The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-06-04

To Louisiana, in the beginning Of
the last century, came an old Ger
man emigrant with his only daugh-
ter. and settled there. She was
young and very beautiful, and attract
ed much attention, especially that Of
Dauband, an officer in the colony
This officer had been in Russia, and
what struck him on seeing the young
lady, was very remarkable resem-
blanee which she bore to the late wife Of
Czarowitch Alexas, son OF Peter the
Great The history of this Princess
had been rery sad one. Though sis
ter-in-law to Charles Y l., she had been
treated by her husband as though she
had been his slave He had attempted
to make way with her By poison, and at
last be struck her with such violence,
when far gone with child, that be had
caused the death Of both herself and
Of her infant After a great lapse Of
time the Czarowiteh himself died, ,snd
to Dauband's watchfull eyes il seemed
that the intelligence Of the Princes de-
cease was received BY bis fair lodger
with such suspicious interest and ex-
element that be taxed her with being
the unhappy lady allthe world thought
70 be dead and buried Esuch was the
case, he declared himself devoted to
her service and prepared 10 sacrifice
his prospects in the colony in order
TO escort her to Russia.
Then Charlotte Cushman Sophia de
Wolfenbuttle (for such had been her
maiden name) narrated her pitiful sto-
~. She was indeed the parsonage
be had imagined, and had made
use ofafraudro csc ape from the cruel
ties of her late husband The blow
that had been given TO her almost
caused death, but she recovered. By
the help of Countess Konigsmark,
mother Of Marshal SAKE, she gained
over the woman of her bed-chamber,
so that it was given out that she was
no more, and a funeral was arranged
accordingly. Then being conveyed
to secret place, she was carefully
tended, and when strong enough re-
moved in the guise of q peasant girl
to Paris. under the guardianship Of
a trusty German who passed as her
father, and finally from France to
Louisiana.
Having heard her story, Dauband
renewed his effort 10 furnish the
means of her return to that sphere
from which she had fed under such
pitiable circumstances but the young
widow thanked him, and said that the
only service she required was that
be should maintain au absolute seere-
cy regarding her. He endeavored
to obey her, but his affection for her
was stronger than his loyalty. He
was young and handsome, as well as
impressionable, and perhaps the eI-
Princess was not sorry when, her
pretended father dying, Douband Of
fered himself to her as her husband
If she had really renounced all
thoughts Of resuming her rank, be ar
gued, why should she not wed an
honest man who loved her? Though
not queen, in him she should ever
have a devoted subject. She consent
ed, aud inso doing afforded one ofthe
strangest vieissitudes Of fortune that
history has recorded-the marriage
with an humble officer Of infantry Of
one who had been destined for the
throne of Russia, and whose sister
was actually occupying that Of Aus
tris. The marriage was happy one,
and bore fruit in an only daughter.
After ten years, Dauband being
troubled with some disorders which
the practitioners in Louisiana could
not cure, removed with his wife and
child to Paris to get medical advice,
and on his recovery obtained from the
an appointment in the
Isle Of Bourbon While in Paris
the wife ard daughter went to walk
in the Tuileries, and eonversing in
German, were overheard BY Marshall
SAKE, who stopped to consider them
Madame Duband's embarrassment
confirmed bis suspicious, and bis rec
ognition of her was complete. She
persuaded him to promise secrecy.
He called on her, however, the next
day. and often afterward; and when
she had departed for Bourbon, be IN
formed the king Of what be had dis
covered. Orders were sent 10 the
island that the greatest respect should
be paid to her, and the King Of Hun-
gary was also made acquainted with
the position of his aunt He sent a
letter inviting her to his court, but
on condition that she should quit her
husband, which she refused to do.
In 1I47 Dauband died, having been
proceeded to the grave by bis dsrgh-
ter, and the widow came 10 France
with the intention Of taking up her
residence in a convent. In place Of
doing so, however, she lived in great
at Vitri, about league
rom Paris, where she died in lTT2-
Chambers Journal.
Fifty copies Of "webster's Una
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