The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-09-07

princes had proposed in his favor, he SCENE
TO awake from profound dream which Ia
entirely withdrawn him from hissurroundings
Suddenly, as if by mighty effort of his vii
he turned to his fair neighbor, and whisper
ed so as only to be understood by her:
! $50 I shall leave Benin tomorrow !"
He paused abruptly, and looked at tn
princess as if he was waiting for an answe
which expressed sorrow and grief on her part
But the princess was fully as proud as thu
grand duke and overcoming the violent throb
bing of her heart, she said politely to him
"We are all very sorry to sec your lmperla
highness leave us SO aoon. Would it no
have been possible for you to defer your de
parturc p
"You will all be very sorry ?" mutteret
the vagueness of sorrow which these words O
the princess implied. But you in particu.
lar, madam ?" he added, after some hesitation
.'for it will depend on you alone whether
shall stay here or depart"
"Ah" replied Charlotte, with her sweet
est smile, "and what have [ to do to keep
your imperial hhgness bore z"
"You must permit me to address my admi-
ration and homage to you"
SIS that all p
"And you must encourage me to please
you"
THAT is much more difficult said the
princess. with a deep blush but at the same
time her eyes beamed forth SO much affection
and delight that the prince could see with a
glance that his fondest hopes had been realiz-
ed before hand
sDuring my short stay at Berlin" the
grand duke continued III the same tone of
voice, 81 have taken pairs to study your char
acter and your affections, and this study has
satisfied me that you would render me very
happy; while on the other hand / have some
qualities which would secure your own hap
paess"
The princess was overcome by emotion, and
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 sufficient
for you to give me some pledge Of your affec-
ton. 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 pres
ence of hundred spectators "a
'sAh, it can be easily done without being
seen by anybody, Now we are chatting SO
quietly with each other that there is not one
among the guests who suspects in the least
what we are talking about Press the ring
into morsel Of bread and leave it on the ia
Bile will take the talisman, and nobody
will notice it."
"This ring is really talismau."
II expected SO. May hope to hear it's
history?"
why not? My first governess was
Swiss lady BY the name of Wilaermitt- Once
she went to Switzerland in order to enter up
on an inheritance which had been bequeathed
to her by distant relative When she came
back to Berlin, few weeks sfterward, she
showed me quite 4 collection of pretty and
costly jewelrv, which formed part Of the inner
itance. This is curious old ring said to
her, as put the old fashioned little ring on
my finger. Doesn't it look queer and cum
ing? Perhaps it is an old relic or talisman, and
may have been worn centuries ago by pious
lady who had received it from her knight,
starting for the Holy Land tried to take
the ring from my finger again, but could
not get it off for was little feshier then
than now" said Charlotte, smilingly. "My
governess insisted on my keeping the ring as
a souvenier. I accepted her present, and the
ring has been on my finger ever since. Some
time afterward, when was contemplating its
strange workmanship Isucceeded in pulling it
from my finger. and was much surprised at
seeing engraved on the inside some words
which, though nearly rubbed out by the wear
of time, were still legble. Nov, your i'm
perial highness, what do you think were the
words engraved upon it think when you
hear them you will take some interest in the
ring"
"Ah and pray what werethey?''
';The words engraved upon the inside were,
Empress of Russia This ring had I'M
doubtedly been presented by an Empress of
Russia to the relative of Mrs. Wildermitt, for
| was told that both this lady and her moth
er had formerly belonged to the household Of
the czarna, your august grand mother.
s'This is really remarkable" said the grand
duke, thoughtially. Il am quite supersti
tious, and am really inclined to regard this
ring, if should be happy enough to receive
it from you as a pledge of your love, end as
an omen very suspicious Significance"
In answer to this second and even more
direct appeal to the heart, the princess took
small piece Of bread, and played careessly
with it and managed to presa the ring deep
into the crumbs Then she dropped it eare-
lessly on the table quite close TO the plate Of
her neighbor. And after this adroit exhibit
ton of her skill as an actress, she continued
to eat as unconcernedly as if she had perform
cd the most Insignificant action Of her life
With the same apparent GOODNESS and in
difference the grand duke picked up the bread
inclosiug the ring took the latter out of its
ingenious envelope, and concealed it in his
breast, for it was this ring-both the pledge
Of Charlotte's love and the suspicious omen
of his own elevation to the imperial dignity
which Nicholas wore on golden chaiu
around his neck to the very last Gay Of his
life, and which, if we are not mistaken. has
even descended with him into the vault of bis
ancestors.
Three years after, in 1917, Princess Char
lotte, then only nineteen years Of age, aud III
the full splendor Of beauty and happiness
made her entry into st. Petersburg by the
side of her hnsha,,d Whosa owes had nave,