Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-08-14

| in suspense. My heart and my hand are
free-they are both yours, If you would
have IL So"
| "How can venture to aspire so highY"
replied Sergius, still on his knees; eyes,
can think of ever calling one of your
birth and wealth miner My poverty and
low birth make il almost crime to raise
my eyes to one so far above me-"
"But when tell you, Sergius, replied
the Countess, smiling "that have no
mind to marry money-bag or a coat-of
arms; that am content with you as you
are, without either title or fortune?"
care you in earnest, truly in earnest,
| Nadcschda?"
Incredulous mani How can prove
to you my sincerity?"
but the Princess? she will never con-
sent to our union"
"Is she not my friend?" replied the
Countess.
"Oh, know her-she will be immsva-
ble," said Sergius.
"And if she is, then we will dispense
with her consent"
"That is impossible"
Chow, are you so dependent upon
her?"
"She is my benefactress."
Well, let us first see what she says"
concluded the Countess.
That evening Nadeschda told her friend
that she loved Sergius and would marry
him.
Impossibler' replied the Princess.
+" Impossible! and why?"
"Never could !, as your friend, con-
sent to union so far beneath you
never" replied the Princess, in tone so
imperative that the Countess thought it
best, for the present, at least, to drop the
subject.
When, however, she missed Sergius
the next morning at breakfast, she could
not refrain from asking after him.
"Believe me, Nadeschda, the sooner
you forget him the BETTER" replied the
Princess.
Because he is poor, suppose?"
Yes, and then he has no title. Let us
say no more about him."
"But where is he?' asked the Count
ess.
81 have sent him away"
Where?"
"To an estate have some distance
from here; he will forget you, and you
him." replied the Princess.
"Neverl" cried the Countess.
eve shall see" replied the Princess,
with an almost triumphant smile.
For the next few days the Countess
pretended to be content, but she never
ceased to do all in her power to discover
the whereabouts of the eXiled Sergius.
Finally she succeeded in bribing one of
the Princess maids, and to possess her
self of the secret. She now gave out
that certain important matters rendered
her presence in the city necessary; and
the Princess, under whose instructions
the maid had played the traitress, made
no opposition to her friends departure.
The Countess really went first to the
city. There she sent the Princess coach
back home and then set about making
preparations to free her lover from his
bondage.
Sergius was strolling along the edge
of a field, in the outskirts of the village
tim, tal gathering ing Ppso5PPfp9ss a. had ser sent
flowers, and winding them into a
fantastic wreath, when the Countess
suddenly stood before him, but not so un-
expected as she supposed.
Nadeschdaw he cried, and was about
to throw himself at her feet, when she
clasped him in her arms.
"How do you come here?" stammered
Sergius.
mo matter, since ! am here" whis-
pered the Countess. "Why have come
| j
hind that clump of trees, stands my coach
ready to take us to the city, where, in the
chapel of my palace, the priest awaits
us. 1t is usual for the cavalier to steal
away his lady-love; we, however, will
reverse the order-to-day the lady-love
steals away the cavalier"
What, you have come"
"To carry you off" laughed the Count
ess. Come, don't take too long to re-
flect-let us be gone before we are dis.
covered" and she took his arm and LED
him toward her coach.
"Now you are mine," said the Count
ess, when they were seated and on the
road land no power on earth shall teal
you from me-"
They jested and chatted until the
coach drove through the portal of the
Countess palace and drew up at iti
broad marble landing Serfs in ricl
liveries hastened forward to assist theil
mistress to alight. She, however, scarce
ly needed them, nor did she wait Il
change her dress but, covered with dus
as she was, she hastened to the chape
with her lover, and seemed then only
calm and confident when the priest ha(
made them husband and wife.
Strange! AS they left the altar, while
, the Countess was flushed from excite
ment and radiant with delight, Sergiu
looked unutterably sad, and was pale t.
the very lips.
"What is the matter-what ails you, m.
love?" asked Nadescha, tenderly.
Nothing, nothing ~ replied Sergius
= and he made an effort to be cheerful.
After hasty repast the newly-maT
/ ried pair again entered their coach, ant
/ Immediately left the city.
The sudden marriage of the rich ant
{ beautiful young Countess very natural'
created sensation. The Empress wa
incensed that the marriage should hav,
taken place without her knowledge ant
! consent, while the Indignation of tn
Countess family knew no bounds. Their
was one person only who was please'
with the Countess choice-the Princes
, Katinka Gagarin; and she was more thai
, pleased, she was delighted
I And why? We shall see.
The Countess and her new husband
remained away two months. With tn
approach of winter they turned tOwart
home. Immediately after their return
> clouds began to threaten for the younI
: wife; her relations and friends kept aloo
{ from her; and when she sought to throw
! herself at the feet of the Empress fo
forgiveness she was not received.
e The Princess Gagarin, despite the in
. clemency of the weather, still RENAME,
5 in the country, To her Nadeschda nov
G fastened, accompanied by her husband
S Contrary to her expectation, the Prir
= cess received her most cordially, an
1 even volunteered to become her intel
cessor with the Czarina.
After installing her guests in the bes
! apartments in her chateau the Princes
I set out for the capital on her self-impose
+ mission of reconciliation, In few day
she returned, with the object of her visi
i accomplished. 1t had been arrange
q that the Princess should give a fete at he
I chateau, that the Empress should homo
: it with her presence, and that Nadeschd
@ should avail herself of the opportunit
A thus offered to throw herself at the fee
G of her august mistress and implore he