Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-03-05

Go with me-" he pleaded. Ito Rus
STA. where we can be married accord
ing to the requirements of the Greek
church, where / will be at home and
where my family may attend the we'd
ding. Here We must pass dreary
weeks waiting. while there we can be
united at once"
This was not true. No couple could
be married in the Greek church during
Lent in Russia any more than in Paris.
The girl protested. but in vain. Sire
mof seemed determined. and. becom-
ing fearful Of his integrity. not daring
to keep her secret longer, Heloise told
her mother of his solicitations.
At the same time rumors came to
Mrs. Durand that Stremof was a rake
and a profigate. without any sense Of
honor whatever. Fortunately the Du-
rands were relatives Of the American
minister at st. Petersburg, and the
mother wrote him with reference to
the marriage and the rumors she had
heard. The ambassador wrote her to
come at once to the capital.
The fact Of having the influence of
one Of SO much Importance at the Rus
sian court makes this episode in real
life one Of the remarkable stories Of the
world. Mrs. Durand and the young
bride-the latter assumed the title and
name of Countess Stremoff-went to
Russia and stayed at the American
embassy. They were informed by the
counts brother that he was a villain
and that they had better have nothing
further to do with him.
Stremof while drawing a young
American girl into his tolls had no idea
that she had the opportunity Of calling
to her aid the power of the United
States. Her cousin. the ambassador.
took the matter as an indignity to an
American citizen to the Russian gov
eminent and asked for redress for the
young countess. The result Of his rep
RESERVATIONS was an arrangement be-
tween the two powers that the pair be
officially married at Warsaw, in Rus
sian Poland. The count. who by this
time had thrown off the mask. showing
that he had intended to make Miss
Durand his dupe. refused to go to War
saw or be married.
And here comes in among the wrongs
that may be perpetrated by despotic
power a case of right. Probably no
other sovereign. no head of a republic
surely. would have been able to compel
this rascal to do justice to the girl be
a intended to win for the purpose Of
deserving her when won, except the
car Of Russia.
One day Stremotf received an official
document from the Ear ordering him
to go to Warsaw and complete the
marriage that he had begun ON the Ri
viera. An order from the autocrat of
all the RuSsias to one of his subjects is
MOI to be deSpiSed. One who by a nod
can send persons. without the SEM
blance of Il trial. to work in the dread
ed mines in Siberia is not likely to be
~dlsobeyed when he directs a mar to do
justice to a woman. And the wronged
girl had behind her the power Of the
great American republic to re-enforce
the car.
Count Strenloff dared not diSobey his
SoVerelgn's order. and at the appointed
time the so called wedding party met
at the church, the bride wearing a
black dress, attended by her father.
her mother and the groom's brother.
who had been very kind to the in
1ured girl. The father had concealed
on his person a revolver, determined
that if the villain refused to convey
the necessary legal rights to his
daughter he would at least prevent his
working any more mischief.
The bride and groom met at the altar
rail. Probably no more dramatic
scene. certainly no more unique one.
ever was enacted in a church. The
groom was simply passing through ii
form i'll obedience to the will Of one
who held over him the power of life
ordeal to make her Il legal wife. But
for her it was a terrible crisis. know
ing as she did that her father was
armed and at the slightest disposition
on the part Of the groom to recede the
ceremony would be turned into a trag-
edy. She must have prayed silently
there before the altar that she might
be spared a bloody ending Of her mis-
fortune.
The priest began the marriage serv-
Ice. all save the bride keeping their
eyes fixed on the count, wondering by
what loophole, if any, he might at
tempt to escape what was to be forced
upon him. To all, especially the bride.
the service seemed interminable. But
at last it was ended, and Heloise Du-
rand had become legally as well as
really the Countess Stremoff. The bride
and groom parted at the door Of the
church, never to meet again.
The Americans fed from Russia at
once. for by the Russian law the hus-
band can imprison. beat. in every way
Ill treat his wife if he can get his hands
on her. They reached the border the
same day and were safe.
What became Of the groom. whether
he continued his villainy or had been
sobered by this one experience. is not
known. The wedding took place more