The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-28
4 RUSSIAN ROMANCE.

Peter the Greats Daughter-tn-Law
Story of Real Life.
To Louisiana in the beginning OF the last
century came an old German emigrant with
his only daughter and settled there. She was
young and very beautiful, and attracted much
attention, especially that of one Douband, an
officer in the colony. This officer had been IN
Russia. and what struck him upon seeing the
Young lady was the very remarkable resem
blsnce which she bore to the late wife OF Czaro-
witz Alexis, son of Peter the Great.
The history Of this Princess bad been very
sad one, though slster.ln-law to Charles vi,
abe had been treated by her husband as though
she had been his slave. He had attempted to
make her take poison, and at last he struck
her with such violence, when far gone with
child. that he bad caused the death both OF
erself and her infant. After great lapse Of
time the Czarowltz himself died, and to Dau-
bands watchful eyes 1t seemed that the lntelll-
eepce OF that Princes disease was received by
his fair lodger with such suspicious interest
and excitement that be taxed her with beng
in truth the unhappy lady whom all the world
thought 20 be dead and buried. If such were
the case he declared himself devoted to her
service and prepared to sacrifice his prospects
in the colony IN order to escort her to RUSSIA.
Then Charlotte Cushman Sophia de Woolfen-
buttel (for such had been her maiden name)
narrated her pitful story. She was lndeed the
parsonage he had imagined, and had mace
use of fraud to escape from the crueltles OF
her late husband. The blow that had been
given TO her had alnt sL caused her death, but
she had recovered. By the help OF Countess
Konigsmark, the mother OF Marshal Saxe, she
gained over the women OF her bed-chamoer, 30
that 1t was given out that she was no more,
and funeral was arranged accordingly. Then,
being conveyed 10 secret place, she was care
fully tended. and, when strong enough. re-
moved in the gulse of a peasant girl to Paris
under the guardianship OF a trusted German,
who passed as her father, and finally lied from
France to Louisiana.
Having heard her story, Dauband renewed
his otter w furnish the means OF ber return to
that sphere from which she had fled under
such piuable circumstances; but the young
widow thanked him and said that the only ser
vice she required was that he should maintain
an absolute secrecy regarding her. He en-
deavored to obey her, but his affection for her
was stronger than his loyalty; be was young
aud handsome, as we'll as impressionable, and
perhaps the ex-princess was not sorry when;
her pretended father dying, Dauband offered
himself to her as her husband. II she had
really renounced all thoughts OF re5uming her
rank, he argued, why should she not we'd
an honest man who loved herr Though not q
Queen. in him che should ever have devoted
subject. She consented, and is 80 doing al
furded one of the strangest vicissitudes OF for
tune that history has recorded the marriage
with an humble officer OF infantry Of one who
had been destined for the throne Ut Russia
and whose sister was actually occupying that
of Austria. The marriage was happy one,
and bore fl uit in an only daughter.
After ten years DIuband, being troubled
with some disorders which the practitioners
in Louisiana could not cure, removed with his
wife and child to PLris to get medical advice,
and on bis recovery obtained from the Govein o.
ment an appoint mcnL in the Isle Of Bourbon.
While in Paris the wife and daughter went to
walk in the Tueries, and couversipg IN Ger
man, were overheard by Marshal SAKE, wi o
stopped tn consider them. Anne. Dauband's
em oarrassment confirmed his suspicious, and
his recognition Of her was complete. She
persuaded him to promise secrecy. He called
on her, however, the next day, and often AFTER
wards; and when she had departed for Bourbon,
the KING OF what be had discovered.
Orders were sent 10 the island that the great |
est respect should be paid to her, and the King
of Hungary was also made acquainted with the
position OF his aunt. He sent her o letter id
yitlng her to his court, but on condition that
she should quit her husband, which she re-
fused to do. IN 1747 Dauband died. having |
been preceded to the grave by his daughter, |
and the widow came to France with the inter- |
tlon Of taking up her residence in convent. |
In place of dong 30, however, she lived in
great retirement at Vitri, about league from
Paris, where she died IN 1772.-Chdmbers's |
Journal.