Evening star., 1894-01-27
:AB|T OF PSYCH|cAL EXPERIENCE
BY DE WITT @. SPRAGUE.
Written Exclusively for The Evening Star.

Written Exclusively for The Evening Star.
Late one evening in January, 1s7-, I
reached the town In the southern mart of
ltaiy where 1 was to represent the United
states government until relieved by a sue
cessor or removed by the Roman fever that
rather too frequently prevailed down there.
on my arrival at the hotel in which L had
ordered quarters / found supper awaiting
me, and was finishing the meal, when a
man, whom had observed perambulatiay
the room in an apparently restless man.
her' approached me and, politely apologiz-
Ing, introduced himself as Count B.. from
Albania. Accepting my invitation to be
seated, he handed me a cigarette. and We
soon became pretty well acquainted. The
count was tall. handsome man of about
twenty-three years. and he appeared 10
De an accomplished gentleman.
The following day, with him for INV
guide. 1 strolled about the city and along
the fine harbor, and during our walk he
told me good deal about himself and his
FAMILY. He was an only child. His father
distinguished Albanian nobleman. was
then prominent minister Of state in that
turkish province. His mother, of German
extract had died some two years ago. He
was educated in Paris and at Heidelberg
ana at the latter place his cousin, a beau
1iui girl, sixteen years old. was also in
schooi "hen ne went there. She was his
iather ward and lived with him, though
the count had seldom seen her for some
years prior to his going to Heidelberg
But at that place the cousins met fro
quently, and before long they discovered
that mutual love attachment was draw
ing their
golden chain. They were secretly affance,,
YET deemed 1t prudent well as prope- to
keep their secret until their return to Al
bania, when the counts father should he
duly apprised of their love and supreme
wish.
AT the end of a year, in a felicitous state
of heart and mind, they returned to their
home, and the count promptly Informed
MS father of the love affair with his
cousin and begged permission to marry
ner. But to the astonishment and grief of
the lovers the severe old minister. whose
sense of honor appears to have been ex-
tremely acute, fatty refused his consent.
even forbidding the lovers meeting
again, and to insure the enforcement of
this hard mandate he ordered his son to be
sent to Italy. where. with a suitable allow
ance. he was to remain during his faith
pleasure. Moreover, Ito avoid family
scandal. the son was commanded to bear
an assumed name while abroad. The young
man, driven nearly to distraction by his
fathers arbitrary orders, was at first in
clined to rebel. but a tender letter trom
his cousin and the wise counsel OF friends
hnally prevailed, so one dark, stormy night
ne permitted himself to be taken from his
father's palace and placed On board a
steamer bound for Italy
NOW, the only reason given by the old
nobieman for his extreme course was thai.
being the guardian Of his niece he might
be accused Of encouraging her marriage
to his son In order to secure in his family
ABSOLUTE control OF her large wealth, and
no argument or influence on the part of
his friends was able to remove this an
parently absurd conclusion from his mind
he refused to see the case in any other
light. and even threatened to disinherit his
son altogether II he persisted in his wish
to marry the beloved cousin
After hearing the counts story, of which
this is but a sketch. 1 tried to encourage
MIN to wait patiently, and discoursed eIo-
quently on the beauties Of hope, but my
words didn't appear to console the young
man TO any great extent, for he knew his
rather would never relent." and he had
forever lost all hope Of happiness"
At dinner that day the count seemed to
be unusually cheerful, and he insisted upon
my having glass of lachrymae christi
with him. The wine. which at that time
was rather expensive, even in Italy, was
duly ordered. though not promptly brought.
after waiting rather longer than a rea-
sonable time. the count again called the
waiter and asked In an angry tone why
his order had not been attended to- The
Fellow answered insolently that he was
obeying his master, the landlord where
upon my new friend, greatly enraged called
lor tnat parsonage. He soon appeared, and
there ensued a war of words in a strange
language. that threatened serious conse-
quences. IL I was to judge Of the situation
from hery tone and violent gesticulation
However. there were no physical blows and
the storm soon spending its wrath the
landlord hurriedly fetched the wine and
departed without a word. "The canailler'
muttered the count. as he proceeded to
fill the glasses
l was getting ready for bed that night
when a light rapping called me to the door
OF my room, which opened, and was sur
prised to meet the landlord there In a
disturbing me at that late hour, yet ex-
eused himself because he had something
important to communicate. I motioned him
to enter, and as soon as the door was closed
ity to know the purpose of his midnight
CALL He had come to warn me, and a high
sense Of duty would not permit him 10
leave is & me for another hour in ignorance Of
you are the honored representative of a
great nation. You are a distinguished guest
in my hotel and l have no right TO see vour
noble disposition imposed upon by a bad
man, a traitor. signor, a traitor, That man
who constantly intrudes himself into your
company Is an adventurer, not a count
He is indebted 600 lire to me and will cheat
me with lies. When I ask for my money.
he says, 1 expect money from the prince.
my father, in Albania and he has told me
the same story every day for these two
weeks. Three days ago I requested him
to give me draft on the prince, his father.
He refused and insulted me. No. siynor.
he fs not count. Today a gentleman from
Albania told me that there is no family Of
his name In that country, so you see he is
a swindler, Sfgnor Consul. I do NOT care
so much for my 600 lire as / do for the
honor OF my house, which would be de-
stroyed If permitted such a distinguishes
guest as the Signor Consul to be swindled
and robbed under my very eyes And so
Signor Consul, beware of that man. who is
laying plans to take advantage of your
generous heart. But he shall not do II.
Tomorrow 1 will go to the police and he
shall be arrested. I will not wait any
longer"
This is not half the talk Of ~hi,h tire cx-
clted landlord vehemently delivered himself
before he paused. evidently for a brea thing
spell. But I embraced the Opportunity 10
put in word, though admit that / wasn't
altogether sure of my footing However. i
pegan by assuring him of my perfect con-
Hdehce In Count -, for he had shown
me papers and letters relating to his fam
lily affairs, which appeared to verify his
stateme ents. 1t was true that ne was NOT
then bearing his fathers family name ve.
there were reasons for this which I conld
not disclose. Regarding the non-receInt ~