St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-25

~ - 80;
ance Of: Count c.. Nov, she knew not |
where to find him. In this deplorab'e sit
uation she resolved to quit the dotbinians OF
her father in, lawhA sAe: cor Amhnieated her
intention to her principal femme de chan4b'e.
whom She implored to, ,nssist her in escap
ing from enemies, in, whose hands she fet
assured that her life was not secure. The
femme de chansbre threw herself at her mis-
,ress's feet. and tEasked her for this proof
of her cor fidehce. She assured the Prin-
cess that she was both able and willing to
aid her. Her brother, she said, was attach
I'd 70 the, police department, and with the
assistahce of his agents, it would be easy
to rescue the Princess from her persecgtQrs.,
1t was agreed that on the following hight
the Princess and her attendant Should es-
cape from the palace. by d subterraneous
passage, which led through some ancient
vaults to retired house beyond the bound
aries Of the city. There a carriage was to
be ip readiness for then. 81:
'Assured of her own safely. tie ,untor :
tanate Princess was refecting' with bitter
regret on the fate of her lover, when she
received a message from her husband, re-
questing an interview, with her. <:4astead
of granting this interview. she listened
only to the dictates, of her passion and
pride. She. wrote:to the sovereign master
Of her destiny note to the following ef-
feet: :--<--'-s t1@ =
"'You have sired the blosu Of blame
less victim. alone a,a guilty. You will
have to answer for his dca'h in the pres
'ence os God5where prosably you will like
! wise haze t. apsWer for mine. If you
were capable Of being just, would bow to
you US my judge: bat 1 feel too well con-
vinced that 'yioI; desire to be not my judge
but my executioner. I win not see you );
| and may Heavens vengeance await you: =
"Such o letter could not fail to exasper-
a:e the already irritated feelings ct her
husband. Night arrived. The Princess
! had collected, in large easket, her dia-
monds, her gold and her letters. She re-
tired TO rest at her usual hour: but no soon
er had her attendants Withdrawn than, she
arose and dressed herself, assisted by her
confidential femme de cAambre. She wrap
ped herself in a large silk cloak, such as
was usually worn by females of the middle
rank in that part of Germany: She hoped,
by help of this disguise, to elude observa-
tion. Quitting the Ducal apartments, the
Princess and her attendant descended 4
narrow staircase. and then passed along a
corridor which was parallel with the kitch.
! ems, which received its light from them
Some of the servants were up engaged in
their work, but the Princess courageously
pursued her course. -, =.
..There still rssnained a long ''rXEg& q
passages to be passed, when, on opening 9
ldnnr, the. Loye whioi, tho C.~-.. 4. -A~,.Ar,
carried fell from her hand. The nois.
alarmed the fugitives; fortunately it va.
heard only by themselves, they collected
their keys and proceeded.
They entered a spacious vault. in which
they had advanced some distance. wher
they We're stopped by closed door. This
vas the last door they had to pass within
the walls Of the castle. What was thei,
distress on finding that none Of their key.
would fit the lock ? ~ ara.f5.xa ,f
They naturally concluded that this key
must have fallen along with the rest, and
that they had omitted to pick it up. hwas
agreed that the femme de chambre should
60 back to seek it, and the Princess should
| wait until she returned. She waited alone
and in profound darkness. A considerable
tim, had elapsed, and the Princess listen
ed anxiously for tte approaching foot stept
of her companion: but she listened in vain.
What could detain her? Had she been
surprised, or could she have betrayed her
mistress? Unable longer to endure the
painful suspense, the Princess resolved to
60 in search of her attendant. But how
or where was she to find tha door of the
vault: Excess Of fear frs6ntttly inspited
courage. To Hid the outlet Of the Yaul,
she thought she could adopt no better plan
ss%s taan WIZ until her hand.
reached the wall, she Kept her hand upon
it, and groped her way along, until she
reached an opening which assured her tha,
| she had gained tile door. She entered a
narrow passage communicating with the
vault, and was creeping along cautiously, in
order to avoid stumbling against some frag
ments of stone which lay scattcred here and
there suddenly she was startled by the
sound Of footsteps above her head. and a
CLEAN of light penetrated through 2 mar
row grating, rendered her IN an ins!aEt I;so-
tionless as a statue. The sound of voices
was heard, and in a few moments the Prin
cess was roughly seized by tile two arms,
and dragged from the spo: in which she
had heep standing, transixed with terror
The violence Of her assailants reused he,
|;nsensibility she shrieked, struggled, call.
ed loudly for help. Her cries were unlleetl.
ed: she was thrown brutally to the ground
and bound hand and foot. Her. supplica:
,ions for mercy were unheeded: she va,
enveloped in n cloak, or rather sack o
black satin; and, 20 complete the outrage
! a ga.s was forced into her mouth From
" that moment God alone heard her com
plaints.''', ....
i ners the Emperor ceased to speak, ant
after . few moments silence the Empires:
said, with profound emotion, ...Graciou.
Heaven! was this the fate Of the first Wifi
Of sthe Duke of ...Wurtembue& and VA
she The victim who perished by the hand
. Of the Exccutioner Of Stratsburg?'
80 report affirmed" )" resumed Napoleon
. "But the public voice is always 50 ready t!
. calumniateuhe great, THAT Ee oil ght not /,
; give too ready credsnce to popular rumor
), The mention of the name of the Elector 0
T. Wurtcmberg reminded me Of this sad story
related it, because. / knew il mould inter
est you; but for its Truth 81 faiseG ootl / d
nottake upon me to be responsible Believ
it or not, as you please"
~Sf<,----r - - >. - ..-.----=.i
II will strike the American public, VIII
arrogate the monopoly of progressive ideas