Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-17

SlIuuLlOn ana count 0lBlSiHuhu OSh
dovsky informed hiJ father that he in-
tended to marry her. The effect of this
declaration may be we'll imagined.
Count Zendovsky, sr., was enraged be-
yond measure and took energetic meas
ures to prevent his son from commit
ting what he considered to be colos-
sal act of folly. II not a crime. Miss
Manson took up her quarters in peas
ant cottage. Finally she was forced to
leave the vicinity and go to Budapest
Count Sigismund left his home and
proceeded to Budapest with the de-
clared object Of making the neces-
sary arrangements for his marriage.
Count zendovsky, sr., cut off his allow
ance, so that Count Sigismund was re-
duced to absolute penury. His position
and expectations, however, enabled him
to borrow almost any amount Of money
from the usurers at Budapest, for the
must one day pass to the eldest son
irrespective of the fathers likes and
dislikes.
Lover Kidnapped, Locked in Tower
AS Count Sigismund was of age there
was no way OF legally preventing his
marriage. and in these circumstances
Count zendovsky. ST., resolved to re-
sort to forcible measures.
On the eve of the wedding Count Sig
ismund was walking home towards
midnight when he was waylaid in a
quiet street and quickly gagged. He
was then bound tightly and pitched into
a closed carriage.
Count Sigismund was conveyed to
the northeast of Hungary and removed
to the ancestral castle of his family,
situated in the Carpathians.
On the arriavl at the castle he was
imprisoned in a chamber at the top OF
one of the round towers which adorn
the building. Here he was 120 feet
above the ground, so there was no ap-
parent outlet in that direction. The
round chamber was we'll lighted by five
windows, all Of which were guarded
by thick iron bars firmly imbedded in
the masonry. The only access to the
chamber was by means Of a circular
ntaircase not wide enough for two per-
sons to stand abreast.
/ Father Would Give Girl $4,000
The count was told his father would
not be contented with a promise not
to marry Miss Manson, but that he
would be required to marry lady his
riage would have to be celebrated
within the castle in which he was
imprisoned, and not until the we'd
ding was over would he regain his lib
erty. If he agreed to these terms his
father was willing to pay Miss Nam
sons fare across the Atlantic and a
sum of $4,000.
| Count Sigismund promptly rejected
these propositions. The steward Of the
estate supervised the arrangements for
guarding him, and trusted retainers
whose fathers and grandfathers had
been in the service Of the zendovskys
carried out the orders Of the head of
! the family.
|
q man who, although he was proof
against any offer of bribes, could not
withhold his sympathy for the young
J lovers and allowed himself to be en-
ticed by Count Sigismund into for
warding a letter to Miss Manson at
Budapest.
| Miss Manson began to plan the rescue
of her incarcerated lover. She went
about it in highly romantic way She
journeyed down to the Carpathians,
disguised herself as a peasant woman,
and took up her quarters in the house
Of the retainer who had communicated
with her. 1t appeared impossible for
Count Sigismund 10 escape by way of
the staircase, because various doors
which were kept barred and bolted
would have to be passed, and he could
never emerge from the castle without
being captured. Accordingly Miss Nam
son, acting on knowledge derived from
various novels, sent through the
friendly retainer first of all the imple-
ments with which the count could
loosen the bars over the windows Sub
sequently she sent long rope. These
preparations took fortnight, for the
rope had to be obtained from Buda-
pest.
Saw, Rope, Fleet Horses
The escape was planned for night
on which the friendly retainer was on
duty at the foot of the turret. The
count sawed through the bars Of one
of his prison windows. reached the
ground by sliding down the rope, in
true medieval style, Joined his sweet
heart, who was waiting him with two
| fleet horses, and the young couple es-
| capped together.
| KAISER'S PET MOOR