The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-02-19
Baron Manteufel.
IOrigina..l

Baron OlDerS was the pOSSeSSOr or II
fine estate in POmerania. As IL young
man he was considered very fas;.inat-
ty-five had broken many hearts. But
hose whose hears; ne broke Wrr" moe
;ortunate than those be married late
III life. for when he WIS oder he would
marry those he wished to possess. ailG
they were always short lived. iii"
neighbOrs who knew Of his BluebeaI1
practices called him Baron Manteufe
Baron DeviD.
BY the~jOveliest of his wives the bar
on had son. who as he grew up de-
velOped his mothers disposition. He
was the barOnS only child. aud. al
though of an entirely different charac-
ter, his father lived with him OH fair
iy good terms. When the son. Herman
Oilers, was twenty-five he went to his
father one day and told him that he
had fallen in love and wished to marry.
Il very much approve of your deci-
siOn," replied the father. II only hope
the lady is young and beautiful"
Both" And the son gave his father
a glowing description of her beauty.
VERY we'll, you may write her that
| approve Of your marriage with her.
Indeed, will go and bring her here to
you, and the wedding shall take place
in this house instead Of hers. Her fam
lily shall be at no expense"
Young Herman was delighted with
his fathers complaisance in the mat
ter, attributing it to the fact that his
father, who was a widOwer and was
getting old, wished to have the house
lightened up by wOman's presence.
The baron few days later ordered
out his handsOmest equipage and, ar
raging himself in his finest apparel,
drove away for the bride.
Herman passed q week impatiently.
during which he heard nothing from
his father or his fiancee. Then one
day the two drove up to the house,
and when the lady stepped out of the
carriage the baron presented her as
his wife. He had daZzled her with
his great wealth, thus obtaining her
consent to marry him instead Of his
son. who had nothing in his own right.
Herman Oilers went TO live in a
effect the loss of his bride had upon
him. Whatever it was, he bore it
with outward equanimity. The young
baroness lived two years and then
died. as the barOn's other wives had
died, Of i'll treatment. Her stepson
! did not attend her funeral. but about
| the time Of her death he shut himself
up from his friends, who OWNED the
! cause. Great was the surprise, how
| ever, soon after this seclusiOn when
| he announced that he was to be mar
ried. He gave out to q few CTonies
| that he would not make public the
| name Of his betrothed until immedi-
ately before the wedding for fear his
father would again supplant him.
That he was engaged soon reached
the ears Of his father. and one Of Her
mans friends let out the secret as to
| why the name Of the lady was not to
be made known at once. This made
Manteufel furious. By bribery of
those making preparations for the we'd
ding he learned the day and the place
at which it was to take place. One
morning a spy of his rode up to bis
house at a gallop to inform him that
bis son. having heard that his secret
was out, was resolved to be married al
once, and If the baron wished to an,
ticipate him he had only time to reach
the church.
Mounting his feetest horse, Manteu
fel spurred over the country furiously
He relied on his personal magnetism
towering will power and vast wealth
to turn the bride in his favor even al
that he would not get there in time
On the way he met one of his servants
whom he had sent out to spy, telling
him to make haste, as there was ye
time. When he reached a point few
leagues from the church he was me-
!, by another, who told him that the
bridal party was driving to the church
Manteufel spurred on. to find when he
reached the church steps that the brid
al couple bad entered.
Flinging himself from his horse
booted and spurred as he was, b,
rushed down the aisle to the altar
where the ceremony was just begin
ming.
Madam he said to the bride. who's
face was concealed by her veil. Il hav,
come to save you from a marriage
which can only prove your ruin. NJ.