Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-05-13
LOVE AND DIVORCE IN HUNGARY.


/ In lSl7, only twelve years ago, an English
nobleman, Sir William Paget, renowned in
the best society of London for his eminent
erudition, his manly beauty and facinating
conversation, and well known to the literary
world by his writings, went over to the Con-
tinent. Having visited France, Germany,
Switzerland, and Austria, he went to Hunga-
ry, country which was then on the eve Of
great events. He spent several weeks at Perth
and in the neighboring country seats Of the
Hungarian mobiles.
In the beginning Of Autumn he visited Tran
sylvania, and was received at the castle Of
Count S, Bethen with all the oriental hospi-
tality and generosity that rich Hungarian
magnatc likes to display to every man Of cd
ucation who visits him. Count Bethlen was
descended from the royal family of the Beth
len-gabors He was married some years pre-
vious to a young noble lady Of this country,
the Countess NJ. L., who was not yet twenty
years old, the Count being nearly fifty. He
had known her as a child in the home Of her
mother, and she married him. as young girls
often do, more for the high respect than for
the deep love she felt for Count Bethlen.
Notwithstanding both lived a happy family
life in the old immense feudal castle Of the
Bethlens near Claursenburgh Sir William
Paget, to whom the Count had given suit
of apartments saddle horses. and attendants
lived several weeks in his family, enjoying the
varied hospitalities of the castle and country
II is needless to say that the brilliant conver-
tion and the exquisitely polite manners Of Sir
William soon found grace in the eyes Of the
young and beautiful Countess SIR William
t.rrs.r.T fla a. u, criminal lpVp
ensued One day the Count went out hunt
ing on horseback, Sir William Paget stayed
at the castle with pretended illness but one
Of the Counts attendants warned him, telling
him if he would return to the castle he would
find the stranger in the Countess apartments.
In hot hast the Count rode home and found
Sir William in the bed-chamber of his lady
Armng himself with pistols, he forced Sir
William to follow him to his private room,
being there, he sent a notary and two conf
dental witnesses, asking Sir William if he
had abused his hospitality and confidence out
Of a real love to his wife, and if his love met
a response The answer being in the affirm
atiye, he ordered the notary to draw up a
contract Of marriage between the Countess Of
Bethlen, born Countess NJ. L., and Sir Will
liam Paget, late Of the Royal Hussars of
London
The contract in one the loaded pistol in
the other hand, the Count with terrible but
quiet earnestness, sommoned Sir William, to
sign the act of marriage Immediately, or to
die on the spot. Sir William paget signed
the contract The next day the Bishop of
Blaussenburgh was sent for, divorce was
legally procured, and a week afterward the
marriage formally completed in the castle of a
neighboring nobleman. The Count gave to
his wife all her jewels, horses and carriages !;
and some months afterward Sir William Paget
bought from him one of his large possessions
in Pennsylvania, where up to the present time
he lives happily with his wife.