Sauk Rapids frontierman. [volume] (Sauk Rapids, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1860, 1856-10-16

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lLsaring how pals md fssoJss md altes-
"a her oid Iavorils hssa scoans. inter-
fersd With such sacce.s, that not only
wsre they recalled 70 tbs daPital. but
on the first anniyersary, sftsr their ~
Turn. If ths day of The 81. Nichol4s.
|ttisir nanss again appeared anony those
hoaorsd ~ iasisasion " ~ oo,lrs bail
On lhs evssing. ia " sntsr ths bou-
dour of the princess II hour " two ~
m ahs lime appointsd n their ass!h,-
dance II was the tlnas tiiine NatsIss
mud yensured II Ape. ~ n public NM
~ ih;s osesasit NJ y N bask VA aer
sola, propped up with pillows. 70 weak
md exhausted that tie most uninterest-
Iled spectator would have dreaded her
THE excitement and fatigue Of such ID
|exertion. But 4 Is needless 10 say that
neither &c them hssifated 10 obey the
aasisring command which summoned
them once more within the orbit 81 the
court. / have said Natalie lay resting
quietly On tie sofa the princess sas
opposite her, buried il thought, anxious
and nervous about the fate Of the even
|iing. She did no. speak u her, nor dar-l
inng, 10 ask even how she felt, and far
less venturing 10 make the slightest "
fusion to past events. Indeed, BY tacitI
consent, the one topic had never been
touched upon since they LEFT Russia.
There was ! strange contrast between
the crimson velvet cushions and the
white transparent face, pale and pure.
with every feature sharpened and dein-
sd BY her wasting and underlined illness.
The dark eyes looked larger than ever,
now they seemed 70 asurp more than
their due proportion of The face. and the
thick masses Of dark hair fell loose and
disarranged round her shoulders. Never
had her sister seen herlook 30 touching
" beautiful.
Her dress FOR the evening of white
hce lay on chair near her, and will,
i the wreath Of lilies of the valley one
AZ The rodaa,onesl of Russian Wild low
III, which shs hsdi sssiectsd u Ii wear
shy lay back abstracted, turning round
and round her thin finger i simple little
enaneled ring she had worn night snd
day for The last three years--a ring
which she most jealousy refused Is take
az and which she confessed had words
engraved inside i which mons but her
self and the giyer knew of; but who
that giyer vas, or what the motto. the
princess never could ascertain. Sol
they stayed tin the last moment Nata-
lie murmnred % herself the restrain Of
! little Germat, song, IL especial favo-
rite of The empress an adieu. full of
unshed tears. Al last the Prince Ca
galrine entering entering, With some r.
mark Oh The lateness of The hour. broke
he spell u sorrowfnl recoiIections. and
hey rose 70 prepare for The court ball.
i, But under what different auspices did
hey1again enter that splendid saloon
With what slow and faltering steps did
hey advance 70 pay their respects to
heir imperial hosts The, eyes Of the
smpress turned sadly away .as Natalie
withdrew from their presence but
xhile she had stood before her. her lips
nd uttered cold and commonplace re-
Grets for her illness. Beside her stood
~ emperor and the grand duke and
very shade of color faded away while
he fit what scrutinizins eyes we're no
icing, with merciless exactHess, every i
lpint of differe nee Ia her appearance
Ne stood there last.
& The ordeal was soon over and pale,
are~orn and neglected. she sat A. an
ninterested spectator. gazing On i scene
/ Which NE once would have taken i
istiagorhed part. But ~ the evening
'ore on., IT. seamed 40 rally, md the ,
'arnth md excitement brought ! glow .
Fighter than health 81 her cheek. She
n constantly refused % dance and
.was moi until quite lase il The evening
lat she consented p stand np and take
art II ! quadrille. Her partner was
~ II Asr old admirers, Who .till loved
y with The salne warmth 40 hid ~ IL