Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-06
VOL. XIX. NEW SERIES. VOL. xxi.
Translated for the Philadelphia Press from the
French.
A pusxiau Ramaure

Translated for the Philadelphia Press from the
French.
Russian Romance.
1t has often been said that the inventions
of the liveliest imagination of romance
| writers are always surpassed by the reality.
The following is new and curious proof OF
this saying. An officer of the engineer corps,
who has Just arrived here (Odessa) from
Kicheneff, the headquarters of the Russian
Armo of the South, relates in his own Ian
guags this curious little history:
There is nothing talked OF down there nj
kicheneff but of II most romantic incident.
Two years ago, at a masked ball in st. Peters
burg q black domino accosted Prince D,
an officer of the Ataminski regiment of Cos
sacks, in these terms: Il love you, Prince
will YOU love me-" "Why not? But, first, !
should like to see what that sombre domino
covers" Not 30 fast; consent, at first, to
answer my question" ''What! love you
without knowing whether you are pretty or
ugly, young or old?" "Yes,"
Prince D. broke out into n loud laugh,
which was not very proper, as he himself
confessed, and, between two peals OF laugh
ter, 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 will
see me-" 1.-Two years?" .Yes, in two years,
will be your wife" My wife in two years:
Certainly" "Am afiianced, then? Is it
to demon, or an angel And he broke out
into new laugh, for he took the adventure
for a Joke. The unknown answered: 40 a
woman who loves you, rich, beautiful, pow
erful, and sixteen years of age"
my dear journalist" interrupted the en-
gineer officer, ''you see things are in Russia
as in France"
Prince D exclaimed, "Alas! why wait
two years? We shall be old or dead by that
time Two years, two centuries Yes,
two years. during which you will prove to me
absolutely faithful to me- AT least, l shall
see Won, i shall know who you are, and where
you live" mo! Pardon.- Pardonl l
will write to you every Sunday, and you can
answer me-" "And how can | send you my
letters'" 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 promise! lie took
the little proffered hand, and was astonished.
1t seemed that she was pretty. At the sight
of this simple hand he grew mad with love,
and determined to remain faithful to his un-
known.
More than twenty months had elapsed
since this meeting, and the two years begin
to rise on the horizon when the army OF the
South was formed. Prince D. had n
command in it, He wrote to the lndy of his
thoughts: Il leave; who knows If shall
ever return? This event was not anticipated.
Will You remain insensble to my SORROW, and
will you refuse me the favor OF bestowinS
kiss on your chaste brow" She replied: Il
aa,I ttvo Tho tar | Will
to rejoin you, were it even in another world,
for l love you SO that l would renounce my
own life If God should take yours.
lie set out. At kichenef he was INTRO
duced to the Princess K, ayoung lady of
eighteen. II beauty, apearl. masterpiece OF
nature, recently arrived from St Petersburg.
After some days he remarked that the young
Princess did not look upon him with indiiier-
ence. Their intimacy increased. One fne
evening" or one fine morning, she raid to
him, prince, love you; AN rich: marry
me-" The unfortunate Prince was coniound-
ed; then summoning up his courage, he
frankly told her his situation.
oh exclaimed tho Princess" 81 know her
very we'll she is an intriguante; she does not
love YOU" '.You must deceive yourself; II
person cannot write as she does to me with
out loving" II assure you she is merely
lou uO uOl kuOW HtI. vi Nbu
know her face, but not her heart. | am the
very opposite, heart like mine cannot as
sumo u part it does not feel" The little
Princess made no impression several times
she returned to the attack, but always i'll
vain.
AT last, the two years expired on the 18th
Of February. The 10th, Prince DE
ceived the following telegram:
IsoIn 10
day after u will see me and will he your vie
THr USKsows.
1t was thus that sho had signed her letters
to that date On the 18th Prince D was
requested to repair at noon to property IN
the environs OF the town, which was indica-
ted to him. He flew thither. He was intro
duced in a large saloon, where he waited five
mortal minutes. She appeared ut last.
Here ami she said. "Heaven, the Prin-
cess K--w 1t was, in fact. she. She had
left St. Petersburg at the same time with the
Prince, and had fixed herself at kichenetf,
whence she sent to confdante the letters
which the lover WAS to continue to receive
from the capital Thanks to this subterfuge,
she had been able to have herself presented
to the Prince, and to easily play double
part. As to the denouement. you can divine
it. The Princess K on the morrow be-
came the wife of Prince D.. 1t was the
18th, and the friends wished to postpone it
to the l4th. mot at al" said the Princess
at is two years that we have been waiting
for that thirteenth" The Grand Duke could
not assist at the ceremony, but he sent rich
presents to the bridal pair. l assure you
that at this moment at Kicheneff they busy
but little about the Turks or the
Christians; the whole talk is only Of the
Prince and Princess D.