Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-04-16

his presence among them.
Thus passed the hours of the fete-day.
At ten o'clock at night, the windows OF
the Winter Palace presented one blaze
of light; and the string of carriages
drawn up to deposit the guests at the
great doors betokened that the crowning
festivities of the day were about to begin.
By eleven o'clock, the emperor and en-
press had entered the ballroom, and
walked through the first Polonaise, when
two very elegantly dressed ladies passed
through the crowd of decorated uniforms
that obstructed their progress, and made
their way up to the far end of the mag
nifcent saloons, to the dais occupied by
the empress. As they will play rather
an important Part in this little narrative,
1 will describe their position in life and
their personal appearance.
Although of Polish extraction, the ell
der of the two sisters-for such was their
relationship possessed the style Of
beauty most admired in Russia. She
might have been about twenty-five years
of age, and was fair, fresh-complexioned,
and of middling statue well formed,
but with that full figure which gives
promise in after life of embonpoint.-
Dressed with extreme taste, and blazing
with jewels, she attracted many eyes as
she f1oated through the room. Six or
seven years earlier she had married the
Prince Gagarine, a noble, well known TO
stand high in favor at court, but sup
posed TO be so exclusively occupied with
his military duties as to have but small
sympathy with the wife so many years
younger than himself. They had no
children, and the interest and amuse-
ments of the Princess Gagarins centered
in the world of gaiety, where she filed
a prominent place; and of which she
was esteemed a most distinguished orna-
ment.
On the evening in question, her look
and whole manner denoted some especial
cause of pride and pleasure, and it arose
from the very legitimate circumstance
that it was the first occasion of her sis
ter's appearance in the highest society
of the capital; and call this pride and
pleasure legitimate, for she filed in
some degree the place of mother to
the young girl who accompanied her.
1t may seem strange that this evening
should have been the first introduction
of that sister to the court, but it was the
consequence Of train of circumstances
somewhat unusual. Owing to the feeble
health of their mother, she had been
brought up in great retirement; and it
was enly on the death of this good lady,
some time before, that the duty of finish. |
ing her education, and presenting her to
the world, had devolved on the princess.
For this reason, a1mixed feeling of curl
osity and admiration pervaded the
courtly crowd, who turned to gaze on
the fair young companion the princess
led SO triumphantly 10 the foot of the
throne.
Natalie Polensky was barely seven
teen. and presented a great but charm
ing contrast to her elder sister. Tall,
slight, with masses of the darkest hair,
glossy and beautiful. folded simply round
her head in thick braids, with a more
lofty. refined spiritual style of beauty in
her features, and more sweet and earn.
est expression in her dark eyes, well
might she excite the envy of some, and
crafty the admiration of others Of the
gazers who turned so inquiringly TO-
wards her and above all, well might
she justify the conscious air of uudis-
yuised pleasure with which the princess
presented ber to her imperial mistress.
As to Natalie, her manner, shy, and yet
ligni6ed, expressed in graceful contrast
he qualification SO young girl must
have felt in so splendid scene, and
somewhat of bewilderment at the crowd
md confusion around her.
AS they retired from making their
,beisance 10 their imperial hosts, the
lind eyes of the empress followed them
With some interest and she smiled
lightly to see how many aspirants
'ressed forward to solicit the hand of
Natalie for the dance about to begin ,
But ere she could make selection, the
1rand Duke Alexander, the present en- {
'eror of all the Russians, passed through
he crowd, and led her out fiom the {
midst of the many competitors for the {
rst waltz. Nor were NaLalie's triumphs {
eStined to end here; the emperor him. S
elf congratulated the princess on her t
ster's rare attractions /; and the empress
inted that, on the first occasion, she c
'ould decorate her with the ckifie, and
ppoint her maid of honor. Never had q
ball seemed SO delightful, and never i
id the princess return to her home more t
ratified than she did on that memorable v
ight and, indeed, it was but the COM 4
iencement of series of conquests and t.
lis might account forthe fair Natalie s
'fusing many brilliant and nsexcepliOn. n