The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-12

reply to questions addressed to him; and
when he was asked to respond to a toast
which one Of the royal princes proposed TO
his honor, he seemed to awake from pro-
| found dream which had entirely withdrawn
him from his surroundings.
Suddenly, as if by a mighty effort of his
will. he turned to his fair neighbor and
whispered, so as only to be understood oy
her:
80 shall leave Berlin tomorrow"
He paused abruptly and looked at the
princess as if he were waiting for an answer
which expressed sorrow and grief on her
part But the princess was fHlly as proud as
the grand duke, and overcoming the VIOLENT
throbbing of her heart she said politely to
I him:
1--WE are all very sorry to see your i'm
perial highnes leave US soon. Would it
not have been possible for you to defer your
departure@
hYou will all be very sorry" muttered
/ the grand duke, not entirely satisfied by the
vagueness of SORROW which these words of
I the princess implied. "But you in particu-
/ lar madam" he added, after some hesita-
/ ton; 'for it will depend on you alone
| whether / shall stay here or depart"
! "AhI' replied Charlotte, with her sweetest
! smile; land what have l to do to keep your
/ imperial highness here?
"You must permit me to address my adj
miration and homage to YOU"
SIS that alp
"And you must encourage me to please
I you"
THAT is much more difficult" said the
| princess, with deep blush; but at the same
/ time her eyes beamed forth so much affection
! and delight that the prince could see at a
/ glance that his fondest hopes had been rea-
/ lzed beforehand.
/ During my short stay at Berlin the
grand duke continued in the same tone of
voice, II have taken pains to study your
character and your affections, and this study
has satisfied me that you would render me
happy; while, on the other hand, have
some qualities which would secure your own
happiness"
The princess was overcome by emotion,
and in her confusion did not know what to
answer. At last she said:
But here, in the presence OF the whole
court, at the public table, you put such
question to me-"
"Ohl' replid the prince, ''you need not
make any verbal reply II will be sufficient
for you to give me some pledge of your affec-
ton. L see there on your hand a small ring.
whose possession would make me very
happy. Give it to me?'
What do you think of? Here in the
presence of q hundred Spectators"
"Ah, il can be easily done without being
seen by anybody. Now are chatting
quietly with each other that there is not one
among the guests who suspects in the least
into norsel of bread and leave 1T on the
table. l will take the talisman and nobody
Will notice it."
1.-The ring is really a talismanT'
II expected so. May hope to hear its
history?'
why not? Ny first governess was Swiss
/ lady by the name of WildermaJt. Once she
went to Switzerland in order to enter upon
inheritance which had been bequeathed
/ to her by a distant relative. When she came
back to Berlin few weeks afterwards she
showed me quite a collection of pretty and
costly jewelry, which formed part of the
/ inheritance. This is curious ring said
to her, as put this little, old fashioned ring
on my finger Does il not look queer and
cunning? Perhaps it is an old relic or
talisman, and may have been worn centu-
ries ago by pious lady who had received it
from her knight, starting for the holy land
/ l tried TO take the ring from my finger again,
! but could not get it off; for was little
! ieshier than now said Charlotte smllingly.
| My governess insisted on my keeping the
| ring as souvenir. / accepted her present,
/ and the ring has been on my finger ever
/ since. Some time afterwards, when l was
/ contemplating its strange workmanship, |
succeeded in pulling it from my finger, aud
/ was much surprised at seeing engraved on
/ the inside some words which, though nearly
/ rubbed out by wear of time, were still legi-
/ Bile. Now, your imperial highness, what do
/ you think were the words engraved upon it?
/ think when you hear them you will take
/ some interest in the ring"
"Ah, and pray what were theyP
1.-THE words engraved upon the inside
were, empress of Russia This ring had
undoubtedly been presented by an empress
/ of Russia to the relative of Mrs. Wildermatt
/ for was told that both this lady and her
mother had formerly belonged TO the house
hold of the czarina, your august grand
/ mother"
This is really remarkable" said the
grand duke, thOughtfully. II am quite
superstitious and am really inclined 10 re-
gard this ring, if should be happy enough
to receive 1t from you as pledge of your
love, as ali omen of very suspicious signif
canoe"
In answer to this second and even more
direct appeal to her heart, the princess took
a small piece of bread, played carelessly
with IL, and managed to press the ring into
the soft crumbs Then she dropped it play
fully on the table quite close to the plate of
her neighbor. And, after this adroit ex-
hibition of her skill as an actress, she col.
tinued to eat as unconcernedly as If she had
performed the most trivial action of her
life
With the same apparent GOODNESS and in
difference the grand duke picked up the
bread enclosing the ring, took the latter out
of its ingenious envelope, and concealed IL
/
of his fingers. 1t was this ring-both the
pledge OF Cbarlotte's love and the suspicious
omen of his own elevation 10 the imperial
dignity-which Nicholas wore on a golden
cham around his neck to the very last day of
his life, and which, if we are not mistaken,
has even descended with him into the vault
of his ancestors.
Three years afterwards, in 1917, Princess
Charlotte, then only 10 years OF age, and in
the full splendor of beauty and happiness,
made her entry into St. Petersburg by the
side OF the husband, whose eye bad never
looked prouder and whose Olympian brow
had never been more serene tEan at this
happiest moment of his life. AS he looked
down upon the vast multitude who had
fiOcked together from all parts of the vast
empire to greet the young princess with
shouts and rejoicings, and then again upon
his fair young bride, perhaps the inscription
upon the ring required to his mind for,
bending his head close to the ear of Char
lotte, he whispered: Now empress of the
heart and some day Derhaps empress of