THE TRUE STORY OF A ROYAL TRAGEDY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4351, 13 June 1896, Page 5

THE TRUE STORY OF A ROYAL TRAGEDY.

A CAST-OFF" WOMAN'S ItSVBN.GB.

A man was arrested by the United States police for vagranoy and bakeu to the Essex latarlret Polios Station three Works ago. There be wm adjudged insane, and committed to Ward's Island. He gave his name an Harris Tranquilini. He appeared to be no more than me of the great multitude of wretches who live a dissolute life, from hand to mouth, day by day, without oheriahtd memories of the past, without hope for the future. But a chance visitor to the asylum recognised him as a man who at one time oooupied almost a famous position In Vienna as cab driver to Prince Rudolph, and entertainer to the unfortunate Prince's noble associates, who uickuamed him Baron Schan (or Jack).

His account of the Prince's death gives lurid details. There have been many and conflicting versions given of that event on January 50th, 1889. The civilised world was aghast when the news oame to it. The first statement that the heir to Austria's throne had met his d«t>th by being accidentally shot while on a hunting expedition to Meyerling, was speedily disbelieved. Then it was understood that the unfortuaate Prince had destroyed bis own life because ha wm forced to renounce the Baroness Ytoeiftt to Whom he wai pauionateljr attuned. But other and even more startling rumours were wbisperod stealthily from lip to ear in Vienna. Those who looked on the calm, dead face of Rodalpb as he lay in. state before being burs* to the sepalchro saw that bis brow and head w»r« bidden from sight, carefully •wttued to bandages. It was laid that a certain Count, who had been one of the fatal party, hud disappeared, with all bis family, (rum Vienna. A vague story gained oorreney of a fierce brawl among the members of tbat royal company, of a slap given by Rudolph to Balthngy and the Count's retaliation by a crushing blow with a bottle on the Crown Prince's temple. But this failed to account for tho part the Baroness Vecera took iv the scene. It wtts declared that her body had been found brsule that of Rudolph, lying with it on a bed, and report eaid that she bad poisoned bertelf when she found her lover lost to her.

There were endless variations on these tales, but tho Baron Sohan had the right story. He was notified that he should drive tbo Crown Princo to Meyerling tho day of thn tragedy. It was one of those excursions foe which the Prince was famous, Theru were in lue party the usual intimate companions of Rudolph, Count Ho^os, Prince Cobortf, and Couut Balthagy and others, with ihe •• Bohrtunmelu," or musicians. The night was one of jollity ; wines were furnished in profusion and drunk deeply. After Ihe supper a season of abounding conviviality occurred Suddenly there was an arrival. Tn« tfwtep of a woman's robes wal heard in the hall.

In a moment the door was flung open and the Barourss Vecera entered the room. Sho moved hastily, unevenly. Her face was pallid, her eyes dark pools of fire. H*r teeth clinchod her lower lip and left it bloodless, while her hand* opened and shut like rhythmic symbols of her at-op*ir. £he stared fixedly ac Rudolph, the Crowu Prince.

*' Is it true that you havo renounced me ?"

The eyes of Rudolph foil before her. He shifted uneasily on bis feet, nor coold he find one word of answer to this woman he loved. 'Ihe woman we i ted, rigid and motionless, save for the hurmd rise and fall of her bosom and the spasmodic clutching of her finger*. Once more the Baroness Vecera uttered her fateful question.

" Is it (rue that you have renounced me ?"

This time tho Ptiuce answered her. He told her of his father's wrath aud sorrow and of bis own shnme end despair. When he had finished tho tension of the Baroness's features teemed to increase. For au imtaut her eyes closed. Then she swiitly drew from her botom a revolver, crying with a loud voice —

" You shall not renounce me "

Attholast word sbe fired at Rudolph. The ball wounded him but slightly, and he sprang forward and caught her by the 6bculdets As thoy struggled in one another's arms the Baroness Vecera was able to turn t'ue revolver upon iitrseif. The shot proved fatal almutt iustantly. At the eamo moincutCoMUt ,a fclllß* man of the woman, fesriug for her life spwns forward behind the Crown Prince, swung a champagne bottlo high in air and brought it down wic'a terriQc force on Rudolph' 6 brow. The Crown Prince sank down lifeless His horrified companions gathered about the two b Mlie» upon tho floor in shuddering bilence. Sn much Tranquilini, tho Piince's driser, saw, tnd then, terror-btricken, as he beheld the prostrate body of bis mjoter lying at his feet, fled into the darkness.

But yet Buothcr tragedy marked, that awful night at Meycding. When the other members ot the company saw their sovereign Frinco f«.Il under the treacherous blow, wrath boiled up in their hearts. The lust of vengeance mistered them. With one arcord all sprang upon ihe Count, who stood dazed and horror struck at his work. Their mad hate overwhelmed him. In a moment he lay dead on the floor and was trampled beneath Iheir feet. So there and then the s'ayer was him«-elf shin. Ilie whole party had drunk- de*ply. Champagne and cognac had been imbibed to exco.iß. The frantio jollity of their carousal had been at its height whea the unexpected swtep of a woman's rustHng robes in the hall had startkd them.

Only a momeat fgo they had seen the door flung op^jm and the lovely woman staring at them with great dark eyes of wondrous buauty. Only a moment ago they had seen their Prince md that woman standing face to face, f orgptEul of all others. Now the two by there calm and dead. Their passion gone to

be awful process of the flesh when the spirit has fled. The great dark eye* of the woman were staring at them r but horribly now, and their gaze passed bnyond them, as if trying to follow the soul's flight. Beside her by the Priuce. The blood flowed Rom his craabed skull and shut out the sight of his glazing eyes. And beyond Rulolph lay that other, who was at once the csase and the effect of the Pttnre's death. The body of the Count WU secretly interred, and the world generally does not know to this day the truth concerning his fate.

One more eventTs vitally connected with the tragedy. Aristid, brother of the Count, blamed Count Hoyos, who was one of the company at Uoyerling, for his brother's death. He believed at least that (he action taken had besn beyoj.d that which right dtmandtd. In bis mourning for his brother his anger against those who slew dim became intense. Finally, he uh&llcnged Count Hoyos. The Count agreed to meet him, aDd the duel was fought, fortune teemed to favour Hoyos and to condone his night's work *t Meyerling, for ho wounded Aristid severely, although not fatally. After that Count Hoyos, it is said, went to Africa on a journey of exploration, and be has never returned. Prince Eoburg lives yet in Vienna, and he it is who is the sole survivor of the actors in the drama described.

Mrs. Chatter : So, your husband has, deserted you. Left you without a word, too, didn't be ? Mrs, Prattle (sadly) : Yes; didn't even say good-bye, Mrs. Chatter •. When did be leave ? Mrs, Prattle : About one-hundredth part of a second after the powder mill he was employed in blew up.

Clara : You haven't seen my engagement) ring yet, have you ? Maude : I don't know. Who is tho man ?

schoolmaster (entering the boys' dormitory) : What are you doing out of bed aft thto time of night, Murphy? Murphy : Oh, ] BOfl.l got out Of bed to tuck i»:'sy;l* ;,;,