The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-02-04
beautiful to harmonic with the charm

beautiful to harmonic with the charm
ing decorations of her home.
One bright afternoon our anxious wait
ing was relieved by the sound of wheels
and the quick steps of spirited horses,
and soon a magnificent carriage rolled
up to the gateway. The footman sprang
from his seat, opened the door, and as
sisted an elderly gentleman of prepos-
sessing appearance to descend the steps
then came pretty child of two or three
years; then the mother. a beautiful
young woman, her grace and carriage in
dicating noble birth. She was dressed
in an elegant and becoming costume of
the latest mode. Her broad-brim felt
hat, turned up at the side and edged
with gray ostrich feathers, while long
plume of the same color dropped grace
fully from the crown, set off her hand
some face to the best advantage. She
gathered up her velvet mantle and
walked proudly into the house without
deigning glance at the curious eyes
who overlooked her from the neighbor-
ing piazza above, but bowed graciously
to the servants who assembled to receive
her.
Passing weeks did not serve to allay
our curiosity, for no one could tell who
the pretty Russian was, and after a
few days the elderly gentleman disap-
peared. She seemed to have no friends
or acquaintance. No one ever came to
the house, and when she drove out it was
always with her child and lady, evil
IDENTIFY her companion. Day after day
passed in the same manner-the Gus
tomary drive of an hour or two,
the same submissive greetings of
the butler and footmen on her
return. The handsome rooms were
regularly lighted every evening, and the
rose-colored curtains threw a mellow ra-
dance over the grounds as far as the rays
could reach. But no gay voices were
heard within, no kindly visitors came to
relieve the monotOny of the passing hour
to the beautiful mistress. The prolonged.
quiet became wearisome to most of the
guests in the adjoining house, and the
eager curiosity had settled down to an
occasional conjecture as we awaited the
postman and were often disappointed in
our pleasant expectations, while he inva-
riably passed on 10 the handsome villa.
Individually, my interest increased rather
than abated, for, as | often sat alone en-
joying the gathering twilight in my room,
which faced the chamber of the pretty,
without drawing the curtains, the child
was arrayed by the nurse in his nightly
garments under the careful supervision
of the mother. This seemed to be the
one hour for which the mother lived, and
| saw her tender caresses and the frolic-
some gambols of the beautiful boy, with
a growing interest that did not care to
impart to others, for / was jealous of the
friendly carelessness with which they re-
carried me. Knowing that | still sat by
my window and could see directly into
the room, they did not care to shut me
out by leosening the falling drapery of
the window. So my kindly interest kept
pace with my Imagination, that wove for
them many romantic tale.
A rumor reached US that the pretty
woman was the banished wife of a GER
tain member of a royal family, but moth
ing occurred TO confirm the report. The
magnificent open carriage had been put
away and replaced by an elegant close
two-seated cab, in which the lady and
child took their usual airing. The short
days and cool evenings admOnished the
summer guests It was time to dispense to
winter quarters, and | confess it was
with feeling of real regret that looked
for the last time on the bright boy and
his interesting mother, for my interest
had grown to be more than mere idle
curiosity.
A friend who remained promised to
announce to US anything unusual that
might happen to our interesting neigh
Dor. Soon we heard: I" Since a certain
royal family are reported to be in Paris
our pretty neighbor has received a dis
patch regularly every morning" The
messenger who CHANGED TO bring dis
patch TO our landlady complained that he
had made that long walk every morning
for some days ia order to carry dis
patch to the adjoining villa. This
seemed to confirm the floating rumor, and
the lady grew to be more an object of in
terest than ever.
Not long after an unusual excitement
at the villa attracted attention and the
anxious appearance of the pretty woman
at the window announced an expectapt
arrival. Presently tall, handsome man
IN plain black dress walked quietly up
from the depot. The butler and foot
man were waiting at the door, fairly
laughing from the crowns of their pow
dered heads to the soles of their slippered
feet. At the first sound of the opening
gate the pretty woman, regardless of all
ceremony and everything but giving
sway to her long-pent-up feelings, flew
down the stairway and in an instant
more was clasped in the loving arms of
her husband, the Grand Duke Alexis, of
Russia.
He remained with her Friday, Satur
day and Sunday, only going out with her
and the child for drive in the close cab.
Sunday evening she took him alone in
the cab to the depot, and Tuesday morn
ing our papers announced that Sunday,
half-past twelve p. m, the Grand Duke
Alexis arrived in Berlin from Paris, and
took lodgings with the Russian Ambas-
sador. We knowing ones smiled over
the pretty deception, but out of regard
for the devoted wife said nothing, and
now that alfdanger is over intrust the
secret to the generosity of your readers,
who | know will sympathize with the
situation of the pretty Countess who
dares not to be the acknowledged wife
of possible claimant of the Russian
throne.-BeIlin Cor. Cincinnati Gazette.