, 1866-12-21
NUMBER L.
ManIed HIs Own Danghler.

/ llhe following wonderful aud strange story
from the columns Of The Court Journal is as,
fall Of terrible romance as any Of the wild le<
gends of the Middle Akes,i Bot for the high.
authority which iadOpass 1t, we should hnd il
difficult TO believe In its reality ! l- III.
! Ia the year 1880, q young Polish gentleman
Of birth and distinctiou was married TO young
lady Of his own rank in life, With the full and
! entire approval Of parents on both sides ThS(
young couple had scarcely entered into this
state Of life, in which every prospect OF happi-
mesa seemed secured to them, when the revolt
broke out, and the young husband, IN spite Of
i his position, hssitated not a moment to leave
all and join these patriots who were setting
forth to combat for their country
The wife, nothing dsunted by the dangers to
] which she was exposed, left in secret her home
and family to follow the fortunes Of her hus-
band. The perilS and frightful privation she
underwent in the search after him can scarcely
be described. She never beheld him more
for, rrrived at a certain village where a skir-
mish had been fought, she was told that her
husband, who had led the Polish party against
the Russians, had perished in the combat aud
had been buried on the field of encounter that
very morning. The news acted as death blow to
the poor young wife, who, succored on the way
side by family Of poor peasants at the very
risk and peril Of their lives, remained in state
Of delrium for several days, and died soon af,
ter, but without once having recovered suf-
hcient reason to give directions or recommen-
datiou concerning the infant All that the
peasants eould tell was the fact Of the evident
gentle birth Of the lady, which was apparent
from the recerche nature Of her dress, and the
quality of the jewels found in her possession.
The poor cottagers knew not what to do in
their embarras sment, and bethought themselves
of the owners of the chateau, to whom their
| vii nd all il ed ed of riu
The baby was borne hither by the family, and
the heart of the chidless lady beat with ten
derness on beholding the little pale flower thus
left to perish, unless rescued from the rough
treatment it was destined to experience with the
peasants. ......H ID
The child was taken by the lady, at first as
mere duty, and because of its helplessnsss, but
as it grew up it became so entwined around the
lady's affections that she had but one dread
lest the husband who was engaged in 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 g. was
moved to tenderness at the story, and at once
took the poor infant to his bosom as his wife
had done already. n ,rJ
In due time it was deemed e1pedient to adopt
her In legal form, as they had already done in
their affections. The ceremonies necessary
were gone through the Emperor's consent OBJ
taiued, and the poor little deserted orphan Of
unknown birth and parentage, became in, name
aud 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 his new Dig
nifty, aud during his initiation, was invited to
spsnd some little time at the chateau. Here be
soon became enamoured of the orphan, and, by
his brilliant wit and charming manners, soon
captivated her affections. The lover was no
longer young, but still in the prime of man
hood, while the maiden, accustomed to the al>
most exclusive society of her adopted parents,
looked upon her suitOr without objection to the
difference of age. ..# ..
In few short months after his appointment
to the high position VIC have mentioned the
young lady was married to the brilliant officer,
and the peasants of the district still ,meuton in
terms of admiration and establishment the Won
drous doings-the freworks-the ringing
matches and the horse-racing which took place
upon the occasion. Shortly after the marriage,
the husband took his wife to the seat of goV>
errment, where she soon became the admired
Of all beholders, 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 Star of P -; in short, for seven
Jears all went merry as a marriage 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 the
marriage, became indispensable fo7 the arrange
ment of the inheritance aftef death.
At the first word contained in the documents
left by the dying lady in the cottage, on hear:
ing the names and the dates therein mentioned,
the miserable husband sank seuseless to the
| hoor-he could not fail to recognize his own
| offspring in his wife, the mother Of his child
| ren now standing beside him, and felt himself
guilty and a stricken man.
At the close of the struggle for independence,
when the Poles, beaten on all sides, were forced
to submit, Captain Q. had rendered his resigna>
| ton, and had acquired titles and honors under
the Russian Government, although conscience
had so stung him that be had deemed it expedi
ent to demand a change of name, which, under
cover of his new title had been willingly granted.
| Immediate measures were taken to obtain the
advice and protection Of the Pope, who, after
due deliberation, pronounced the marriage valid
and the children Legitimate, but of course exac-
ted immediate separation. There was no need
of the decree. Long before it had arrived at
p, the husband had become a gloomy
maniac, and had exchanged the brilliaut palace
he occupied for the stone wall and solitary cell
to which he was per force conveyed beneath the
care of the doctors Of the palace . ..
The curse of Heaven stands before him day
and night; the malediction incurred by his de-
sertion of his countrys cause is regarded by
the poor madman as having brought down this
terrific Judgment on ns head. For two long
years did the unhappy wife attend him With the
most devoted care but the medical attendants
having declared that her presence was contrary
to bis recovery, she had resolved at length to
come to Paris and seek 10 the distractions and
interests of that place some little soothing 70
her wounded spirit OF course, the society Of
Paris is divided into two eamPs-the one auopI'
ing her as its protoge, ''quGHd mems the other
refusing to acknowledge her, or TO ADMIT ner
into its most sacred precincts .-- ,y-z
Much curiosity is expressed to learn what az
titude will be assumed BY the Empress, as the
story is SO well known, and the name OF the lady
grown so familiar in Partisan mouths, in oonseN
! Snence Of the discussions which are openly go,
4 inc on about tbe affair, that it has became the
great social problem Of the hour. Meanwhile,
the lady maybe seen daily taking her drive in
the Champs Eiysees, aud her two girls, of four
and sig years Of age, prattHng merrily by her
side. r.1Hr.- a. = COOS
To bear evil speaking and illiterate judge
- - =