True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-09
AN EFFECTUAL STRARAGEM.

Review IN skechIng life at Baden-B aden
records the following incident:
A noble Hungarian lord, Count Chris
tian W, had come to pass the season
at Baden, accompanied by his daughter
Helen. Young, beautiful, charming, and
heiress to an immense fortune left her by
her mother, the young Countess soon
found herself surrounded by host of
admirers. Adorers Of all kinds were not
wanting-rIch and poor, noble and OBJ
scure, tender and passionate, grave and
gay.
OF her pressing suilors, Helen selec-
ted the most worthless. The Chevaier
Gaelon M-was, it is true, charming
fellow, pale and delicate, with fine blue
eyes, and long black wavy hair, III the
place of true passion, lie had eloquence
of look and words; in short, he dressed
with taste, danced and sang. But, un-
happily, these advantages were conlrac-
ted by greater vices. A dissipaed gam
bler and unprincipIed, the Chevalier
Gaeton, had Quilted Naples in conse-
quence Of some scandaous adventures in
which he was implicated. The Count,
after having informed himself of these
facts desired, but too late, to put his
daughter on her guard against dangerous
affection. Helen listened neither to the
advice, the pray yers, nor the orders of her
father. The man for whom he endeavored
TO destroy her esteem was already mas
ter of her heart, and she obstinate Y re-
fused Ia believe in the disgracelul antece-
dents Of The young Italian. If Gaeton
had to do with father who lacked energy,
perhaps he would have hecome the hap.
py husband of the young Countess, and
the peaceful possessor of the immense
fortune with which he was so franioally
in love. But the Count knew how to
carry his point either by management OF
force. He was an old lion. He had pre-
served all the vigor Of youth, and all the
rude frmness of all ndomilabe character.
which nothing but paternaI tenderness had
ever sollened. Self.wiled in his resolu.
tions, stern in his execution of hem, he
cast about for means To put hors dn com
bal this carpet knight who had dared lo
undertake to become his son.in.Iaw in
spite of him. when accident threw into
his hands letter which Gaelon had writ
ten to Helen. The Chevalier, impatient
to attain the goal of his desires, proposed
in direct terms to the young Countess an
} eIopement, and proposed a candes in,
: meeting. al the hour when the Count
was in The habit of going out to play whist
, with some gentlemen Of bis acquaintance
at the Conversation House.
A rose placed in HcIen's belt was to
be the signal of CONSENT.
, The young girl had not read the adroit
, ly in ercepted note, and her father deh r.
mined to use the information he had OBJ
, lained to his advantage. On the follow.
ing day, therefore. he proposed walk
just before starring he handed her flow.
! er saying " Put this in your belt"
Helen smilingly obeyed, and took her
fathers arm. In the course of their walk
9 they mel Gaeton who, seeing the rose,
r was overjoyed.
e Then the Count conducted his daugh
Ter 10 the residence of one Of their ac.
: quaintances and requested her 10 wait un'
, I'll he came for her. That done he
a returned to The liltle house in which
he lived in the outskirts OF Baden and the
Lilchenths road He had sent away his
| servant and was alone. Al the appointed
hour Gaelon arrived at the rendezvous
v eaped lightly over the walls of the gar
! den, aud finding the door shut, entered
b. The house through one OF the windows
j Then mounting the stairs. filed will
pleasing emotions, he directed his step:
] towards The apartment, of Helen. There
: instead of the daughter, he found the
{ father, armed with brace Of pistols
8 The Count closed the door, and said Il
r the wrelchtd Gaelon trembling with ter
a ror:
Il could kill you; I have the right to
do so. You have broken into my house
r | could treat you as ielon; nothing
G could be more natural
It But SIR replied Gaeton, almost in
andably, l am not robber.'
: And what are you then ! You hav'
Il come to steal my daughter-to steal al
n heiress--to steal fortune. Here is you
letter which unveiled to me your crimi
: nal intentions. show you no mercy
But 10 take your life, ! had no need ofthi
:. trap. You know the skill of my righ
arm 4; o duel would have long ago rid mt
of you. To avoid scandal, did no
e wish duel ! and now will slay yor
}, only at the last, if you refuse 10 OBEY
me- ...
e What is your will SIR.
You must leave Baden not in few day
:, no, morrow--but this very instant
You must put two hundred leagues be
tween it and you, and never again CONE
into the presence Of my daughter or my
:. SELF As the price Of your obedience
h and to pay your travelling expenses.
will give you twenty thousand franks
The Chsvalier wished to speak.
u Not wordp cried the Count, in