Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-15

A Clever Anecdote-Thc Emperor and his
Daughter. s
Translated from the Gazette Francaise.l
A few years since, there was in the city Of
st. Petersburg q young girl, so beautiful and
so lovely that the greatest prince OF Europe,
had he met her, even in = peasants hut, might
well have turned his back upon princesses to
offer her his hand and his crown.
But far from having first seen the light in q
peasants hut, she was born in the shadow OF
the proudest throne on earth. 1t was Marie
Nicolnwna, the adored daughter OF the empe-
ror Of Russia.
AS her father saw her blooming like the May
flower, and sought for by all the heirs of roy
atty he cast his eyes upon the fairest, the
richest, and the most powerful of them, and,
with the smile of a father and king, said to
her.
1My child, you are now of an age to marry,
and have chosen for you the prince who will
make you aqueen, and the man who will render
you happy"
"The man who will render me happy" STAN
mered the blushing princess, with sigh, which
was the only objection to which her heart gave
utterance. "Speak father" she said, as she
saw frown gathering on the brow of the car.
Speak, and your majesty shall be obeyed."
''Obeyedp' exclaimed the emperor, trembling
for the first time in his life, "is it then only as
an act Of obedience that you will receive ahus-
band from my hands 7"
The young girl was silent and concealed a
tear HFg sH bre >sl
as your faith already plighted?"
The young girl was still silent
"Explain yourself, Marie I command you"
At this word, which sways sixty millions of
human beings, the princess fell at the feet OF
the car.
ayes, father, if must tell you, my heart is
no longer my own; it is bestowed upon young
man who knows it not, and who shall never
know it, if such be your wish. He has seen
me but two or three times at q distance, and
we will never speak to each other if your males
ty forbids I'll" sgssv fs e3as
The Emperor was silent in his turn. He grew
pale. Three times he made the circuit of the
saloon. He burst not ask the name of the
young man.
He who would have braved, for caprice, the
monarchs of the world at the head OF their ar
mies--he, with his omnipotence, feared this un-
known youth, who disputed with him the pos.
session Of his dearest treasure.
1Is it king ?" he demanded at last.
"No, father"
"The heir of a king, at least ?"
"a Grand Duke ~
mo, father"
"a son Of q reigning family2'
"No, father"
Al each step in the descending scale, the
car stopped to recover breath.
"a stranger"
eyes, father.n
The emperor fell back into an arme chair,
and hid his face in his hands, like Agamenon
at the sacrifice of Iphigenia.
as he in Russia?" he resumed, with an ef-
fort.
"Yes, father" lsgl4a
"At St. Petersburg7"
Eyes, father"
And The voice of the young girl grew faint.
where shall see him? "- said the car, ris-
ing with a threatening aspect.
Tomorrow, at the review"
allow shall recognize him?n repeated the
ear with stamp of his foot.
"By his green plume and his black steed."
n'Iis we'll Go, my daughter, and pray God
to have pity upon that man." The princess
withdrew in q fainting condition, and the EN-
peror was soon lost in thought.
"a childish caprice," he said, at length. 81
am foolish to be disturbed at it. She will for
get it. She shall forget itl' and his lips dared
not utter what his heart added at must be;
for all my power would be weaker than her
tears
On the following day, at the review, the car,
whose eagle eye embraced all at glance,
eought and saw in his battalions, nought else
than green plume and black charger. de
recognized in him, who wore the one and rode
the other, simple colonel OF the Bavarian
Lighthouse, MAMMALIAN Eugene Auguste Beau.
harnois the Duke of Leuohtenberg, youngest
child of the son Of Josephine (who was, for
brief time, empress Of France) and Of the Au.
guste Amelie, daughter of Macmillan Joseph,
of Bavaria an admiral and charming cavalier,
in truth; but as far inferior then TO Marie
Nicoewna, as a simple soldier TO an emperor.
ais it possible" said the car to himself, as
he sent for the colonel, with the design Of dis
missing him to Munich.
But at the moment when he was about 10
crush him with a word, he stopped at the sight
of his daughter fainting in her caleche.
H"There is no longer doubt" thought the
car; otis indeed he"
And turning his back upon the stupe6ed
stranger, he returned with Marie to the impe-
rial palace. :.
For six weeks all that prudence, tempered
with love and severity, could inspire, was es.
saved 10 destroy the image Of the colonel in the
heart Of the princess. At the end of the first
week she was resigned; at the end of the
second she wept; at the end of the third, she
wept in public; at the end Of the fourth she
wished to sacrifice herself to her father; at the
end of the fifth she fell sick; at the end of the
sixth she was dying.
Meanwhile, the colonel, seeing himself in
disgrace at the court of his host, without daring
to confess to himself the cause, did not wait
for his dismissal TO return TO his regiment. he
was on the point Of setting out for Munich,
when an aid.decamp OF the car came for him.
~ should have set out yesterday" he said
TO HIMSELF III might have avoided what awaits
me. At the first fash, save yourself from the
thunderbolt."
The bolt in reserve for him was the follow
ing He was usbered into the cabinet, where
kings only are allowed to enter. The emperor
was pale, and his eye was moist but his air
was firm ard resolute.
@CoIone Duke said he, envclopng and
penetrating him with his glance, "you are one
of the handsomest officers in Europe. 1t is
said also, and believe il true, that you possess
an elevated mind, a thorough education, q live