Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04
HOW THE CoACHMAN WON HER.
Victoria MOrOsini Explains How Ernest
Captured Her Affections.


Victoria IOrOsini Explains How Ernest
Captured Her Affections.
Notwithstanding the fact that volumes
have been written and published about
the famous HOrosinl elopement case and
various explanations made as to how the
lady became infatuated with her fathers
coachman, says a Boston special to the
New York World, the real facts were
never brought to light until they We're OBJ
tanned by reporter here from Mrs Sahel-
ling herself. The story is a remarkable
one. Mrs. Schelling, in reply to questions
on the subject, said:
From childhood up it has been my
pleasure TO roam al will through the for
est which surrounded my home. Riding,
too, was a great enjoyment to me, not be-
cause Ernest drove, for then l had no in
terest in him. One day l went to ride on
the road that winds along the banks Of
the beautiful Hudson river. From one
point on that road the ruins of an old
stone mansion are visible. 1t stands on
the top of a hill at a considerable distance
from the road to the right. | had often
wished to go nearer to its mOss-grOwn
walls, but had always been deferred by
some member of the family being with
me, or else the sign marked Dangerous
l.
But this day I was alone and determined.
Ernest drove and, Notwithstanding his
entreaty, sprang out of the carriage and
was soon peering into the great entrance
of the old ruin. Aiming myself with a
stick | pushed aside the vines and creep
ers that OVerhung the open door and stood
within the great hallway, which was filled
with poisonous underground. The inte-
riOr presented such a wild and gloomy
1 oil Trk lao ir,A
OF running away. Had l done so, VictO-
ria Morosini would never have married
Ernest Schelling. Being that day imbued
with a spirit of adventure, l mounted to
the top of q flight of stone steps. There
l found a narrow hallway leading into a
large room at the back. l started to ira
verse that hall, but on taking three or four
steps forward, there was a crash. l felt
yselffalling- falling-and then became
unconscious. When regained my senses
some days later, l was lying in bed at my
fathers house, surrounded by anxious
friends and relatives, and Ernest (who
had rescued me, crushed and bleeding,
from beneath the wrecked floor stood
over me with a white face. They were
awaiting the DOCTORS decision as to my
chances for life: | had fingered for days ,:
wasting slowly. sit is a serious w
said the physician; "she has suffered
great loss of blood and predict her death
within an hour unless one chance alone
remains for her; it is blood tIansfuslon.'
All this l heard him say without being
able to open my eyelids or speak a word.
Then there was another pause. Not one
of them moved. Then Ernest Schelling
stepped forward and, without moments
hesitation, he barred his strong right arm
and said, calmly yet oh, so determinedly:
Take from my veins the last drop OF blood
if it will save her life" The blood was
transfused from Ernest's arm to mine.
He saved my life, for grew strong almost
Immediately. Then there arose an lntul-
tive attachment between us. How could
1 resist loving the man to whom l owed
my life and who pleaded for that love
the being whose life-blOOd courses in my
veins, warming me back to life? 1t was
a great debt | owed him, and one which
have cheerfully paid-if, indeed. the poor
recompense of my willing hand could pay
it. He says it has. Our vows at least
are indissoluble. 1t is bond Of love be-
tween US that is fixed, unaltered, unal-
terable. Had | Thousand years OF life I'D
live it all with him. And now you know
why Victoria Morosini welded with Err
nest Schelling."