Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-04-09

/ Ut one reason or another Tie kept
changing employers: he served now
n diSsipated hidalgo. then an in
intriguing actress. then an aged liber-
/ tine whose daughter in gratitude for
aiding her to win back her recreant
| lover, Don Luis PachecO, gave him
hundred pistoleS, and. on her IA
TIERS death, got him a place with still
another aged roue, Don Gonzales.
whose dressing operations. when he
| arose at noon. reminded him Of the
resurrection of Lazarus.
Here again he acted as intermedi-
airy in a love affair, but when he told
his infatuated employer that he was
being duped, he was turned off. though
given a recommendation To the Mar
quesa de Chaves, reputed the clever
est woman in Madrid, because she was
! rs solemn as nm owl. and rarely spoke.
Her salon, called "the Fashionable In
stitution for Literature, Taste and Sci
ence." was the resort for the wits and
notables of Madrid
Here again he had easy work, hut
getting into trouble about a girl. was
/ compelled to leave the city. On his
way to Toledo he rescued a young no.
/ bleman. named Don Alfonso, from ar
rest. They became friends and after
/ Don Alfonso reached home. he and
his father became Gil Bias patrons,
placing him as secretary 10 their rela-
/ tive. the archbishop Of Granada, who
was inordinatcly vain and as broad as
he was long.
Gil Bias praised his sermons and
was regarded as a young man of eX-
/ cellent judgment until after the prel-
ate's mind was affected by apopleSy
and his homilies became diScordant
rawlings. Gil Bias obeyed the arch
/ bishops command TO tell him If he
! fell short in his preaching and was
/ iGnomniouSlv packed off Reduced
/ to exuemities once more. be passed as
! the brother Of disreputahle actress
and thus secured the position as sec
rotary 10 a Portuguese grandee, the
! Nar0uiS de Marialva. The trick was
discovered. He reformed to Madrid
and after many amusing and not al
ways credtable adventures, was APP
pointed under secretary to the duke
/ of Lerma, prime minister to the king
/ Ills duties may be gagged by his com
/ ment: lone makes a merit of any
dirty work in the service Of the great"
II His eynericnceS with the upper and
the lower world. with actors. poets.
+, lihertineS. physicians. bandits. adven-
/ turcrS md hidalgos and their sorv-
ants, had sharpened his wits. and his
native ability and smattering of edu-
1 cation gave him growing influence He
was courtcd. tlattered and brihed. his
conceit and avarice became colossal
He declared that "a court had all
the soporific virtues Of Lethe in the
ease Of poor relations and confessed
that "every trace of his former gay
and generous temper had disap-
peared."
Pride came before a fall. Having
been employed 10 procure a question
able mistress for the her-apparent,
he was arrested by the kings orders
and thrown into the dungeon of Sc
govia. The prince interviewed, hut he
was exiled from the two Castles. All
his property was seized and his mer-
cenary engagement to a wealthy Jew
eler's daughter was broken.
Then his friend, Don Alfonso. whom
he had got appointed as governor Of
/ Valencia, presented him with a small
estate near that city.
On his way thither he stopped at
his birthplace and found his uncle a
mental wreck and his mother worn out
in caring for his dying father. He
gave his father a pompous funeral,
and settled an annuity on his mother
but the towns people We're 50 indig-
nant with him for his neglect Of his
family that they threatened to mob
him.
Glad TO escape with his life, he
reached Valencia, where he was re-
ceived at his new home by seven or
eight servants provided ny Don Al
fonso. He got rid Of most Of them
and lived frugally marrying Antonio
daughter Of his farmer. Don Basi3o
But his idyllc happiness ended with
the death of his wife in Childbirth
soon afterward the crown prince
came TO the throne aud offered him q
place If high responsibility. Gil Bias
who had learned wisdom, replied that
"all he wanted was good situation,
whore there was no inducemcnt to yio-
late his conscience. and whore the fa-