
like modest women. while others rode
with their rich locks hanging over
their shoulders and their hard heauti-
rul faces uncovered" These women
rode after the baggnge mules. and fol-
lowing them rode Alva IN blue armor
a man OF 60. with a narrow face, ar
rogant small eyes and a frosted black
beard descending 10 his waist.
Battles are vividly described in the
story. most OF them unfortunate for
William. and the narrative at the last
leaves the Prince at very low ehh o'
his fortunes. though still resolute and
hopeful