The Portland daily press., 1867-07-08
"A STRANGE ROMANCE.
SKETCH CT THE LIFE OF THE PRINCESS
ACHILLE MURAT, OF FLORIDA
tFrom the Savannah (Ga.) News.l

EFrom the Savannah (Ga.) News.l
Rotated 70 General Washington through
both her fathers and mothers family, and
born of wealthy parents, accustomed irom
infancy to the luxury and elegance OF ' IL
ginia household of ''the olden time," Kate
married at fifteen, and returned ere seven
teen summers had passed over her head, a
widow, with one child, TO her parents. oor-
row followed the young mother. Her pa6y
died, and once again Kate resumed her ola
habits and went to school, and the girls al
most regarded her as one Of themselves.
Her fatbe~ was at this time involved in
law suit, which, ere long, reduced the FANNY
to comparative poverty. Unable to pear 50
great a change in the land OF their iore-
fathers, he determined to emigrate 10 rIori-
da. and there finally he settled, living III d
LOG house. consisting of two large. low rooms,
the dark forest all around, with It's bros, It's
floNers. and its almost unbroken solitude
And now Kate's bright elastic spirit and
helpful hands became Invaluable 10 ner moth
er; she was her chosen companion, and the
principal duties of the household devolved
upon her.
Col Gadsden, formerly of South Carolina,
was one of their neighbors and frequently
spoke of his intimacy with Achille Murat,
then an exile from France, with price set
upon his head, living the life OF an Indian
on a plantation close by.
Col. Gadsden had endeavored to persuade
him to call on the new family lately arrived in
this vicinity. The reply was-.'No; don't
care to go among women-I hate them. ,
Some days alter this he was accidentally
introduced to Kate's father. who was prac-
tising as physician. Murat, delighted 10
find his new acquaintance man deVoted 10
literature and science, lover OF the poets,
and above all of Shakespeare, sought the So
ciety of the good doctor, and finally called at
the log house and was introduced to the
Young widow with whom he fell desperately
IN love,
Kate must then have been very lovely; her
eyes which still retain great beauty and soft
ness were of a shadowy gray merging into blue
when she was animated or excited; her eye
brows dark and pencilled; while the soft,
brown hair curls round her fair face, the con-
tour of which Is extremely pleasing; added to
which she possesses gracefulness OF address
and demeanor which in her younger days
must have been perfectly bewtching. The
Prince soon showed his admiration by the
most devoted attention to the young widow,
who still wore mourning for her first husband,
and dislked the idea OF any other filling the
place in her heart. She studiously repeled
Murat's advances, upheld by her mother who
needed the assistance and loved the compan-
ionship of her eldest daughter, and besides, he
was an exile and foreigner.
Her father, on the contrary, charmed with
the keen perceptions, versatile mind, and
thirst for knowledge evinced by Murat, court
ed his society, while Kate refused to listen to
his professions, and, finally, Murat left the
house in despair, much to the veXation OF her
father, who strenuously endeavOred to over
come his daughters objections, and succeeded
SO well that Kate promised TO allow the Prince
to renew his visits. Nothing, however, was
said to Murat on the subject, but, several days
aiterward, riding through the plantation, Mu-
rat found across his path dead rattlesnake.
"a good omen," he exclaimed; "still beauti-
ful, but deprived of venom"
He turned and rode to the house of his lady
love. She met him as he entered, with a
smiling face and extended hand, and ere long
the compact was sealed. Three months
aiterward, the young widow, "the American
beauty" was married by justice of the peace,
to the Prince Achiile Murat, son of the late
King of Naples, but not before he had
written to his exiled family, obtaining full
consent to his marriage, which was recorded
in the Tuileries; thus, on change of dynasty,
obtaining his wife's recognition amcng the
crowned heads of Europe.
After her marriage, Madam Murat remov-
took charge of his affairs. He was Of a most
generous disposition, and, having never in
youth known the value of money, he lavishly
expended what yet remained of his former
wealth. Finally Madame Murat took the
management OF the plantation in her own
hands, selling the crops or not according to
her own judgment. .....
The Indian, or Florida war broke out and
the white population generally moved away
from its environs. The Murats had tor years
lived in kindly friendship with an Indian chiet
who was in the habit of visiting them con-
tinually. He would arrive at their house at
night, and if the Murats had already retired,
would ensconce himself comfortably in their
dining room, after kindling large wood fire,
never in any way disturbing or annoying his
white friends, who highly appreciated the
honesty of the Indian chieitain, though
Madame Murat often expressed her fears that
he would set fire to the house. Murat now
thought it necessary to inquire of the Indian
il the friendship and good will of former
peaceful days was TO be continued through
the dark and bloody times then threatening.
Yes" said the Indian, '.you and your squaw
safe."
They remained on the plantation deeds of
horror were committed daily by the Indians;
and one day the lurid glare of burning
Madame Murat's attention. Hastily calling
her husband, he sounded his hunting horn,
which quickly collected some neighbors, and
tney hurried to the fire, only to find the In
dlans gone, leaving murdered mother, liter
ally torn in pieces, with her infant by her
side, lying close to the burning building.
AS this act had not been done by the Indi-
ans friendly to the Murats, Madame Murat
now consented to leave Florida until peace
rTac I.,k Al.
ty consequent on the separation from her hus-
Dand, again she returned to her home, and Il
few days after, being alone, she perceived an
Indian chief with five companions, dressed in
war costume, with paint and feathers, ap-
preaching the house. She instantly stepped
out to meet them. "Whiskey," said the chief
~ have none to give you," she replied; "you
know that in these times we have none." The
CHIEF paused, then put out his hand; she
grasped it within her own. "Frend," he said
"squaw safe.'
From that time the Murats remained un-
molested on their estates during the six years
war, though often afraid of making use of
lights in their houses at night, dreading that
they might attract to the house bands of ma
raudiDg Indians, who frequently prowled
round their homes. Madame Murat men,
tloned that during severe illness of her hus-
band she sat by his bed in darkness, often
putting her hand on him and bending over
him to know if he still breathed, not daring
to kindle fire, watching thus in cruel ankle
ty through the long hours of night.
After twenty five years of married life Mu-
rat died, his last words being blessings on the
good wife who watched so ceaselessly besi ide
him.
For many succeeding years Mad anne Mu-
rat continued to live quietly on her Florida
property, surrounded by band of faithful
servants-her negroes. But the southern
war ragged through the land, and her days
were spent in caring for the sick and COM
torting the dying, and the hospitals tell of her
noble munificence. She sold her Jewels TO
iced the starving, and afterward one of her
plantations, and divided the proceeds among
the homeless and naked of her unhappy state.
At the close of the war she visited France
and England in search of health; was receiv-
ed as royal guest by the emperor, and with
kindly interest by the beautiful Eugenia; but
unalluried by the glittering court or the gor-
geous offers of Napoleon, once more the wat
ers of the Atlantic divide her from her hus-
bands home, and she returns quietly to her
garden, her flowers and her negroes (aIl of
whom remain faithful to her, nOtw ithstand-
ing the charms of freedom offered them) to
Law her hOupc In bor =, M Land hos EIo,;1o