The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-04
BY LA IAR0UIsE DE FoNTENOY.
Il all Emperor Francis Josephs
non-royal relatives, the one
whom he seems to like best is

by LA NIARQUISE DE FONTENOY.
Il all Emperor Francis Joseph's
non-royal relatives, the one
~ whom he seems to like best is
that young and almost penni-
less Protestant Bavarian infanti SSAa>
tenant who created so great q VI
sation something like seventeen years
ago, by a runaway marriage with the
old monarch's eldest grandchild, Prin-
cess Elizabeth of Bavaria. There is
no end to the marks Of good Will and
favor which he has bestowed upon this
by no means good-looking hero of a
royal romance; and after raising him
from tie dignity ora Bavarian baron
to that of an Austrian count, ne has
now bestowed upon him the title of
Prince Seefried Won Bottenheim.
The name of this grandchild of his
by marriage was Otto Won Seefried.
and he was subaltcrn of one of the
regiments forming part of the garrison
of Munich, when he made the acquaint-
ance ana Won the heart OF Princess
/ Elizabeth of Bavaria, eldest child of
Prince Leopold of Bavaria, and Arch
duchess Gisela, the latter daughter OF
the Austrian Emperor. When her par
ents discovered the infatuation they
secured the transfer of the Lieutenant
to Metz. hoping that time and sepa-
ration would serve to obliterate IT. and
a couple OF years later the lieutenant
was ordered back to military duty In
Bavaria, though not at Munich.
A month or SO afterwards, the prin-
cess, whose father is the younger son
ished from Munich, and a week later
it was discovered that she had lei
with Lieutenant Won Seefried, and that
they had travelled by rail straight to
Genoa, where they had been married
by Roman Catholic priest. After
brief honeymoon in Italy they turned
their steps, not to Bavaria, where Won
Seefried would have been Immediately
arrested by the military authorities for
absenting himself without leave. as
ties, Tor clipping with princess of
the regning house, but to Vienna. On
there arrival there the princess took
cab, drove to the palace, and threw
herself at the feet of the Emperor, OF
whom, as his eldest grandchild, she
had always been particular favorite
What passed between them can Of
course only be surmised; but she went
away happy and on the following day
young seetrled was received by the
princess. The Emperor, who but
couple of years previously had lost
his only son, the victim Of an unhappy
marriage, promised to look after their
welfare. He commenced by securing
the transfer of Seefried from the Ba-
varian TO the Austrian army, granting
him commission as captain in the
Ninety-nnth Infantry regiment, sta-
tloned at Troppau.
There the young couple spent several
years quietly and unobtrusiyely, the
princess making no pretensions to roy
atty, but contenting herself with the
life of a subordinate officer in an IN
fantry regiment. So pleased was the
Emperor with them, that he presented
them with large estate and chateau
hungary the revenues Of which put
them in easy circumstances. lie re-
lieved Seefried from reglmental duty
by placing him on the reserved list
or the army, with the rank or major
of cavalry, frequently visited the young
couple in their various homes, delight
ing in his great grandchildren, and
found so much satisfaction in Seefried's
company that he insisted on having
him with him on all his shooting ex,
dear kinsman. Then he bestowed upon
him the rank of chamberlain, SO as
to give him the definite entree at
court and an office there. BY and by
ne ne created re- him count, ana CURING tha
the Seefreds and their children should
spend the winter at Vienna, SO as to
be near him.
On the occasion of the celebration
Of the Emperor's birthday the othep
day at Ischl, when there was such z
S Teas of he sdta esra e Family I'll Tie only
people present not Of royal blood were
the Duchess of Hohenherg, 1norsanaile
COMFORT OF the heir apparent, Atcti i.u,',
Francis Ferdinand and Count (noW
Prince Otto Won seefrled ana MS ehil-
dren. 4. "
llx crownprncess stephanie was
pointedly omitted from the IesliVllias:
good wishes some days previously 20
the Emperor at Isehl, but was not m
vited to stay on for the celebration,
Indeed, although the Emperor ~ mon
etary matters has been most generous
TO her, yet he always gives her to un-
derstand that il he continues TO see
her, II is IN purely private. 81 pa.cl1t,y,
and when he returns her visit, az tne
hotel at which she may pc stopP.ts's
without one OF his aides-de-camp IN att
tendance and without his ssYo,rp' . u.
AfNha 10, SOW mr. To- II n0se N4Ws