The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-03-26

II was the day on which Catherine, placing
herself at the head Of 2,0CG soldiers Of the
Ismailoffsly Guards and adding 10 her many
inidelities the crimo Of rebellion, had
marched 10 the church of Kasan and forced
the archbishop Of Novgorod to crown her
empress OF all the Russias. This took place
at O'clock in the morning. At noon Of the
same day Catherine, in the flush Of
her youth and beauty-for the favored
mortals who beheld her seem 10 have
carried away in their imaginationu
vision of grace and loneliness that never
left them, and even old and cold chroniclers
efiloresce into the language Of the lover when
they ventured TO speak Of the charm of her
presenoe--at noon Catherine again ap-
pearcd before her enthusiastic subjects
dressed in the uniform of an officer Of the
guards, her long beautiful chestnut hair
spread ont ms a sail ON the air as she rode
through the streets, sitting astride her white
horse, TO the ground where she was 10 re-
view her troops before marching against her
husband. There was one article of adorn-
ment wanting to complete her military at
tire; she had no plume In her hat. young
officer rode up, and, pointing out the ennis
sion, offered his own. ft was accepted with
that grace and brightness which Catherine
in her carly years possessed above measure,
siness of her physique in ripper years did not
altogether rob her, Potemkin's horse, IL is
said, accustomed to form into squadron, per
sistently refused TO respond to its riders ef-
forts to retire from the imperial party. Her
Majesty smiled on his confusion and help
lessness, entered into conversation with him,
asked him about his family, and soon after
appointed him to the post of Gentleman of
the Bedohamber, with an annual pension of
1000 roubles. OF a daring ambition, gifted
with an artful and insnuating manner, and
an Imagination fertile in devices to accom-
plsh the ends his intelligence had set be-
fore him, he resolved to GUST Gregory Orloff
from the seat in the Empress's affections
which he had obtained while she was yet
Grand Duchess. The brothers Orlofr had
furnished the brain and nerve of the revolu-
luton, so that Catherine, besides being
linked to the elder Of them by the ties Of
love or lust, was bound TO him by gratitude,
and though she silently resented his i'm
periousness, yet she lacked at this period of
her career the courage to risk rupture with
the man and husbands murderer whose
boldness had placed her on the throne.
AT the private evening parties of the pal
ace where Catherine laid aside the sovereign
and became the simple, refined lady, ban
ishing the formalites of courts and substi-
tuting the freedom of home life, Potemkin
was frequent guest He imagined that
he saw in GATHERINGS movements evidence
of desire to linger near him and to select
him from among the company for special
marks of friendiness and sweeter smile.
He began to assume the airs, the sigh and
the abstraction of an unconfessed lover,
thereby provoking the enmity aud dislike
of Prince 0rloff who resolved to punish him
for his audacity while he still wore the mask
OF cordiality. An opportunity soon offered
which, though it humbled Potemkin, in .
vested him with new interest in the eyes
of the Empress. little friendly banter
passed between the pro-husband in posse
and the one in esse. The chat grew bitterer
and more personal, till Potemkin forgot the
respect due to his superior in rank, who
chastised him for his insolence and destroyed
the sight of one of his eyes. This revealed
to Catharine Potemkin's love for her. She
saw in him one who suffered for her sake,
and her feelings were tenderly affected
toward him. The young mans devices TO
make Catherine capitulate to him would
have done credit to an experienced actor.
| lie moved about the palace blighted being
His naturally gayety forsook him; he was
seldom seen to smile, and when he did the
smile was heartrending. Every sentence he
uttered wound up with a sigh. Able to en-.
dure the agony of unrequited love no longer
he fled the Court, and caused il to be ru
mored abroad that he was about to shu
himself up in a convent. Catherine mad,
inquiries about his absence, and learned tina
his unfortunate passion had driven him |,
despair, and that he had fled to where h,
could not see the object of it, in the hope tina
he might soon conquer it. 81 neve
thought" said she, "that he would take i
so much to heart. | thought had give,
him all the hope and encouragement
could" This speech was duly reported t
the would-be monk he redoubled his dis
tress; actually entered a convent and pu
on clerical attire, declaring his intention /
take holy orders and think of the earth ant
her daughters no more. Every fibre of emo
ticn in Catharine's nature was moved; sh
despatched the Countess Bruce to invite Pc
temkin back to Court, and, without posi-
lively promising too much, to inspire hir
with the hope that his love would yet b
crowned. Potemkin quickly threw of tn
cowl, and in few days found himself in
stalled as the Czarna's official husband
with pocket allowance of 1000 roubles
which he found on the first day of each mont
lying on his dressing table, Temple Bar.
|