Smyrna times., 1880-08-04
A Romantic Life,
THE HISTORY OF MISS GENEvIEvE wARD-uow
SHE ACCOMPANIED MADAME sONTAG no
EUROPE, MARRIED RUSSIAN COUNT
AND WAS BETRAYED.

The Boston correspondent of the Hart.
ford Comm Times gives the following
romantic and pathetic history of Miss
Genevieve Ward the eminent actress, who
| has recently appeared in London with re.
! markable success:
When Madame SOntag was in this country
and sojourning in Cincinnati, she met,
among other society people who We'd in
DONG her honor, a young girl who sang
with so rich, flexible and delicious a voice
that she was simply captivated. She said
to herself, "This is too beautiful thing to
be lost in the world. 1t is a gem which,
polished, will sparkle with most brilliant
luster.
With little difficulty she pursuadsd Miss
Ward to!go with her to Paris, there to pre-.
pare for the operate stage. Her pupil and
friend, whom she delighted to instruct and
superintend, gave Madam Sontag perfect
satisfaction Miss Genevieve studied faith.
fully and practically, ut the same time at
tanning a quick and remarkably accurate
knowledge of the French language Asso.
clating with only the most refined and
cultured people she necessarily acquired
only the best Partisan accent, was
utterly free from those provincialisms
which mar the speech of many who still
believe themselves excellent French schol.
ars. Her stay in Paris was varied with
many trips-including visits to Rome and
Florence, and her talent, voice, personal
attractiveness and American vivacity could
not be hidden under bushel, she became
very much admired and sought after by
gentlemen of all ranks and fortunes.
She bestowed her friendship and finally
her love upon Count de Guerbel, Russian,
whose wealth, magnificent physique and
fascinating manner made Overwhelmingly
agreeable by really deep passion, won
from the true and appreciative heart of
Miss Ward an esteem and admiration which
would do honor to any man who lives.
She was then eighteen, petted, loved, and
surrounded by every luxury. Her mother,
whose worldly eyes saw even more plainly
than her daughter the advantages of such
an alliance, favored the match, and event.
ually, in full pomp and ceremoney, in the
Roman Catholic church, Miss Ward had
the happiness of being united to the man
OF her choice, and becoming the Countess
de Guerbel
1t was but a few moments after the recep.
ton, and when the happy couple had lust
started by carriage on their wedding Jour.
ney, that messenger arrived in breathless
haste and announced to the astonished and
indignant mother that Count de Guerbel.
being Russian, considered the marriage
sacrament as performed in the Roman
Catholic church as not binding at all, and
that. in fact, unless a marriage were also
consecrated In the Greek church the count
could repudiate Miss Ward at any time. de.
clare and sustain his claim that the mar.
riage was void and null, and leave his beau
tliul wife IS most unenviable position.
That. since he was we'll aware of these facts,
and had the reputation of being an unscru.
pulously fast man, he probably had in
tended to secure for his own pleasure the
person OF Miss Ward under these false pre-.
tences, and would in all probability in
time betray her. The mother, like brave
and diplomatic woman, consulted the
American consul, obtained his advice, and
instantly followed her daughter by train,
catching the bridal party within a few
hours OF their departure. She immediately
presented herself to the count who no
doubt was disagreeably surprised to meet so
soon again his mother-in. law, and under
such auspices. But he immediately proved
himself the villain he was, for on her in
forming him Of the state of affairs as she
had ascertained them, he utterly refused to
be united to Miss Ward in the Greek
church, and neither proposed any other
method of making good the marriage, nor
even attempting to excuse himself Upon
this Miss Ward returned home with her
mother, safe and sound, but bitterly morti.
he'd and unhappy. They returned to Paris,
and determined to appeal to the emperor
OF Russia for justice and the protection of
Miss Wards honor. They received an
invitation from his majesty to visit the
court at st. Petersburg. That she might
more ably make her personal appeal, and
lay the case more eloquently before the
royal mind, Miss Ward devoted herself to
4he study of Russian, and in six weeks had
SO mastered this difficult language that she
could converse in ordinary terms quite
sufficiently we'll to be thoroughly under.
stood. Arrived at St. Petersburg. the
mother and daughter were given a suit of
rooms in the palace and were received by
the princess with every mark of sympathy
and esteem. The Emperor heard their
story OF the truth of which, of course, they
had undoubted proofs, with indignant !
appreciation of the modification and |
social disgrace which his subject had 30
vlllalnously heaped upon them. He imme.
diatey ordered the world to be searched |
for the count. But the count had hidden |
himself we'll. 1t was not until six months |
that he was brought triumphantly into the |
Russian capital.
The emperor personally commanded the |
count to marry Miss Ward, and he was |
obliged to give his reluctant consent.
Why he had acted in the way he had |
done, and what was his objection to mar. |
riage with young girl of irreproachable |
character, whom he had seemed to passion.
ately adore, and had taken so much pains |
to possess, he never told and no one ever |
knew. Miss Wards brother had arrived in /
st. Petersburg, and, being a man of char.
acter, had sworn to see his sister made the |
honorable wife of her suitor or kill the |
count. The marriage ceremony, performed |
in the palace in the presence of the empe. |
roF and empress, the royal household and |
the many friends whom Miss Ward had |
gained during her stay in st. Peters.
burg, was an imposing scene. The bride |
was attlred In deep mourning, and was es. |
corted to the alter by her brother, whose |
hand was on revolver ready to shoot the |
bridegroom at the slightest sign of false |
play, The meeting between these two,
who had loved and breathed the words of \
love TO each other, and who noW atood up |
70 oe married oy torPe aps in the attitude |
OhOly' y the SStrome, hut sorrow % % had |
made Miss Ward more spiritually beautiful.
and sYen although he had so wroneed her,
she always loyed the Count de Guerbei
and still loved him with all her woman's |
soul. 1t vas too much for even his cold
aud wicked nature. Her youth, her beauty, |
her sorrow, Der moNrping attire, all ap.
pealed to him aud there AT bis real passion
wRs renewed within him and added to it an