The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-08-07

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:, =. :. -.....-.
J "xadt~"i's1s, tie. consssse de Lacy: q
! "A; Russian officer solieits psrnissien to
call 'e your boudoir 1t nine this evening.
, "ALSxAxDlR.''', 60,
MS note WAS written in French (the
language .in which Clemanthe oorra..
'pooded with, the Prince Of Potoski,,
and tho handwriting bore almost iden.
'tical resemblance to bis, and a favora.
Die answer was returned.
+" That evening the spacious boudoir of
Ciemanthe shone with almost regal mag.
n'hoence. Its furniture was rich and
elegant. Colossal mirrors covered
the fresooed walls, interspersed with
landscape and battle scenes from the
pencils of the greatest masters. The
gllded curtains were closely drawn, but
q SCORE Of brilliant lamps threw their
mellow radiance over the apartment.-
clemapthe was attired elegantly, and
with exquisite taste. A few minutes
past Dine, the page in tho ante cham.
Der rang his bell, and Cleuanthe, open
ing tbe door, beheld before her the EN-
peror Of Russia, in: the uniform of .
Colonel Of the. imperial guard! He
] was recognized at glance, and the
blood forsook the cheeks Of the young
Countess. q But her self:possession nev.
er tor ~ instant failed her. Gracefully
bending upon one knee she welcomed
her illustrious visitor with the respect
due to bis rank !; then rising to ber fun
height ettr She sh took bis, preferred hand and
conducted him to a richly cushioned
arm, chair, and then At his reques,
seated herself on broad crimson divar
at'a atle distance. There they s.t f.o1
! 70 taco-the mighty monarch who rulei
an empire which even then stretched
from the Vistula across the straits o
Behriug, ID whom was represented tht
energies Of European and Asiatio civ
lizssion and beautiful girl, born i,
! that ''sweet island of the western sea-
whose inhabitants, though troddeu IN
der foot after many . gallant struggle
still cling to the ancient faith and t
| the virtues Of the domestic hearth, an
raising their hands to tho everlastio
justice put their trust in Ged and th
future. After some preliminary 90,
gersation, Alexander, who nevcr v.
wanting for the occasion, either in th
field or the boudoir, unfolded tho OF
ject Of his visit with chivalrous dol
oacy. He offered the Countess de T.,
% Russian patent Of nobility aud a
estate measured by thousands of squa,
! miles if she would accompany him -,
Russia. Was there a sceue-an on,
:: burst Of virtuous indignation7 Not
al. Clem.nthe replied, II am not i,
; sensible to the honor which you
preferences 4! implies, and I have alw.!
loved ;yoar noble country; but my, .
; feotions are already pledged, and eve
( if they were not it is more than doub1
full for other reasons if / could aooe,
!, your M.jest, 8 proposal"
L Y.
| Almost st the same hour on the fo
lowing evening, the Prince of Potos]
visited the boudoir Of Clemanthe, an
, received a tender welcome. In tt
course of the evening she remarked,
"Monsleur le Prince, I had an une:
pected visit last evening"
"fhat is not surprising" repli<
Potoski, smiling. "This is a cosy r<
treat and there are many beau chev
liers in town."
i "But you soould be surprised if ,,
knew the chevalier of last evening,
she continued. ut was your imperi
MASTER"
II The bronzed features Of the Prin
became slightly pallid and his mustach
enrled 4 little, but be evinced no otht
emotion. Clemsnthe met his "a,
without embarrassment, and an explan
tion ensued. 1t was past midnigl
when they parted with VOWS of mutu
fidelity and pledges Of an early NEE
!. ing. Alas! they little knew the /,
ture. Years were to elspse, duris
which Europe was to thrill from 81,
Il to side, and many a field was 10
stained with gore, before tho Russi.
Prince and tho Irish Countess wel
to meet again.
i The Emperor Alexander had man
estim.ble traits q character. Thong
with deepotio po1eis, be was benef
cent ruler, and usually both generou
1 and just. He was a. brave as paladir
and would lead charge like . coloue
of cavalry. Vanity wss his chief foibl'
; and when he found out (for when v.
: Russian Emperor destitute Of ssorf
/ information?) that the romance was t,
ken ont Of his visit to Erfart by tn
fact that the reigning belle ofthe Frenel
court rejected his love and preferre'
one of his own mobiles to himself, hi
anger and modification triumphed owe
his sense of justice. Early one fin,
morning the Prince of Potoski r.
eeived an order to report "without d
hy" to General Proserwasky, then ia
command Of = the Russian forces o,
the Danube,i operating against tn
Turks. In less than an hour, the luck.
less Prince was on his way, travelling
by post At almost railway speed.