Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-18
A RUSSIAN ROMANCE.

luS ID u uCM dlu CuIlOu6 plOOl vi
thi ssaying. An officer of the en-
gineer corps, who had just arrived
here odessa from KicheneG, the
headquarters of the Russian army
Of the South, relates in his own
language this curious little history:
There is nothing talked Of down
there at Kichenetf but Of a most
romantic incident. Two years ago
at a masked ball in st. Petersburg,
a black domino accosted Prince D.,
an officer of the Ataminski regi.
ment of Cossacks, in these terms:
81 love you, prince; will you love
me?" "Why not? But first, |
should like to see what that sombre
domino covers" "Not so fast; con
sent, at first, to answer my ques-
tions." "What! love you without
knowing whether you are pretty or
ugly, young or old?" eyes"
Prince D. broke out into a loud
laugh, which was not very proper,
as he himself confessed, and, be-
tween the two peals of laughter, he
replied; " Well, yes, will love
you; will you lay aside that rag
now" He sought to unmask the
unknown; but she recoiled, saying,
"Now less than ever. | have your
promise; retire, and in two years
you viii see me?" "Two years?'
"Yes, in two years, l will be your
wife," "My wife in two years?"
Certainly" Gam | affianced,
then? Is it a demon, or an angelo
And he broke out into a new laugh,
for he took the adventure for a joke.
The unknown answered: "To a
woman who loves you-rich, beau
tiful, powerful and sixteen years Of
age"
"My dear journalist" inter
rupted the engineer officer, "you
see things are in Russia as in
France"
Prince D. exclaimed, "Alas! why
wait two years? We shall be old OF
dead by that time. Two years. two
centuriesp " Yes, two years, du.
ring which you will prove to me
your love" "How?" Z" In being
faithful, absolutely faithful to me- p
"At least | shall see you; l shall
know who you are, and where you
live ?" "Nol Pardon - Par
don! I will write to you every Sun
day, and you can answer me.
"How can | send you my letters p
"By giving them to the person who
will bring you mine. Two years
Adieu! ! Here is my hand in pledge
of my faith. Do not forget
prince, your promisep He tool
the little profiered hand, and wa
astonished. 1t seemed that she wa
pretty. AT the sight of this simpl,
hand he grew mad with love, anC
determined to remain faithful t
his unknown.
More than twenty months ha(
elapsed since this meeting, and th,
two years began to rise in the hori
zon when the army of the Soutl
was formed. Prince d. had com
mand in it. He wrote to the lad,
of his thoughts: 81 leave VIII,
knows if shall ever return? I? Thi
event was not anticipated. vii
you remain insensible to my sor
row, and viii you refuse me tn
favor of bestowing a kiss on you
chaste brow?" She replied: Z"
said two years. The term expires
| will 60 to reioin you, were it ever
in another world, for | love you S
that | would renounce my own lif
/ if God should take yours. "
He set out. AT Kicheneif h
was introduced to the Princess X
young lady of eighteen, a beauty
a pearl, a masterpiece Of nature
: recently from st. Petersburg. Afte
some days he remarked that tn
| young princess did not took upo
e him with indifference. Their int
S macy increased. One fine evening
: or one fine morning, she said t
Y him: Prince, love you; | al
: rich; marry me" The unfortuuat
: prince was confounded; then sun
0 moning up his courage, he frank
n told her his situation.
!. "0h p exclaimed the princes
:, "I know her very we'll; she is a
+ intriguante; she does not love you
d "You must deceive yourself; ape
II son cannot write as she does to n
/, without loving" 81 assure yc
: she is merely acting. You do n
e know her. or rather YOU know h