Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-04
A RUINED ROMANCE
Genevieve Wards Story of Her
wedding Tragedy-Parted
at Church Door.

OF Busy WOmans Life" are some
stories OF Gtnevieve Ward. the famous
actress.
One morning in March. 1905. came =
knock on Mrs. Tweedie's door. and IN
walked Miss Ward
out for my constitutional. nv dear"
she exclaimed. so ! thought I would
just look you mp. l have walked si-
miles this morning. and after q little
rest and chat with you / shall walk an
other mile home and enjoy my lunch.
con all the etter for it."
You are a MARVEL exclaimed orr
author. Seven miles and over seventy.
saw your 'Volumnia was a great sue
cess the other day when you played IL
with Benson"
Yes, she said. land the next day
started for Rome. l got q telegram say
ing one Of three old cousins, with whom
was staying in Rome a few week.
previously. had died suddenly. so four
hours after receiving the message l ser
out"
Were you very tiredY'
No. not at all. knitted nearly ali
the way and talked to my fellow pas
sengers and when l arrived. instead or
resting. went at once TO see to some
business. for these two old sisters. one
Of whom is blind. were absolutely pros
trated with grief and had done nothing
while awaiting my arrival. l stayed
fortnight with them. settled them IN
and arrived back few days ago"
Here is the pathetic story of Miss
Wards marriage tragedy as she told il
10 Mrs Tweedie.
Il was travelling with my mother and
brother on the Riviera in 1855 when
we met a Russian. Count de Guerhel.
He was very tall. very handsome. very
fascinating. very rich and twenty-eight
] was seventeen. He fell in love with
me. and it was settled should be mar
RED at the consulate at Nice. which |
was But the Russian law required
that the marriage should be repeated
in the Russian church TO make tbs
ceremony binding: otherwise l was his
legal wife. but he was not my legal
husband
1t was arranged. therefore. that
should go To Paris with my mother.
range everything. and We would be re
married there in the Greek church
When we arrived in Paris il was Lent.
when no marriage can take place in
the Greek church. and so time passed
on
He must have been a thoroughly
bad man, because he did his best ~
70 10 -,
with hin. always reminding me that |
was his legal wife The whole thin-
was merely n trick of this handsome.
fascinating rascal He promised me
that II | would 60 to him he would
take me to Russia at once. and there
We should be remarked according To
the rules OF the Greek church Being
positively frightened by his persist
euCe. told my mother At the same
time rumors Of n" GuerheI's amou~s
and debts reached her ears. and she
wrote to IA cousin of ours. then Ameri
can minister i'm st. Petersburg. for con
frmatIUu OF these reports
My cousin replied. Come at once.
We Went. |. of course. under my name
of Countess de Guerbel. which / had
naturally assumed from the day of orr
wedding ut Nice. and We stayed at the
embassy in St Petersburg The
counts brother was charming to me
He told US nay huSbnnd was villain
and ! had better leave him alone That
was impossible. however WAS mar
ried to him. but he was not married 10
me. and SuCh a state uf affairs coulE
not remain
1t became an International matter.
and 1t was arranged by the America,
government and the car that we
should be Officially married at War
saw. The count refused to come The
car therefore sent sealed orders for
his appearance Wearing black dress
and feeling apprehenSive and miSera-
bly, sad. Went to the church. and M
the altar rails. supported 10y my father
and mother and the counts brother.
met my husband
1t was horrible crisis. for ! knew
my father was armed with a loaded
revolver. and il De Guerbel refused 70
give me- the iast legal right. which was
already mine. its contents
would PIT an end to the adventurer's
hfe. There we stood. husband and
wife. knowing the service was a mere
form. but the marriage was lawfully
Effected. he hgd completed his part
Of the bargain. and we mad learned his
villainy. At the door of the church we
parted. and never saw him again"