The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-02
TITLED MAIDEN ELOPES
COUNTESS FERSELEw WEEDS A POOR
WISCONSIN CHORE BOY.
Three Generations of Romantic Mar
WOman-A Time-HOnOred Custom.

| GAINESVILLE, Wis, Dec. 1.-For three
generations back the maternal ancestors of
the Countess FerseIew had eloped mar
ried against opposition, so when Miss Alice
Arthur Starrett, holder of the title by Pea-
son of inheritance under the laws of Dem
mark, quietly married Robert c. Tetzlaff, a
poor chore boy, yesterday, without telling
any one about her plans, she may have SIM
ply followed out family custom"
| Educated at the convent at Lemars,
| France and having had every advantage
wealth and station could command the
| countess chose poor student who cared for
the fires and did other chores about the
home of the proprietor of the school that he
attended as her life partner. Thus was the
nuptial romance that runs through the three
| generations rounded out by the winsome
young countess and the embryo telegraph
| operator yesterday, when the young couple
| went quietly to the Nome of the Rev. G.
Kaempfein, of the German Lutheran
| Church, and were married. Then, as the
young woman's ancestors had done before,
| they took the first train out of town to wait
for the clouds TO roll by.
During the civil war j! B. Doe, former
president of the First National Bank, was
one of the leading men of this part of the
| country. He had daughter, Miss Martha.
who was popular with all. About this time
| Count Ferselew came to America, the story
goes, to fight for the federal cause. The
count met pretty Martha Doe and fell in
love. The attachment was mutual, but IT is
said that the parents did not look with Ia
vor on the proposed union. One day, how
ever the young couple decided to end 1t all
by getting married. and did So Thelr nup-
tial sky was rosy with bliss for q time. but
later Count Ferselew ang ms rs wlIe s sep pa
manning in the United States. One child, a
daughter, the result of this union. rms
was the romance of the grandmother.
The daughter grew up and became fair TO
look uuon and when Captain Starrett
handsome soldier, fell In love with her. her, sne
reciprocated but her relatives refused 70
sanction their wedding because OF the youth
of the girl. Love, as usual, found the way;
however. An elopement was planned ana
carried out To this couple also a daughter
was born and enlargement followed, the
husband and wife separating. rms was the
iU ike the other daughter who was born to
elopc Alice Starrett grew up and became
fair to look upon. One day message came
country to become identihed with the nope ,e
house of Ferselew. Education ana pollsn
were necessary so 1t was decided 10 SEM
her away to school The famous convent at
Lemars was selected. Here the GOOD nuns
devoted their time to the pretty sirl from ON
America who was 20 be the helr OF ner
roble grandfather. They taught her 10 sing
and TO play, to paint. 70 elnoIoioer; ana az, 70
spt ak five languages. Then the count olea.
The pretty Young American girl was ms
heiress. and as she had learned all the ac5
ronnlishmants that the convent could afford
her She was presented at court and her
title Of countess officially recognized.
Shortly afterwards the countess returned
70 America Her grandmother, Mrs. Ferse-
lew, and her great-grandmoth her. MIS-, Doe;
were still living mere SO the youns I'd
would he brief Time passed and the count
ese remained here. She was a good-lookins
Young woman under twenty years OF age:
She gave lessons in painting, embroidery
and French TO pass away the time. 1t was
natt,ral She should notice the good-lookInB
ntnJenfs who passed her home each day on
fheir way TO a local school Of telegraphy
'rhe couple met by appointment yesterday
morning and fifteen minutes before the
milwaukee, train left they appeared az tne
denot as man and wife. The bride had lett
no message at home whatever. y
IN Mrs FTeTselew. the countess's grandmoth-
or IS a sister of ]. B. Doe, who was as
sistant secretary OF war under PRESIDENT
Cleveland