The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-26
. ~s~u.oce-Alsxiss and HIS ban'"ne~
wife.
per,,n correspondent Of the Clncinna'

.sor a new and handsome unoccupied ella,
-hasa outward proportions and p easaft
80 .rere a constant source Of admiration
- a cosy little party Of summer guess that
assembled for coffee on the piazza of Che adj
ioining house.
NJ excitement one morning by the announce
thent that the villa had been rented for
1ev months to wealthy Russian family.
The arrangements Afforded Us an endless
shcae OF conversation and coDjectures, and
The coffee hour way often prolonged as late
ma Il was possible for us to use our crochet
needles, in the hope Of seeing the arrival
of the family, or the mistress, VINO we all
agreed must be young and beautiful to mar
monize with. the charming decorations OF
her houE.
One bright afternoon our anxious waiting
was relieved by the sound OF wheels ana Inc
Quick steps Of spirited horses, ana soon
magaiScent carriage rolled UP to the gate
was. The footman sprang from DIS seat,
opened the door, and assisted an elderly
gentleman of progressing appearance 10
descend the steps; then came pretty child
of two or three years then the mother,
beautiful young woman, her grace and car
rage indicating noble birth. She was dressed
in an elegant and becoming costume oi the
fastest mode. Her brOad.brim felt hat, turn.
ed up at the side and edged with gray ostrich
feathers. while long plume Of the same color
drooped gracefully from the crown, set OIL
her handsome face to the best advantage.
She gathered up her velvet mantle and walked
proudly into the house without deigniog
glance at the curious eyes who overlooked her
from. the neighboring piazzi above, but
bowed graciously to the servants who assem-
bled to receive her.
Passing weeks did not serve to allay our
curiosity, for no one could tell who the pretty
Russian was, and after few days the elderly
gentleman disappeared. She seemed to have
no friends or acquantinces. No one ever
came to the house, and when she drove out
1t was always with her child and lady, evl.
IDENTIFY her companion. The prolonged quiet
became weariSome TO most OF The guests 10
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 be invariably passed on to the hand
some villa. Individually my interest in.
creased rather than abated, TOR as often sat
alone enjoying the gathering twilight in my
room, which faced the chamber OF the pretty,
solitary woman, the gas was Lighted, and
without drawing the curtains, the child was
arrayed by the nurse in his nightly gar
mepts under the careful supervision OF the
mother. This seemed to be the one hour
,or which the mother lived, and ] saw
her tender caresses and the frolcsome gam
bols of the beautiful boy with a growing in
terest that did not care 10 impart to others;
for was jealous of the friendly carelesSness
with which they regarded me. Knowing
that still sat by my window, and could see
directly into the room, they did not care to
shut me out by loosening the failing drapery
of the window. So my kindly interest kept
pace with my imagination that Woye for
them many romantic tale.
A rumor reached us that the pretty woman
was the banished wife Of a certain member
of royal family, but nothing 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 admon-
ished the summer guests it was time to dis
perse to their 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 Gu
riosity.
A friend who remained promised to an
nounce to US anything unusual that might
happen to our interesting neighbor. Soon
we heard, "Since certain royal. family are
reported to be in Paris our pretty neighbor
has received dispatch regularly every
morning" The messenger who CHANGED to
bring dispatch to our landlady complained
that he bad made that long walk every morn.
ing for some days in order to carry dispatch
to the adjoining villa. This seemed to con-
firm the floating rumor, and the lady grew
to be more an object of interest than ever.
Not long after an unusual excitement at
the villa attracted attention, and the anxious
appearance OF the pretty woman at the win
dow announced an expectant arrival. Pre-.
sently a tall, handsome man in plain black
dress walked quietly up from the depot.
The butler and footman were waiting at the
door fairly laughing from the crown of their
powdered heads TO the solcs Of their slipper.
ed feet. At the first sound of the opening
gate, the pretty woman, regardless of all GER
emony, 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, Saturday,
and Sunday, only going out with her and
the child for drive in the close cab. Sun
day evening she took him alone In the cab
to the depot, and Tuesday morning our pa
pers announced that Sunday, alf.past - z.
NJ, the Grand Duke Alexis.arrived in Berlin
from PARIS, aud took lodgings with the Rus
sian ambassador. We knowing ones smiled
over the petty deception, but out of regard
for the devoted. wife said nothing, and now
that all danger Is over entrust the secret
TO the generosity Of your readers, who
know will sympathize With the situation of
the pretty Countess, who dsres not to be the
acknowledged wife OF possible claimant of
the Russian throne.
The Oh TlhEs.-There is q strange pain
III coming suddenly upon serae relic of ene's
lost South-some lock of golden hair. cut
when your hair, gentle lady, was golden
winch rs SO white Aew-some portrait painted
when lie was young, when lips red charm
ana The prade OF the brown were in their |
prime; when the skin $yas satin which now
Is parchment. You feel it, too, strong
man Though yea are, and your lip curls !
man sorroWfully, under your grizZled |
mustache, as you look at a face Of boyish |
bloom which a wandering artist painted
quarter OIL century ago. Was that
you-that young face, with the frank, fear
less eyes, which no care had made dim, the |
tell-!alecoor, the eager MOUTH Whist were
the ambitions of that old life? How differ
'ent were those day-areams from the sober
schemes OF tordaya How you hoped--how
you tfnsted--with what sublime faith you
looked on into the futslre! Now you are
old and the world Is cold. and the rosece.or
OF your youth has faded into the sober gray
OF middle age, TtiS is a better thing You