The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-08-22
A High Life Romance.

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A High Life Romance.
The official announcement of an engage
ment between the Duke of Edinburg.
the second son of Queen Victoria. and the
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrowvna
only daughter of the Gar of Russia,
shows that the latter has at length over
come the repugnance Of his willful daugh-
ter to the aforementioned match. and
that, In some way or other, an end has
been put to curious and romantic love
affair, in which the young Russian prin-
cess bore the most conspicuous part.
1t appears, according to what the Cos
sips of st. Petersburg relate in regard to
this affair, that about two years ago the
Emperor Alexander the Second, for rea-
sons best known to himself, had resolved
to marry his only daughter to the son of
the Queen of England. The Grand Ouch
ess Marie was then young girl of Is.
not by any means beautiful, but still
very attractive owing to her intelligence
and great vivacity. Having been an in
valid for years during her childhood, her
education had necessarily been neglected !:
and, when her union with an English
prince was decided upon by her imperial
father, 1t was found necessary to get for
her teacher to instruct her in the Anglo
Saxon tongue.
A young professor In the University of
ST. Petersburg, a Mr.. Swayne, an Eng
lishman of aristocratic descent, was in
trusted with this task. Twice day Pro-
fessor Swayne repaired TO the Eremitage
and gave the Princess a lesson. To the
utter establishment of her parents. Marie
Alexdrowvna, who had been anything
but docile pupil under the other teach
ers, seemed to take the liveliest interest
in her English lessons, and even prevailed
upon her indulgent father. the Car to as
sign rooms at the Eremitage to Professor
Swayne, for apermanent residence.
Several months rolled by in this man
ner. when, one day, the Emperor told his
daughter Marie that he would take her
shortly on trip to German watering
place, in order to make her acquainted
there with her intended, Prince Alfred, of
England. To his CONSERVATION, the saucy
young lady told him he might save HIM
self that trouble, and that she had no
idea whatever Of marrying the son of
Queen Victoria, inasmucb rs she had al
ready pledged her hand and heart to
Professor Swayne! The Gar of all the
Russians was absolutely petrified upon re-
ceiving this utterly unexpected communi-
cation. He asked his daughter If she was
him; but she assured him that
she was I'm dead earnest, and that nothing
could swerve her from her purpose Of
"John'-meaning the Young
English Professor. TIE Gar knit his
brow, and ordered his daughter to go
back to her apartments, and then he sent
for her mother. the Empress. That good
lady shared her husbands establishment
and Indignation, and then the English
Professor was sent for. With fear and
trembling he appeared in the imperial
presence, showing plainly that he was not
ignorant of the cause that had led to the
summons for him to appear before the
Emperor. Alexander the Second did not
speak unkindly to the young Englishman.
but simply asked him to tell him all
about that love affair with his daughter.
and his forehead bathed In
sea of perspiration, Professor Swayne
said to the Emperor that, If anybody was
TO blame, Ii was the young Grand
Duchess, who, one day, had made, to his
a very pointed declaration
Of love to him, and had almost compelled
him to confess to her that he was likewise
attached to her. He had vainly repre-
sented to her that a union between them
was impossible; but she had laughed at
him, and had assured him that she would
affair In her own way, and
carry it to a successful issue. He would |
gladly have severed his connection with |
her, but she had told him threateningly, |
hat, II he left her, she would kill herself,
but him first.
The Gar listened to this extraordinary |
story with clouded brow, but said then |
20 Professor Swayne that he would not |
blame him for what had occurred, but he
must leave Russia within twenty four /
hours, and that his salary should be paid
20 him during life. Professor Swayne
promised to do so, and took the same day
he Kronstadt steamer for Stockholm.
The young Grand Duchess, upon hearing
he turn affairs had taken, was inconsoa-
lie. She raved and walled for days in her
Ipartments, and swore to her parents that
he would not marry the Duke of Edin-
'urg. When she was taken shortly after
ward by her father to Germany, she re-
used to meet her intended; and even
Turing her recent sojourn with her mother
n Italy, she heaped many a slight upon
he Duke. However, her repugnance to
he latter has been overcome, and, in
tead of becoming Mrs. Swayne. the
'rincess will soon be Duchess Of Edin.
urg.