Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-01
A Heartless Count.

A Heartless Count.
A bailliant American, Miss NJ,
from Cincinnati, was beset by Polish
Count here year or two ago. She fell
into what is called love with him, and,
her father being rich, the Count ex-
pressed himself as willing to marry Miss
if her father paid certain sum down,
and bound himself to a certain annual
income. The father, who wasn't fool,
refused the terms with some asperity,
and the easy.minded nobleman ceased
his visits To the daughter. But she was
determined TO have husband with
coronet or perhaps she was In love with
the man. BE that as it may, she gave
the father no peace until he reopened
negotiations with the thrifty lover. lie
was immovabIe in his demands. He
represented blandly TO the indignant old
gentleman that, without birth, his daugh.
ter couldn't expect to ally herself TO
such a house as his on equal terms.
While he loved the lady he could not
depart from the customs of his family
without assuring himself that his future
would be secure. The father flung him
self out of the house, and ordered his
daughter to speak of the scamp no more.
He took her away to Paris, and over the
Continent, in hopes that she would dis
miss the thought of the fellow. 1t was
useless She correspondent with him
constantly, and as her life began to be
despaired of, and the physicians de-
clared it the result of mental troubles,
the old gentleman was compelled to buy
his self contained son-in.law at the fam
lily valuation. The price was modest,
all things considered, for as things stood
he could have got more-Sl00, 900 down,
in gold, and yearly annuity of $4,000
in gold. In return, the love-lorn young
woman received the title of one of
the noblest houses in the ancient
Kingdom of Poland-Saxony-and the
elegant person of the Count to have and
to hold as husband so long as the terms
of the contract held. The marriage, for
this sort of an affair, was not unhappy.
The Count, il he did not love his infat-
uated mate, at least respected her unlim-
tied fortune. A family began to grow
up about them, when the panic came,
destroying the fathers entire fortune al.
most In day. The Count and Countess
were in Paris when the news came, the
Countess receiving the letter from her
father announcing her total helplessness
The young wife must have had suspi
cion of the depth of her husbands devo-
ton, for she kept the news from him
until another letter came imploring her
presence in America, as the poor father
was almost insane. This she showed her
husband. He received the intelligence
impassively, but made no suggestion
The wife waited day or two. Nothing
further was said by her husband. She
made up her mind what to do. Tick
cts were ordered for the reXt steamer
for America from navre, and then the
wife informed her lord what she had
done. He expressed no surprise, but at
the last moment babe her adieu and
magnanimously relinquished the chill
dren, as, the contract being broken and
the $4,000 annuity being impossible, he
held the marriage at an end. The poor
woman, who had brought this upon her.
self, could say nothing. For the chill.
drens sake she implored him to wait
until he heard from her in America. He
mother of his children the politest of
adieus, and that evening was seen at the
opera in the most magnificent style.
Two months afterward it was known
that the financial affairs of the future
WOulu not slbIICG IOT the payment vi
$1,000 a year. The wife, however, re-
turned to Europe TO find her husband.
Sine did find him, at Ems, in intimate re-
lations with lady of rank, to whom he
had offered his hand. The wife, with
her children, waited upon him at his
hotel. He received them In the public
parlor, gayly bidding madam" good
morning, but with no more warmth than
If she had been the chambermaid. A
scene followed. Madam wept; the
Count was imper,urbable. Nothing could
be further from his mind than to act dis
honorably. Madam didn't know, ps-haps,
that the agents of her father 1 for
mally notified the Count that the results
of the financial disturbances left the es-
tate unable TO pay the annuity. Madam
was further not aware that he, through
generous considerations for the woman
who had shared his title, had refused 10
take legal action to compel the payment
of the money. In conclusion, he kissed
his hand TO madam" and wished her
+" every felicity In the tour of the Con-
tinent." That was the end Of the affair.
The hero of this incredible heartlessness
is living on the foolish Americans money
TO this day, and about to. marry, as / an.
told, a venerable Baroness with fine
fortune and beautiful estates in Bohemia,
just over the Austrian frontier.-Lresdea
Cor. ChteGgo Times.