Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-03-19
MISC LL A N Y
Preventing an E,operaent.


A writer in the Democrats Quarterly Review,
in skechng life at Baden Baden, records the fol-
lowing incident:
A noble Hungarian l0rd, Count Christian w
-, had come to pass the season at baden, accom-
panied by his daughter Helen. Ioung, beautiful,
charming, and heiress 10 an immense iortnne Ieft
her by her mother the Young Countess soon found
herself surrounded BY hust Of admirers. AdOFers
OF all kinds were not waning-rich and poor, ,uob!e
and obscure, tender and passionate grave and gay
Ii was a perpetual tournament. Uf which she was
the queen, aud where the aSpirints coniended for
her haud by exhibiting iheir address, grace aud
seductive qualities When she entered her car
riage, ten cavaliers were in the saddle csrscoling
around her cdieche. At the ball the most elegant
dancers were devoted to her. They had neither
cares, attentions nor signs, but for her; whereas
mauY beautiful women-F rench, English and
Russian were particularly mortified Amongst
these pressing suiors Helen selected the most
worthless. The Cheyalier Gaelsu M-wss, il
is true, charming fellow, pale and delicate, with
fine blue eyes, and long black wavy hair. In the
place Of tue plssiua, he Rad eiquence OF look atd
word in short. ne dressed with taste, danced
narvelousIy, and gang like Rubini. But, unhap
PLY, these advantages were eonIrasied by great
Wees A dissp4Ied gambisr, aud unPr'nc!pled
the Ghevalier Gaeiaa bad quilted Naples in c0n-
sequence of some ScandaQus adventures IN which
ne had heen implicated. Ihe Count ,aiier having
in.armed himself uf these facts, desired, but too
late, to put his daughter on her guard againa; a
Dangerous affection. Helen listened neither To
the advice. the prayers, the orders of her "a
thsr. 'fhe ulaa for y holn he endeavored TO de
Stray her eSlecin was already master ot her heart,
-. L.. 4 l,li, .I,,> al
grace:uI artsaedeus Of the young Italian. II
Gae,9a had had to do with father who lacked
,uyrLy perhaps he would have became the happy
husband Of tte young Countess, sad the peaceful
possess n of the inmeGse fortune with which he
was g. traateaily IA love. But the Count knew
hos 10 carry his point either by management or
force. he was an old lion. tie had preserved
all the ylgor OF youih and all The rude 6faneSs ii
an irdQmjtaele character, whica nothing but pa
iernal tenderness had ever s1tisned. Self wiiIed
IN MS resriu,Ions stern In bis execution Gf hen,
he cas- abiu; Tor means 10 put hors du combat this
carpeJ kptgh,, vino had dared To- undertake 10 be-
cuue hs snn ia iaw in spite OF hj;n when accident
threw into his hands letter which Gaetap had
written to Helen. The hesalier, impatient to
attain ,he goal ol his desires proposed, in direct
terms 10 the young Countess, an clopemeui, aud
proposed elandesine meeting, at the hour when
he Count was in Ihe habit OF going oat to play
waist with some gentlemen OF his acquaintance at
the Conversation House
a rlse placed in Holen's belt was to be the
signal al consent.
The young girl had net read the adroitly inter
cepied n0te. Put This iiIwer IN your bell" said
the Counl to her, Offering rose, sand cOme With
me"
1t. H.
arm. Ia the course Of their walk they met Cae
tau, who, Seelng the ruse. vas oyerj0yed
Then the Count conducted his daughter to the
residence of one Of their acquaiatauceS. and re.
quesled her to wait until he came for her. That
done. he returned to the ljlte house in which be
lived at the uu skirts of Baden, on the Lichtent.
hal road He had sent awaY his servants, and
was aloup. At the appointed hour GactaD arrived
at the rendezvous. eaped Iighlly over the wall Of
the garden, aud, finding the door shut, entered the
house through one OF The low windows. Then
mounting the siairs. filled with pleasing emotions.
he directed his steps towards the apartment of
Helen There, instead of the daughter, he fouod
the father, armed with brace of pistols. |ihe
Count cluSad the door. aud said to the wretched
Gaetan. trembling with terror:
IL could kill you have the right to do So.-
:
broken into it, | could treat you as a fel0n; no.
thing could be more natural"
But. sir. replied Gaeian. almost inaudibly,
II am not a TobbeT.R
''And what are you, then You have come to
steal my daughier-to steal an heiress-io steal
a fortune. Here is your letter, which unveiled to
me your critninal intentions. | shall show ynu no
mercy Bat to take your life. / had no need of
this trap. lOn knaw the skill Of my right arm;
a duel would have long ago rid me of you. To
avaid scandal did not wish duel, and now
will slay you only at the last extremity, if you
refuse to uoey mo-"
"What is your will, sr?"
You must leave Baden. not in few days, not
but this ve.y Instant. You must put
,wo hundred leagues between it aud you, and
never again come into the presence ofmy daughter
,r myself. As the price of your obedience, and
o. pay Your travelling expenses, will give you
wenty thousand frances"
The Chavsiiar wished to speak.
..Nn, " ord!" cried the Count. in voice Of
hund,r You know me, understand! hold
,ngr life az my mercy ani IN nneni's hesitation
will be ppais,ed with DEATH"
IL - sllnm'fed the Cheva!ier.
'.ln gunl ta!el Your twenty thousand francs
ire in the secretary take tbem!"
Permit me to decline your Offer"
An irnperiaus gesture over The false modesty
which the ChevalieT expressed feeb!y, and like a
nan who declaes tor orm's sake.
But" said he, 1.-The secretary is loc4edH
:QpeE it,"
"There is no key in it,"