The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-07-06

20 respond to toast which one OF the
royal Princes had proposedin IN his honor,he
seemed to awake from profound dream
which had entirely Withdrawn him from
his surroundings.
Suddenly, as if by mighty effort Of his
will, he turned to his fair neighbor, and
whispered so as only to be understood by
her
$50 shall leave Berlin tomorrow"
He paused abruptly and looked at the
Princess as if he was waiting for an an
swer which expressed sorrow aud glief on
her part. But the Princess was fully as
proud as the Grand Duke, and overcoming
the violent throbbing OF ler heart, she
said politely to him:
We are very sorry to see your Imperial
Highness leave US SO sOOT. Would 1t not
have been possible for you to defer your
departure?'
You will all be very sorry! muttered
the Grand Duke, not entirely satisfied with
the yagueness of sorrow which these
words Of the Princess implied. " But you
in particular, madame?' he added, after
some hesitation. For il will depend on
you alone whether l shall stay here or
depart"
"Ah" !" replied Charlotte, with her sweet
est smile, land what have | to do to keep
your Imperial Highness here!"
q You must permit me to address my ad-
miration and homage to YOU"
Is that all?'
And you must encourage me to please
you"
THAT is much more difficult" said the
Princess, with deep blush, but at the
same time her eyes beamed forth so much
affection and delight that the Prince could
see at glance that his fondest hopes had
been realized beforehand.
During my short stay in Berlin" the
Grand Duke continued in the same tone
Of voice. Il have taken pains to study
vour character and your affections, and
this study has satisfied NE that you would
render me very happy, while on the other
hand | have some qualities which would
secure your own happiness"
The princess was overcome by emotion,
ard IN her confusion did not know what
to answer. At last she said. But here,
in the presence of the whole court, at
the public table, you put such question
to me?"
"Oh," replied the Prince, )" you need not
make any verbal reply. 1t will be suffi,
cient for you to give me some pledge OF
your affection. l see there on your hand
a small ring whose possession would make
me very happy. Give It to me"
"What do you think of? Here in the
presence of a hundred spectators
"Ah, it can be easily done without be-
ing seen by anybody. Now we are Chat
ting so quietly together that there Is not
one among the guests suspects in the least
what We are speaking about Press the
ring into morsel of bread and leave it on
the table; will take the talisman, and
nobody will notice it."
This ring is really talisman."
q expected 50. May hope to hear its
history"
why not? My first governess was a
Swiss lady by the name of Wildermatt.
Once she went to Switzerland in order to
enter upon an inheritance which had been
bequeathed to her by distant relative
When she came oack to Berlin, few
weeks afterward, she showed Inc quite a
collection of pretty and costly iew@irU
This is a curious old ring said to her,
az 7 mt this old-fashioned little ring on
nv finger. Does it not look queer and
cunning? Perhaps it is an old relic or tal-
isman. and NAV have been worn centuries
apo by pious lady who had received II
from her knight, starting for the Holy
| Land I tried to take the ring from my
| finger again, but l could not get 1t oil; Tor
| 7 was little fieshier then than now, SAID
! Charlotte smilingly.
"Mv governess insisted on my keeping
the ring as a souvenir. accepted mel
present, and the ring has been on my
finger ever since. Sometime atterWard
when I was contemplating its strang,
workmanship, l succeeded IN pulling Il
from my finger, and was much surpriset
at seeing engraved on the inside SOM
words which, though nearly rubbed ou
by the wear Of time, were still !eglple
Now, your Imperial Highness, what On
YOU think were the words engraved upol
it? l think when you hear them yo
will take some interest II the ring.
"Ah! and pray what were they? =,
"The words engraved upon the lnsld
were, 'F1apreSs Of Russia This Tlng ha
, undoubtedly been presented by an Empres
/, of Russia to the relative OF Mrs. w lide
! matt. for was told that both this lady an
her mother had form erly belonged to ii
household of the Czarina, your augu
n grandmother. 4,
. This is really remarkable" said t.
u Grand Duke, thoughtfully. Il am qul
!, superstitious, and l am really inclined
y regard this ring, if l should be hap
~ enough to receive it from you as pieo
e . of your love, as an omen of very ausplcio
~ significance.
: In answer to this second and even me
~ direct appeal to her heart, the Prince
go 90 took small piece of bread, played ca
- lessly with it, and managed to press
q ring into the soft crumbs. Then
- dropped it playfully on the table gu
! close 10 the plate of her neighbor. a
- after this adroit exhibition OF skill as
~ actress she continued to eat as unc
40 cerned as though she had performed
~ most insignificant actiOn OF her lie.
"F With the same apparent coolness
80 indifference the Grand Duke picked
the bread enclosing the ring, took the
-, fsr out of its ingenious envelope, and C
al -, cealed it in his breast. for it was too 81
"a" Ia to fit sny Of his fingers. 1t was tins
-"7 both the pledge of Charlotte love
the auspiciOus omen Of his own eleVa
ess tn the imnerial dignitv-which Mich
ere wore on a golden chain around his nee
tho the very last day of his life, and WI
ven if we are not mistaken, has even descer
I'M with him into the vault of his ancestor
eX- Three years after, in 1877, Pm
MI Charlotte, then only nineteen years OF
hcn and in the full splendor OF beauty
anu happiness, made her entry into 81 fe
the burg by the side of her husband, W
to eve had never looked prouder, and W
OF 0lvmpian brow had never been more
less rene than at this happiest moment o
the life. AIhe looked down upon the
by multitude who had focked together
uses all parts Of the vast Empire to gree'
S OF Young Princess with shouts and rejolc
OF and then again upon his fair young
and perhaps the inscription Of the ring !
Ialiy red TO his mind for, bending his
olks quite close to Charlotte, he WhlsI
tner Now Empress of the hearts, and
ed 10 day. perhaps, Empress of the realm
king At this moment the procession re
o pc the main entrance of the Winter L
mlar where Alexander the First, the En-
Touid surrounded by brilliant suit OF ge
and courtiers, came to meet his bes
h Sc sister-in-law, AMI conducted her int
fully sumptuous drawing rooms OF the M
heart, cent palace of the Cars. Who would
, con- thst eight short years afterward tn
Irand liant Young Emperor had breathe
clara last, and that Nicholas and Oh
would succeed him on the throne
ed on sia? Truly the incription OF the
2 Ber- ment-r ring had proven prophetlc!
grand
at the AHARD CAsE-Dying, without