The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1878-10-11
Romance of q Countess.

at Booths in this city next month lis re-
ally countess, and one of high de-
gree This was how it came about: She
studied originally to be q singer, and
did appear upon the operatic stage in
1859 Then she went abroad to study.
Living quietly in Paris with her moth
er, she became acquainted with Rus
sian count-a real count-who belong
ed to wealthy and influential family.
He was man of accomplishments and
fascinating qualities. And when he
asked the American girl to be his wife,
he found heart already conqured.
They were married quietly at a Ro-
man Catholic church. In some way or
other, by means of a chance remark by
some one, she got an inkling on the
wedding day that the marriage would
not be legal in Russia unless it was al
SO celebrated in q Russian church.
When she asked her husband about it
the same day, he met the point very
composedly, admitted that this was
true, but added that there was no Rus
sian church in Paris; that, as this was
merely an additional and formal cere-
mony, he had supposed that it might
be postponed until they reached Milan,
where they proposed going, and where,
| he said, there was "a Russo-Greek
church. To this his bride replied that
he might go on to Milan, and she would
| follow with her mother; and they could
be married there. The impatient low
er chafed OF all this, but the girl was
firm about it, though she does not
seem to have begun to suspect him. He
obeyed her, and they journeyed to Mi
Ian by separate trains. After they had
arrived, he appeared with story that
the Russian clergyman was out of town,
and an appeal to her to forego this in
sistance upon mere formality and to
set out with him upon their travels.
Then the native shrewdness of the girl
asserted itself over her love for this til
tied rascal. She had inquiries made,
and discovered that the Russian priest
was in town, and likewise that there
was Russian church in Paris. Evi-
IDENTIFY the count had been lying to her,
and with what purpose was too evident.
She confronted him with her knowl-
edge, and he, seeing that the game was
up, disappeared.
| She returned to Paris, filed with the
determination to compel this man to
| grant her redress. She went to the
American minister, and, not finding
him in the city, laid her case, in the
innocence of her heart, before his Off
cial representative, Mr.. Dom Piatt.
OF Mr.. Piatt's share in this history it
is well perhaps to say as little as posi-
BILE. It will be sufficient to say that
when the project of police demanded
Miss Wards papers of him he gave
them up. By this time Miss Ward had her
mental perspective adjusted, and knew
! Just what to do. She set out for St.
Petersburg with her mother; took a
home there and entered the best society
of the capital. There letters gave them
the enterence everywhere, they had
plenty of money and entertained in
handsome style;. and the New York
girl, whose mind was all the while
| bent on campaign of which no one
else knew, was soon the bell of the
season. When the winter was nearly
over, when her position as reigning IA
vorite of st. Petersburg was firmly es-
| tablished; when no great entertain
ment was considered complete without
a song from herI IHhe began operations.
UpS to this sim here had been no
sign 81 yEgf sem q d trRnh, Httsny nass
as0ersained as s6cn as she arrived il
n Russia that all that had been said D
the power and wealth of his family wa
true. The visible proof of it wa
/ found in the fact that his brother wa
: one of the government ministers, an,
, enjoyed the special confidence of tn
| czar. This only nerved her for the ef
fort she was to make, the more so a
this minister was constant attendan
at her receptions, and acted very mucl
as if he were himself in love with her
She asked, through the American
! minister IAN opportunity to make state
! ment to the czar concerning one of hi
officers. This was granted, and with
{ out giving names she told her story
The czar was indignant and declares
that this officer should suffer whateve
punishment she demanded. He called
in his minister, the brother of the cul
prit, who vowed that such man shoult
not be allowed to remain in the armie
of the czar. His uniform should b.
stripped from him. Then there was
/. dramatic scene when the Gar asked th,
2 name of the orreader. a1,2 she gave it
5 The brother exclaimedfn a transpor
Q of rage, perhaps of disappointed
r love and jealousy, che shall be hang
ed'' But she said she would not hav
9 indignities put upon him. She fel
? above revenge; all that she asked wa
! ustice.
: A peremptory order was dispatched
: to the post which Count - was sta
!. toned requiring his immediate appear
: ance before ihe czar. He came, O
2 course; counts are prompt when czar
y command. He was confronted with th
: disclosure, aad told by the czar tina
!, he must comply with the lady's de
4 = mand, which was that hse t61ii.!E hi
Z promise by completing the marrise
j ceremopx4 ma Like, this coui
: was aken with u Jpirit and courae
, 4 and brilliant cleVerness of the oil
! whom he had once sought to deceiYt
He would have liked .tn-ne9in se<
! ond wooing before the scond maxr1N
= and would have been Gadkh0 d0ub
= the match once settled, to be devote
husbandTto such rare Wbman. BIT
f. he was veryEeooly received, and an III
6 mistakable intimation was given tbs
. he need not present himself until th
/ day of the ceremony, and then at th
!, church. The day came, and the ha
= married maid appeared dressed Who'll
! in black; her mother also in blacl
: The somber bride met her husband {
q the altar, for she would not even wal
I, up the aisle with him. The cerenion
% was performed.-At its conclusion sh
i made him stately salute, walked dow
h the aisle and out of the church; steE