Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26

man Of such distinguished appearance and
so well known throughout the neighborhood
the young count should walk abroad
with a pretty peasant girl without sooner
or later attracting attention. The first op-
position came from the relatives of the girl,
whose father heard the rumor that she
was keeping company with the young
nO0leman. Happening TO meet the count
on a country road soon afterward the
sturdy peasant accosted him and said:
My neighbor tells me that your serene
hiShness haunts the neighborhood OF my
cottage when | am away from home in
order to pay attentions TO my daughter
Anna. do no. want any fine gentleman
pursuing my daughter, who is good girl
and Will marry a man IN her own station of
life ! must, therefore, beg your serene
h!ghness to be good enough to cease your
attentions to my daughter, and not to turn
her head by batteries, but 70 leave her ~
peace"
Count Francis Erasmus who was con-
siderably disconnected by this unexpected
attack, replied that he was deeply in love
with the girl and that he saw no reason
why he should not continue to see her.
scene occurred, in the midst of which
Annals brother appeared to back up his
father. More words ensued and finally
the two sturdy peasants seized the young
aristocrat, dragged him into an adjoining
shrubbery, and there administered to him
the soundest thrashing which their muscu-
lar arms were capable of lnficting. I'm
Count Francis Erasmus continued to WOO
the peasant girl. and Anna Schulz, who
was very much in love with her handsome
and high-born admirer. repudiated all re-
sponsibility for her relatives violence and
continued to meet her lover in the forest.
After that time, however, they took more
care to keep their meetings secret. Mat
tiers continued thus for nearly two years.
the count meeting the peasant girl as often
as he came from the university to spend
his vacations at home and months went
by the people of the neighborhood began
to gossip more and more about this ro-
mantle attachment.
The story of the thrashing administered
to the count by the girls father and brother
also began to be whispered about and lost
nothing in repetition. The result that
Count Francis Erasmus father, the reign
ing count, heard of the affair and demanded
explanations from his A violent quar-
rel ensued. in the course of which Count
Francis Erasmus informed his Infatuated
parent that he was fully determined TO
marry the washerwoman's daughter as soon
as he came of age. On this occasion Count
Francis Erasmus, who was then within
few weeks OF his twenty-frst birthday, re-
eeived his second thrashing in connection
with his romantic love affair. His father
lost control of his temper to such an extent
that he seized the nearest horsewhip and
! belabored the obstinate son with the butt
end.
During the whole period of her attach
ment to the young count Anna Schulz con-
tinued to work in her mothers little village
laundry, and could be seen standing before
the washtnb, managing or ironing the linen
or hanging the clothes on a line In the
garden. from early morning till evening
She was a Woodworking. honest girl, and
nothing could be said against her except
that she loved man far above her in rank
and station circumstance which excited
both the suspicion and envy of her fellow
villagers, as well as the anger and resent
ment of her own parents.
Count Francis Erasmus had to face many
other obstacles to his mesalliance. All the
members of the Erhach family agreed
among themselves not to speak to him or
to recognize him as q relative until he gave
solemn pledge to abandon his matrimonial