The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-06-13
A RU|NED ROMANCE
Genevieve Wards Story of Her
Wedding Tragedy.
PARTED AT THE CHURCH DOOR
After Dramatic Ceremony Following
Complication That Became an In
ternational Affair and Was Ended by
Our Government and the Gear.

ternational Affair and Was Ended b,
Our Government and the Gear.
In Mrs. Tweedies Thirteen Years
Of Busy Womans Life" are some
stories OF Genevieve Ward, the famous
| actress.
| One morning in March, 1908, came a
kuock on Mrs. Tweedie's door, and in
walked Miss Ward.
out for my constitutional, my dear"
she exclaimed. so l thought would
just look you up. l have walked six
miles this morning. and after. little
rest and chat with you shall walk an
other mile home and enjoy my lunch
con al! the better for it."
You are marvelw exclaimed our
author. Seven miles and over seventy.
saw your 'Volumnia' was a great sue
cess the other day when you played it
with Benson
YES" she said, land the next day
started for Rome. l got telegram say
ing one of three old cousins, with whom
was staying in Rome few weeks
previously. had died suddenly, so four
hours after receiving the message set
out"
Were you very tired?"
NO. not at all. L knitted nearly all
the way and talked to my fellow pas
sengers and when l arrived, instead Of
resting. went at once to see to some
business. for these two Old sisters. ore
CT whom is blind. We're absolutely pros
trated with grief and had done nothing
while awaiting my arrival. l stayed
fortnight with them. settled them W
and arrived back few days ago"
Here is the pathetic stoy of Miss
Wards marriage tragedy as she told it
to Mrs. TWeedie:
u was travelling with my mother and
brother on the Riviera in 1856 when
we met u Russian. Count de GuerbeL
He was very tall. very handsome, very
fascinating. very rich and t,venty-eight.
was seventeen. He fell D love With
me. and it was settled | shenlld be mar.
ried at the consulate ut Mice, which ]
was. But the Russian lnw required
that the marriage should he repeated
10 the Russian church to make the
ceremony binding: otherwise. I was his
legal wife. but he was not my legal
husband.
ut was arranged theref ore. that ]
should go to Paris with my mother
lie count going on in adv ance to ar
-anSe everything. and we would be re-
married there in the Greek church.
When we arrived in Paris ht was Lent,
when no marriage can tan place in
lie Greek church. and so time passed
IN
He must have been a thoroughly
Dad man, because he did his best ut
hat time to persuade me to run away
With him, always reminding me that
vas his legal wife. The VIII ole thing
vas merely Il trick of this h; lndsome.
fascinating rascal. He prom Used me
hat If would so to him he would
AXE me to Russia at once, a nd there
We should be remarked according t.,
he rules Of the Greek church. Being
positively frightened by his persist.
nee, told my mother. At the same
line rumors OF De Guerbers .lmours
md debts reached her ears, and she
wrote to cousin of ours. their Ameri- |
an minister IN St Petersburg, for con-
rmation of these reports.
My cousin replied, Come at once
We went, |, Of course. under my name
t Countess de Guerbel, which l had
aturally assured from the day of our
1edding at Ni.e. and we stayed at the
n DOH I'M
cunts brother was charming to me.
lie told us my husband was villain
nd had better leave him alone. That
'as impossible, however. was mar
led to him but he was not married to
he, and such state of affairs could
OF remain.
1T became an International matter,
nd 1t was arranged by the American
overnment and the cZar that we
Mould be officially married. at War
IVY. The count refused to come The
Ear therefore sent sealed orders for
Is appearance. Wearing II black dress
nd feeling apprehensive and misera-
y sad. | went to the church. and at
he altar rails. supported by my father :
nd mother and the COUNT, brother, l
let my husband.
1T was a horrible crisis, for l knew
y father was armed wi til loaded
'yolver, and if De Guerbet refused to
We me the last legal right, which was
orally already mine. its contents
ould put an end to the mdyenturer's
fe. There we stood, bonsband and
life, knowing the service was a mere
.h' put the marriage was lawfully
lecteu' lie mad compiled ed his part
the bargain. and we had learned his
iiaiily. AT the door of the church we
'''eu' ana never saw him again."