Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-04-13

/ :
parture ?'
You will all be very sorry,'
muttered the Grand Duke, not en-
tirely satisfied with the vagueness
of sorrow which these words of the
Princess implied. "But you in par
ticular, madame % he added, after
some hesitency, "for it will depend
upon you whether / stay or depart" "
"Ah," replied Charlotte, with
her sweet smile, "and what have
to do to keep your Imperial High
ness here 2"
You must permit me to address
you my admiration and homage"
els 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 beam
ed forth so much affection and de-
light that the Prince could see at a
glance that his fondest hopes had
been realized beforehand.
During my short stay at Berlin" I"
the Grand Duke continued, in the
same tone of voice, 81 have taken
pains to study your character and
your affections, and this study has
satisfied me that you would render
me very happy, while on the other
hand, think have some qualities
which would secure your own hap
piness."
I The Princess was overcome by
emotion, aud in her confusion did
I not know what to answer. At last
she said: "But here, Imperial
! Highness, in the presence of the
whole Court at the public table, you
put such a question to meW
"Oh," replied the Grand Duke,
''you need not make any verbal re-
ply. 1t wills be sufficient for you
/ to give me some pledge of your af-
feetion. l see there on your finger
a small ring whose possession would
make me infinitely happy. Give it
/ to me-"
ssWhat do You think of? Here in
the presence of hundreds ef-s speCta-
tors ?''
"Ah, 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 suspect what we are
speaking about. Press the ring into
a morseI of bread and leave it on the
table; will take the talisman and
no one will notice it,"
"This ring is really a talisman." "
al expect SO. May hope to hear
its history 2"
"Why not? My first governess
was Swiss lady by the name of
Widermutt. Once she went to Swift
zerland in order to enter upon an in-
heritance bequeathed to her by a
distant relative. When she came
back to Berlin a few weeks after
ward, showed ME quite collection
of pretty and costly jewelry, which
formed part of her Inheritance.
This is curious old ring said 1 to
her, as put this old-fashiOned little
ring. on my little finger. docs 1T
not look queer and cunning Per
haps it is an old relic or talisman,
and may have been Worn for centu-
ries ago by a pious lady who receiv-
ed 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 a little
feshier than now," said Charlotte,
; smillingly. "My governess insisted
on my Keeping the ring as a souve.
mir. accepted her present, and the
ring has been on my finger ever
since. Some time afterward, when
: L was contemplating its strange
, workmanship, / succeeded in pull.
, ing it from my finger, and was much
, surprised at seeing engraved on the
; inside some words, which, though
nearly rubbed out by the wear o!
, time were still legible. Now, your
/ Imperial Highness, what do you
: think were the words engraved OF
: it? l think when you hear then
you will take moro interest in the
: ring"
"Ah! and pray what were they?'
"The words engraved on the in
side were Empress of Russia.'-
| This ring had undoubtedly beer
| presented by an Empress Of Russis
: to the relative of Mime. Widermutt
for | was told that both this lady
and her mother had formerly be
l longed to the household of Czarina
your august grandmother
''This is really remarkable, y saiC
the Grand Duke, thoughtfully. %
am quite superstitious, and am real
: ly inclined to regard this ring, if
should be happy enough 10 recelvt
! it from you as a pledge Of your love
as an omen of very suspicious sig
: nificance."
! In answer to this second and ever
: more direct appeal to her heart, tn
, Princess took small piece Of bread
! carelessly with it, and managed t.
3 press the ring deeply into the sof
f crumbs. Then she dropped it play
[ fully on the table quite close to tn
Y plate OF her neighbOr. And afte
4 this adrOit exhibition of her skill a
;. an actress, she continued to eat a
1 unconcerned as if she had perform
: ed the most Insignificant action 0
: her life.
With the same apparent coOlnes
q and Indifference the Grand Dukl
a picked up the bread inclOsing tn
e ring, took the latter out of its inge
i nious envelope, and concealed it il
Il his breast, for it was too small to fl
e any of his fingers. 1t was this rim!
Il both the pledge of Charlott's Low
:. snd the auspicious omen of his owl
q elevation to the Imperial dignity
" which Nicholas wore on gOldel
/ chain around his neck to the yer
n last day of his life, and which, it
.e said, has even descended with hiI
is into the vault of his ancestors.
d Three years after, in 1917, Prir
], cess Charlotte, then only ninetee
D, years of age, and in the full spleI
% dor of beanty and happiness, mad
le her entry into st. Petersburg by tn
t, side of her husband, whose eye ha
e never looked prouder, and who's
r noble brow had never been more 5,
lie rene than at this happiest momeI
t, of his life. As she looked down III
v on the great multitude who ha
ia focked from all parts of the val
n, empire TO greet the young Princes
ge with shouts and rejoicings, an
is then again upon the fair yOun