The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-12-08

following wonderful and strange story, which
we copy from the columns Of the Court Jour
nal, is as full of terrible romance as any Of the
wild legends of the middle ages. But for the
high authority which endorses it, we should find
it difficult to believe in its reality:
In the year 1880, young Polish gentleman
of birth and distinction, was married to young
lady of his own rank in life, with the full and
entire approval of the parents on both sides.
Scarcely had the young couple entered into
this new state of life, in which every prospect
of happiness seemed secured to them, when the
revolt broke out, and the young husband, in
spite of his peculiar position, hesitated not a
moment to leave all and join the patriots who
were setting forth to combat for their country.
The wife, nothing daunted by the dangers 10
which she was to be exposed, left in secret her
home and family to follow the fortunes of her
husband. The perils and frightful privatons
she underwent iu the search after him can
scarcely be described. She never beheld him
more; for, arrived at a certain village where a
terrible skirmish had been fought, she was told
that her husband, who had led the Polish party
against the Russians, had pershed in the COM
bat, and been buried on the field Of the en-a
counter that very morning HE news acted as
v deathblow u TIE poor youHg sasfess sWfo,
succored at a cottage by the wayside by
family of poor peasants, at the very risk and
peril of their lives, remained in state of de-,
lirium for several days, and died after having
prematurely given birth to daughter, but
without having once recovered reason sufficient
to give directions or recommendations concern
ing the disposal of the infant. All the peas
ants could tell was the fact of the evident gentle
birth of the lady, which was apparent from the
reclerchee nature of her dress and the quality
of a few jewels found in her possession. The
poor cottagers knew not what to do in their
embarrassment, and bethought themselves of
the owner of the chateau, to whom their villages
and all it contained belonged of right. The
baby was borne thither by the family, and the
heart of the childless lady beat with tenderness
on beholding the little pale flower thus left to
perish, unless rescued from the rough treatment
it was destined to experience with the peasants,
The child was taken by the lady at first as a
mere duty. and because Of its helplessness, but
as it grew up it became so entwined around
chat lady S affections that she had but one dread
lest her husband, who, engaged on distant
service, should, when"he returned home, object
to the adoption of the little orphan. This,
however, SO far from being the case, proved to
be the reverse. General Count c. was
moved to tenderness at the story, and at once
took the poor infant to his bosom, as his wife
had done already. In course of time it was
deemed expedent to adopt her in legal form,
as they had already done in their affections.
The ceremonies necessary were gone through,
the emperor's consent was obtained, and the
poor little deserted orphan, of unknown birth
and parentage, became in name and fortune one
of the greatest heiresses of Posen.
Some few years ago, the new governor, dis
patched by the military authorities, arrived in
great state, to take possession of hisnew dignity,
and, during his initiation, was invited to spend
some little time at the chateau. Here he be-
came deeply enamored of the orphan, and, by
his brilliant wit and charming manners, soon
eaptivated her affections. The lover was no
longer young, but still in the prime of manhood,
while the maiden, accustomed to the almost
exclusive society of her adopted parents, looked
upon her suitor without objection to the differ
ence of age.
In few short months after his appointment
to the high station we have mentioned, the
young lady was married to the brilliant officer,
and the peasants Of the district still mention,in
terms of admiration and astonishment, the
wondrous doings, the fireworks and waterworks,
the horseracing and riding matches which took
place on the occasion. Shortly after the mar
riage, the husband took his wife to the seat of
his government where she soon became the
admired of all beholdors, and is celebrated in
that part of Poland in certain verses which
were sung before the emperor on his visit to the
place, as the morning State Of P" in
short for seven years all went merry as mar
riage bell.
At the end Of that period, only two years
since, the death Of the adopted mother of the
lady caused the disclosure which we have made,
and which, not by any means necessary for tho
marriage became indispensable for the arrange
ment of the inheritance after death. AT the
first words contained in the documents left by
the dying lady in the cottage, on hearing the
names and the dates therein mentioned, the
miserable husband sank senseless to the floor
he could not fail to recognize his own offspring
in his wife, the mother ofshis children, now
standing beside him, and felt himself guilty
and stricken man.
At the close of the struggle for independence,
when the Poles, beaten on all sides, were
forced TO submit, captain L lad rendered
his submission to Russia and had acquired
titles and honors under the Russian government.
although conscience had SO stung him that he !
had deemed it expedient to demand change
Of name, which, under cover Of his new title,
had been willingly granted.
Immediate measures We're taken to obtain
the advice and protection Of the pope, who,
after due deliberalion, pronounced the marriage
valid and the children legitimate, but of course
exacted immediate separation. There was no
need OF this decree. Long before it had ar
rived at p, the husband had become d
gloomy maniac, and had exchanged the bril-
liant palace he occupied for the stone walls and
solitary cell to which he was perforce conveyed
beneath the care of the doctors of the place.
The curse of heaven stands before him night
and day; the malediciion incurred by bis deser-
ton of his country's cause is regarded by the
poor madman as having brought down this
terrific Judgment on his head. For two long
years did the unhappy wife attend him with
the most devoted care; but the medical attend
ants having declared that her presence was
injurious to his recovery, she has resolved at
length to come to Paris, and seek in the dis
fractions and interests of that Dlaca some little