AN AUSTRIAN ROMANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 818, 1 March 1910, Page 4

AN AUSTRIAN ROMANCE.

During the past few days the French newspapers have once more been occupying themselves with the circumstances of the death of the Archduke Rudolph of of Austiia and the Baroness Marie Vescera at Meyetling, in January, 1889. Recently, the Matin published what it declared was the true account of the drama at the hunting-box, over the signature “Dr. H.” ; while the Petit Parisian printed a despatch from Berlin which gave a quite different version of the affair. According to the Matin’s version (Princess Louse, King Leopold’s daughter, is said to be the author of the article), the drama w’as the outcome ol an incident at the end < f a joyous evening. Baroness Vescera declined to acquiese in an order given by the heir to tin Austrian throne. As the Archduke sought to tear the clotlus fiom her, she threw a glass ol wine in his face. Maddened at the insult, he drew a revolver, ;o d shot his mistress dead, it was the others present who, inebriated, then attacked the Archduke, and beat him to death, and the Matin'; informant also declared that among the guests at the banquet was a person closely connected with Princess Louise of Belgium (her former husband, the Prince ol Coburg). The petit Parisien’s despatch recalls the fact that Baron Louise Vescera, brother of the victim, died in November last at Colombo, in Venezuela. He was of those present at Meyerling on the fateful night, and left with a trusted friend certain notes to be published after his death. He stales that those present at Meyerling were, in addition to himself and the Archduke, Count Hoyos Baroness Vescera and “another nobleman.” It was during this gathering that the Archduke told Baroness Vescera that he bad little hope of overcoming the difficulties which were in the way of eventually marrying her. To this the young woman replied : “Then all 1 have to do is to die.” The next morning, when Baron Vescera and Count Hoyos were called, they found the Archduke dead in bed, his right arm outside. By the bedside was a revolver, while there was a small wound in his right temple. “At first,” the narrative proceeds, “we did not see the body of the Baroness, A white sheet covered it completely from head to foot. By the bedside there was a glass and a silver spoon. Marie had poisoned herself. Beneath the chandelier were four sealed letters and another open letter.” The narrative then describes the burial of the unfortunate young woman, but throws no further light on the tragedy itself.