The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-10-02

lottc, urged the latter to escape from
kussla in the guisc of q servant. But
the plan WIS frustrated. In the follow
ing year, and amid the Joy which an
nounccd the birth of II son of Catharinc
the princess, having somewhat recovered
from the assault already mentioned, was
secretly placed on board Il Irllssian YES
sci, and landed on the southern .horc of
the Baltic.
AT the same time the countess and the
physician played a bold game. \ sham
burial was originated \ wax figure.
skilltully moulded, was placed in Il cof-
fin, which, while the bells were toling,
was hurried away and consigned to !,
sepulchrc in the church of ST. Peter and
Paul. There were but few im;;:!rmors.
and the ceremony was brief a false
announcement was spccdcd to the cap
ltol and no one, in the excitement Of The
hour, paused even to give it reflection
At the proper season, the princess,
having recovered and rcgaincd sufficient
strength, proceeded to Strashur-. and
thence to Paris. Here She dispoSed of
her jewrlry, and, in company with Swiss
emigrants. set sail for America. She
arrived at New Orleans. where she was
recognized and salutcd hv Count dAu-.
baut. Il member of the French diplomatic
service, who had formerly known her
well, and we may add, become cnamorcd
of her at st. Petersburg
The count was Il handsome fellow, but
very shy. lie had not the courage, even
when confident that some unknown
cause had cstrlngcd her from her hris-
band, to ingratiatc himself in the prin-
cess favor. But day and night he was
haunted by her matchlcsS beauty, and
yet circumstances compelled them to
remain longer apart.
After awhile the princess, still regard
ing her Swiss companions rs in one sense
her guides, followed them from their
first landing in New Orleans to II place
fifty miles up the river. Here she pur-
chased small plantation and, with the
help of others, planned to cultivate il.
Count d Aubaut had not ceased to do~
her footsteps. Wherever She went he
pursued until Il bright idea entered into
his mind.
Having assured himself of hcT dctcrm-
iIation to remain always in America,
the count FASTENED back To New Orleans,
and from the govrrnor-gcncral, who was
his near rclatisc, obtained perpetual
ownership of Il large tract of land border
ing on the Mississippi, together with
release from his diplomatic service
This tract of land happened To alioin
the estate Of the Princess Charlotte: and,
having erected Il small dwelling for him
SELF he looked forward to the day when
pcrchancc fortune might pcrmi; him tr
enlarge it fn1 tie r@3c cption pi' his idol.
The days and the weeks passed by, and
nc count had succeeded in winning the
'i'; 'dship of the princess. This friend
u,,E iaily became more intimate; and
Iin'.i,. q princess no longer hcsitatcd to
,n,,nt 'h hona%; .% story of her mi>iortuncS, the
sion of sympa}mo1st sincere in his express
some appearance, his n = cmnently hand,
manners, and his II. fnc' ~GtfHt GfH.t and graceful
deep impression upon the heart OF tniI!
lonely lady; and the courtesy and conf
dcncc with which she always received
him made him bold TO sue for her lcaft
and hand. But no; she rcsolutcly re-
fused amy offer of marriage.
Count dAubaut was in dcSgair, and to
he could not claim as his own was death
itself Abandoning his estate, and bni-
ding farewell to the princess, he returned
W. ->N" o'itdI.', WHY llt tISdptu IhIS-
sage on board Il vessel bound for Mar
sciIcs In less than an hour the ship
was to sail, and the count had already
ended his preparations for departure.
With an idle turn Of mind he paced to
and fro upon the deck small package
lay there, on which a half-shcct of IL
newspaper. the Mcrcurc HollandoiS, of
the year l7lS, had been placed by some
strange hand. His eyes dropped, and
rested for moment on fateful para
graph and there he read as one not
sorrowful, of the death of the Grand
Duke Alexis at St. Petersburg.
Il is easier to imagine his feelings than
TO describe them. Girasping the paper
and folding it away in his pocket, cx-
changing Il few words with the comnnn-
der of the vessel, and making arrange
mcnts as to his luggage, he lcapcd into Il
small boat and was rowcd ashore. Not
ten hours had elapsed before he was
again at the feet Of the princess
Only a few words were intcrchangcd,
and her doom was sealed. There was no
obstacle in the way; aud she had Shed
her last tear before thes portrait of him
whom she loved even amid hatred Two
months later the Princess Charlotte,
with simple ceremony, became Tie Coun-
tess d 'Aubaut.
How suddenly, at times, change falls
upon a scene of Happiness and content
mcnt; and how unexpectedly tie bitter
enters into the sweet! Only a few brief
years had sealed the union of Il loving
couple when Count d'Aubaut fell dan
gcrously i'll. "rhcrc is no hope of Il
recovery" said the physician to the
faithful wife, "save IN speedy return to
Europe" The princess for surely for.
tune may not alter her rank was quick
to heed. Gathering together her all,
size hcr hushand aud thcir littlo .lnu1l