The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-16


last the parties to the suit were con-
Quoted from the room and the jury left
to its deliberations.
s'I propose to the reverend body
opened the foreman, George Fabriczy,
ssthat we declare the maiden guilty
and sentence her as follows: For the
period Of seven years che shall not
marry, neither shall enc during that
time indulge in any form of worldly
diversion whatever. !"
'.Let us put it to the vote, !" said an
other. "sYea' and may may signi-
fies acquittal.
Paul Szontagh called off the names
and inscribed after each the response.
''Peter Salitius3'
'Yea."
Samuel Urszinyif'
ssNay.
ssCharles Vitoris2''
.Nay.'.
At this point Miskolczi hurriedly
scribbled few words on scrap of pa
per which he passed over to Paul Szon-
tagh. The scribe, however, took no no.
tice, but went on uninterruptedly down
the list:
"Paul Bistriczkya"
"Yea.'
.sConstantin Revencsanf"
s'Nay.''
So far two ssyeas'' and three "nays."
There were now only lacking the voices
Of Szontagh and the foreman. Paul
Miskolczi strove. by every means in his
power, to get Szontagh to read the
writing on the bit, of paper which he
was now crumpling carelessly in his
hand; but, all unheeding, he uttered,
like the foreman, "yea" in his turn.
Thus was pronounced that hard decree
which has been brought down by chron-
iclers to this very day.
Now, at last, Paul Szontagh opened
the paper and read what was written
upon it; word for word it ran thus:
elizabeth Grupblatt sent Janos
Gothard back his ring because it is
your reverence she lovesl'
The world seemed to whirl in a circle
round Paul, his blood surged and his
eyes danced. The most beautiful and
best born girl in upper Hungary in love
with himl How different her conduct
appeared to him nowl How had he
ever brought himself to utter that
"yea7'
"And now, Brother Szontagh, be
pleased to take down the verdict. -
The scribe seized the pen with hand
that trembled, and it was only by the
strongest effort Of will that he was en-
abled to write at the foreman's dicta-
tion.
.The parties may re-enterl" an
nounced George Fabriczy. When in
the room, Elizabeth and Janos remained
standing by the door with averted
faces In choking voice the young
clergyman read to them the decree
which ran as follows:
''Tbat the sacredness Of the holy in
stitution of matrimony be preserved,
and to. ward from US the wrath to
come, we do hereby ordain that the
girl, who has held these both in go light
case. shall, for the period of seven
years remain unmarried; she shall also,
in that time, strictly abjure each and
every form of worldly amusement.
Most cruelty was this conceived.
Elizabeth was just three and twenty,
add to that seven years during which
she was not to lay the virgins wreath
from her beautiful dark head, and wo
obtain as result so, and-a full
fedged old maid The reverend gentle
men had reckoned out with extreme
nicely the exact way to make of the
radiant blossom a sapless etalk. Janos
Gothard announced himself as satisfied,
and Elizabeth left the room, with down
cast eyes, without word.
The very next day Paul Szontngh
and Miskolczi began to set on foot the
most earnest measures to obtain re-
versal of the ecclesiastical decision.
They even finally reached, with their
petition. the very steps Of the throne
itself, but all in vain. The affair re-
NAMED precisely where it was.
They had at last relinquished all
hope when one day it came to pass
that. on meeting old Martin Szontagh
in the street, Janoe Gothard, Sr., not
only did not return his greeting. but
pointedly turned away his head. Now,
old Szontagh had the reputation of be-
ing q man who held himself in very
high esteem He was the maker of the
famous clock, had been decorated by
royal hands for the same. and this
averting of Gothard head he took ex-
tremely i'll. Upon arriving home he
wrote upon his tablets and handed
them to his son: