The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-05-03

of a tall, slender girl who stood be-
hind her. 1t was Natalie, a poor or
phan whom the Matworf had taken
to their home through pity.
She wore the simple national cos
tune of the olden times. Upon her
soft hair was a black velvet cap
around her neck hung q triple rowoi
pearls, from which was suspended an
image OF the holy Saint Nicholas
The remainder Of her outfit consisted
of short ovorskirt, a bright-colorOd
undcr:skirt, with blue stockings and
low Shoes 80
Supper was served by the ladies,
and though the kind hostess urged
Alexis to do honor to her honey-cakos
kqnamead, hsa bllt.litsle soabsotb-
cd was he inslistoningt the praise
which shegave to her adopted child.
"she reads and writes wcll-snough
to be the first secretary of the Car
I.(tho holy St. Nicholas protect himl)
and yet no girl far or near, can spin
better or faster than she. From ear
ly till late she helps pe, and then in
the evening she reads to twerf,
because the lamplight,paihS nIseycs.
She is, indeed, the hesssing of our
old age.':.. .
The Cars eyes rested with pleas
urc on the bldsRing face of the lovely
maiden, and with reluctance he took
his leave, only torepedt the visit soon
and often. :.
Finally he declared lis love- and
won her promise to be his bride.
+ x Il x. e * ~
And now an imperial proclama-
tion was issued, ordering all Ne fair
young girls in the empire to assem-:
blo'in the Kremlin on a certain day,
that, according to an ancient custom,
the Car might make his choice of a
wife from among tl& daughters of the
land. -
Very ,'tgwillingly did Natalie pre-
pare to obey the imperial summons.
Hcr'hcart tfrobed atQhe possibility
of beingtbs chosen one, and the dread
Of being unfaithlll to her pligbted
lover. .>a
Trembfingiy shefoAowed Matwdff
into the salem, where several hund.
red other maide awaited the com
ing Of the ...llI Car. r.s-S 80 s-
tomed,splendorttlie noise Of the null
titude, confused her SO much that she
was not able to lift her eyes from the
floor.
A clang of trumpets announced the
Cars approach. Tho doors were
thrown open, and Alexis, in golden
embroidered dress, a diadem on his
head and jeweled scimetar by his
side, entered. Laughing and chat
ting, he passed from one group to an
other of blooming girls.
When he came towards Natalie,
she raised her timid eyes, her glance
met that of the Cznr, whom she rec
ognized as the merchant from Kasan
and she fell unconscious to the floor.
When she next opened her eyes,
it was to find herself in the arms of
Alexis, and to hear her name called
as that of his beloved bride.
Crowds of servants now brought
fruits from Damascus, figs and conf
lures from Turkey, cordialsf from Italy
and rich gifts to distribute among
the disappointed girls; but to Natlie
Narischkin was given the wedding
robe.
The Emperor Of all the Russias
never regretted having taking to his
heart and home the poor orphan girl.
With her tender devotion and bright
intelligence, she Soothed and cheered
the hours he spent away from the af-
fairs of state; she sympathized with
him and aided him in all his efforts
to elevate the tone of his people, and
in every possible way she strovc to
implant in the hearts of the women
of her realm the same virtuoa wis
dom which was in her own.
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