Demoine courier., 1854-10-05

General. on seeing her. IL feared that
should not see you again"
IL gave you my word" was her brief
reply.
What shall | do with herr inquired
the General, addressing himself 10 the
soldier.
shake her my wife-ihe wife OF a
soldier! She 10 born for il! Well, what
say YOU, my child!" added ne, turning to
Catherine. who seemed quite bewildered
81 say replied she, hesi,a.ing, 'my
choice is no, difficult; I would rather be
the wife of a soldier than the slave oil a
General"
"Bravo Catherine! from dh;s .nomen,
you belong to me-"
The soldier arose and beckoning to
Catherine to follow h.m. he lief, the tent.
do you know who | am, Calherine?"
said he, as they walked away together.
mo; but you said that you wiahed TO
be my husband"
"True; bu, do you Know my rank in
the armyy"
81! matters not" said Catherine, "you
cannot suppose am proud--a child
without family. without manner"
"You are content, then, to link your
destiny with nine" taking her by the
hand.
"Yes," replied Catherine, | like you
because you have been Kind to me, poor
child that am"
The soldier stopped before a len, more
elevated than the rest. "This is the
tent of the Gar" said he; .remain here.
II is right that | should ask his permits.
sion 10 marry you"
Catherine had waited but a few min
uses, when a young officer, advancing,
said: "The Gear wishes to see YOU"
On entering the tent, she saw a large
number Of officers, in the centre Of whom
che Immediately recognized the young
soldier, her companion.
"Where is the Czar!" inquired Cath.
crime OF the officer.
There" said he, pointing to the sol.
dier who was seated.
There? That's my husband!"
"Here is thu husband and the Gar
Catherine" SAID The Emperor
of Russia. "How as.onishsd you ap.
pear! Does the news grive you! Does
my title prevent you from loving met"
Il loved you as a soldier" said she;
II will also love you as all En-.
The Car arose. and taking the hand
of the young orphan, presented her to
his officers as the future Empress OF
Russia.
Here closes the Unread of fiction in
our story. After their marriage the EN-.
peror placed her in a private dwelling in
the city Of Moscow. where she received
every attention becoming her position
She was lovely and beautiful. She low
ed to do good. and to make others happy
around her. She was intelligent, cheer.
full, amiable, and benevolent. No doubt
Peter the Great saw that she was pre-
cisely the woman who could share his
enshusiasm and sympathise in his plans.
The obscurity of her birth was no Oh.
stacle TO him; he had absolute power to
raise her 10 the %lofiies, condition in his
empire.
Though surrounded with the honors
of royalty, she did not forget the pastor
of Marienberg. She loved him still, and
did what she could 10 cheer his last
hours. He never recovered from his
wounds. and survived but a shor, time.
His end vas peace. Catherine mourned
over his departure, and sighed that one
she had loved most Of all on earth was
now no more.
She often accompanied the Emperor
in his journeys through his empire, and
frequently attended him in military cam
paigns. In I'LL, when Peter was a.
var with the Turks, by her exiraordina.
ry skill and superior Judgment, she av-
ed the life of the Emperor, and saved the
army from being destroyed or taken pris-
oners. Peter caused the event to be
colnmemora,ed by q display Of magnif-
cence unusual to him; and in the declar-
atiof he used, we find these words:-
''She has been Of the greatest assistance
to Us in all GU dangers. and particularly
in the battle Of Pru,h."
She was blessed with two children,
Due of which--a s%on--died when a child.
The Others daughter-became EN-.
press Of Russia.
On the 18th of May. 1928, Peter the