AN AUSTRIAN ROMANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 13 May 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN AUSTRIAN ROMANCE.

Mr. Kasson, the U. S, ex-minister to. Austtia,bi ought with, him a,miniature, that,was presented to.hirn, wjiich'ha.'prizes beyond; all price. Tiie subject is, a, German belle'who reigned on hei\ thrqne ; undisputed, some century and a.half a'go.inthe quaint little "village of Innsbruck, in northern _ Austtia, and ! 'the face is : '6n.e of, 1 exquisite;' loveliness, The romance in the life 'of the' biiginal'adds new value to the picture. 'The story is thus.'tpld by the Washington correspondent of the Buffalo,, Courier:: "Our heroine, a modest brjauly of' Ijirisbfiick, was. one of a bevy of girls who stood on a bilcony fo welcome;'the'' young Duke of Ha'psburg 'with songs' and flowers when he made his first royal visit to the town. The Duke having the instincts of a blooded gentleman, did not allow such a precious cluster of swoetmoats to' escape 'his notice, Of course lie'took a fancy to "them all,'but his passion tor our beauty, became suddenly'so ardent that he demanded her name and pedigree. He learned that'shewas' the only daughter of ( 'the f Burffomeister or Mayor of. the town, a dignitary of immense importance at home,' but not'strdng.eriougli'to' compete with royalty, ' The Duke's; idea,was to capture our fair one and.'rn'ak'o her his wife by brevet,'but he was r mistakieii in the stauiiph stuff of which" the, Burgomaster was'made. His overtures were not only rebuffed,' but .'his; appetite yvaswlie'tted.on leading (HafsMi was. the'affiariced bride of a of the town', The' Duke then played bis strongest card,; He would marry her if the "maiden ;was willing, To this even the old' man' btijected, his primitive'views of honor being that, ' she had pledged her faith and it must.be kept;' .At first oiir.m'o.ih of beauty flitted 'around. the flame of such'brilliant splendor till'the ducal crown proved too strong and dazzling, ahdsh'e laid down her arms. The mother had '.voted : for the crown oh the first ballot, and as, this : rhade a majority for the Duke' in the caucus, the worthy young man was elected to' stay ] it home! Tradition says' that he proved a de'-" yoted husband and'that"she made' a.'v'efy grande duchesse, and that—biit nobody cares' what'became of the'fellow who'got left."