The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-06-30
AND CHAR
T
A Low Romance Of History.

became Emperor OF Russia, forms one OF the
sWsstest and most romantic love episodes
In the world Of European courts, which
4 usually no devoid. of love and romance.
and would, on that account alone, deserve
being remembered, quite regardless Of the
historical interest which win henceforth
adhere to all the members Of the family Of
the ~oonqueror Of France.
Princess Charlotte was born in the year
l7p6, and was the eldest daughter of King
Frederick William the Third of Prussio
and his beautiful and accomplished wife,
Queen Louisa. Her early childhood elapsed
smidst scenes Of terror and humiliation for
the royal family Of Prussia, and nobody
would 1t that time have ventured to predict
for her the brilliant career which Provi-
dance kept In store for this child, born and
brought up under such fatal auspices. We
might indeed, make IN exception in favor
Of her mother, who, with that prophetic
intuition which seems TO have been the dis
~tinguishing feature Of that high-minded
woman, wrote one day to her father, the
Duke Of Mecklenburg, the following lines
about his daughter:
Charlotte Is given to silence and reserve,
but under her apparent GOODNESS abe con
ceals . warm md loving heart. Her indif-
ference and pride are but the dullest out
ddc Of q diamond of the purest water,
which some day will shine forth in its bril-.
liant lustre. Her bearing and models arc
noble and dignifed. She has but . few
friends, but these few are warmly attached
70 her. i know her value, and predict for
her . brilliant future IL she lives long
enough"
The young Princess was indeed a very
fnal and delicate creaturc-one OF those
tende flowers which seem to wait for the
kind hand of the gardener 10 transplant
them into a warmer cline. She was charm.
ing and handsome, but her beauty was
rather thai Of q pale lily than that OF o
blooming rose.
Charlotte was just sixteen, when, In the
year 1914, the Grand Duke Nicholas, on
his way TO the camp Of the allied armies In
France, passed through Berlin md was
warmly Welcomed US an honored guest at
the royal palace.
The description those who saw and knew
The Grand Duke At the time have given
Of tho Incompatible graces Of his person
and mind, makes 1t easy for US to imagine
that tho heart Of p young girl, just bud
ding INTO w~onnnhood, was captivated n
charmed BY him almost at first sight.
Well be might have said, like Caesar, ~
came, l saw, ] conquered"
The Princess fell In love with him, and
fortunately for her the young Grand Duke
returned her love fully as passionately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had tho repu-
taton OF being one Of the handsomost, IL
not the very handsomcst, man of the times;
and his majestic and stately form, which
measured no loss than six feet and two
inches, was considered uneqnalled in beauty
not only In Russia, but in all Europe.
Ho was vigorous, strong, full of life and
health, with broad shoulders and chest,
While his small hands and feet were Of
thn rnnct orfetnrrott, al..o-,. IA. .-l.l-
figure realized the perfect model Of manly
and commanding beauty, which the genius
Of q sculptor Of antiquity has immortalized
under the features of Apollo Belvidere.
HIS features were Grecian, fore
head and nose formed n straight line
and the large blue, sincere eyes showed n
singular combination Of composure, stern
hess, self-reliance and pride, among which
It would have been difficult for the obser-
var to name the predominant expression.
Those who have looked closely and atten-
lively INTO these remarkable eyes would
have easily believed that their threatening
glance would suffice to suppress a rebellion.
70 torrify and disarm q murderer, or to
brighten away q supplicant- But there
would have been but few to believe that the
stemness Of those eyes could be entirely
softened 30 as to beam forth nothing but
love and kindness.
Among those few, however, was the
young Prussian Princess, who had drunk
deep In their Intoxicating fervor. It Ia
true that abe was the only person In the
world in whose presence the Olympian
gravity OF his features gave way to q radiant
cheenulness, which made his manly beauty
perfectly irresistible.
In such moments his magnificent brow.
always the seat Of meditation and thought.
exhibited the serene beauty and Attic grace
o. . young Athenian; the serious Pericles
seemed, by the invisible wand of q magician,
20 have been transplantcd into the youthful
Alcibiades.
At this time, however, the matchless DER.
sonal charms Of the Grand Duke were en-
HANGED by political prospects Of the most
exalted character. He WINS not eventually
considered m heir to the Imperial crown Of
Russia- 1t is true, Alexander the First his
brother, had no children, but in case of his
death, which could not be expected soon.
the Gnnd Duke Constantine was to inherit
me throne of Peter the Great, and 10 leave
70 NICHOLAS at best but the position Of q
rnnce OF the first blood. Nevertheless,
sleoenck William, charmed alike by the
beauty and intellect of his guest and NV
the hope Of uniting the soyereign home. ~
Prussia and Russia by the close ties Of fami-
" union, greeted the prospect Of n marr;.v.
between the Grand Duke and his d.rnh,es
with enthusiasm, especially when he d;scor
cred that the young folks themselves wos.
fond Of each other.
The King then delicately insinuated IN
bis daughter that, II she had taken a liking
70 the Grand Duke, and had reason to be.
neve that The Prince entertained similar
1eehngs towards hen, their marriage would
meet with no objection on his mart.
But The young Pdncess, although secretIv
delighted in . hope which fully Responded
to the secret wishes Of her heart, was either
too proud or too bashful to confess to her
father her low FOR the Grand Duke, who Ind
not yet made any declaration to her.
In this ann the day approached on
which the Grand Duke WINS 70 leave Der.
lin On tho eve Of his departure q grand
gala supper was given In his honor, at the
royal palace, and, by the way of accident
or policy, the young Princcss Charlotte
was seated by the side Of her distinguished
admirer.
The Grand Duke was uncommonly taci-
tum during the evening. Hi forshesd
was clouded, and his gloomy eyes poemed
% follow in space vague phantoms fitting
before his imagination. Repeatedly he
nseiected to reply TO questions addrcsscd
y nun; md, when he wns asked 70 rBsnoud
toAAt which one Of tho royal princos
80 proposed 70 his honor. he seemed -
e.nkc from profound dream which M
fngs-
Suddenly. rs Il by q mighty .r,r. :, Ii.
~ = turnod 10 his fair neirbbor 80
vhilpsfsd. % = oniyto be underssood ~
$50 ! shall leave Berlin to-morrovi IN
~ ransed abruptly and looked Il Tie