The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-29
A Warning TO Ambitious Mothers.

"a \" dIuluR ~ A11OlIlOuS III Cu6IS.
American mothers, who are anxious that
their daughters should marry titled foreign
ers. may be warned by the following account
of the sad fate which has befallen an Amer
lean young lady abroad. 1t was in the early
part Of last summer that Mrs. B., a widow
of considerable means, and her beautiful
daughter of twenty, babe goodbye 10 their
friends who congregated to see them off on
board one of the Cunard steamers, which
was to convey them across the deep. They
had set out on a years tour In Europe. A
fortnight after sailing they were omi led
In elegant apartments overlooking one Of
the fashionable boulevards of Paris, and the
daughter was spoken of as the handsomest
American young lady in the French capital.
Tuesdays and Fridays were the evenings on
which Mrs. B. held her receptions. They
were frequented by some of the most prom
inent Americans in Paris, among whom was
alwayst TO be found a Count. a Baron, or some
other titled person..
In the latter part Of September a finclook-
ing young Hungarian Of 26, styling himself
a Baron and said to be a Lieutenant in
the Austrian Army, was introduced to Mrs.
B. at one of he receptions. The meeting
between the handsome Austrian officer and
the American young lady was SO agreeable
to both parties tn It a standing invitation
was extended to the Lieutenant to call at
the house at any time. His frequent visits
resulted in intimacy and love. especially
when he learned that the mother Of his idol
had about that time converted her $50, 900
United States bonds into French securities,
and after a time he popped the question.
Her mother, instead of verifying the truth
of what he told her about himself-that he
was in the imperial service Of Austria, that
he was heir TO 600. 900 forms, that his fam
lily was one Of the most aristocratlc in Hun
gary, and that he had an annual income of
$40, 900 besides his pay, etc.-was delighted
at the proposition, and a wedding day was
fixed.
The young officer, however. insisted that
the wedding should be as private as posi-
bic, because if his family should hear of
their son being about to marry outside of
his rank they might interfere, but after the
knot was tied they would accept the situa
ton. The parties interested in the affair
left Paris and went to Geneva, Switzerland,
where the wedding took place, after which
all three visited several places in the South
of Germany, and finally settled at Dresden.
The gallantry with which the son-in-law in
sisted on paying all expenses, including
those of his mother-in-law and the pains
which he took to make himself agreeabl
to her, fully satisfied Mrs B.. that she had
the ideal of a son in-law, until one fine af
%ternoon, on going accidentally to look in 6
trunk where she had placed her French
bonds she found them missing, together witt
the son in. law, who had left the day pre-
vious "onlv for a short trip to a relative
but who has not since made his appearance
Searching inquiries failed to disclose am
clue as to the whereabouts of the youns
officer and Oniv thrOuUh the intprfnrpnct
Of an ex-United States Consul in a German
manufacturing town, who interested him
self in behalf of the mother aud daughter
has iJ been ascertained that the supposed
Baron was d cashiered Lieutenant Of tn
Austrian army, that he was not a Baron
that he possessed no family, that he was in
!, terested in a German gambling house il
Paris, and that the stolen bonds had alread
: changed several hands. A subscription j
now being raised in Dresden to enable tn
mother and daughter to return.