Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-15
Hnw Aha WON AM Emnaror.

A correspondent thus relates the ro-
mantle way in which the Empress Of
Austria captured her Emperor: The
Empress is the youngest daughter Of
Duke Macmillan Joseph of Bavaria,
and sister of the ex-Queen Sophia Of
Naples. Francis Joseph was to have
been afianced to the Princess Sophia,
to make acquaintance with whom he
went to make a visit to his uncle's castle
of Posssnhoffen, where his four young
lady cousins had been born and brought
up. The Princess Elizabeth, then in
her sixteenth year, and remarkably
beautiful, was not to have been allowed
to see the young Emperor, beth because
on account of her youth-she was not
supposed to be out"-Rnd also be-
cause, being much handsomer than her
sisters. the willy Duke desired to secure
his Imperial nephew for his eldest
daughter before the former should
have been allowed to catch sight of
his youngest, as he felt very sure that
the hand Of such d beauty as she prom.
Used t o be would be sought far and wide
when it should be in the matrimonial
market. So the winning lady was told
that she wa to stay with her goYerness,
and not to presume TO show herself in
the d~rawing.room during the visit of the
Austrian cousin. But being lively, spir-
tied, and bTimful of curiosity to see the
youthful Emperor, who had so suddenly
succeeded to the troubled but brilliant
crown of Austria, the Princess Elizabeth
contrived to give her attendant the slip,
and to hide herself in q corridor, along
which the Imperial guest, who had ar
rived an hour before, and was then dress
ing for dinner 10 the rooms set apart for
his reception, would have to pass in 60
ing to the bauqueting hall. AS the young
sovereign passed along this corridor the
Princess, who was watching for him,
sprang out of her hidiHg-place, laughing
at the success of her m~aneuver, and cry
ing gaily, Cousin Franz Cousin Franz
| wanted TO see you, and they wouldn't
let me. and so | hid myself here to see
you 90 by" It appears that Cupid bow,
20 innocently shot off by the merry girl,
who had no thought beyond the grati6ca-
ton of her curiosity to see the grand
young cousin, whose quality as Emperor
had excited herimagination went straight
to the mark. Theyoung Emperor fell over
head and ears with the gay and beauti-
full vision that had presented itself so
unaffectedly before him. What passed
between the two young people has never
transpired; but a few minutes later the
Imperial guest entered the drawiEg-
room with his young cousin on his arm,
and presented her to the amazed circle
of relatives and courtiers who were
awaiting his appearance as the En-
press OF Austria, my engaged wife"
The anger Of the elder sisters is said TO
have been quite lively, as was, perhaps,
quite natural under the circumstances.
The young Princess dined that day in
the b%anqueting hall, seated beside the
" Cousin FRANC" so suddenly metamor.
into her Imperial spouse" and
Duke, though yexed for the disap-
pointment Of his eldest daughter, had at
least the satisfaction of having this splen-
did match secured for his youngest.
The marriage took place when the Prin.
cess had reached the mature age of six
teen, and all her husband subjects we're
enchanted with her youthful beauty and
her remarkable grace and kindness.