The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-04-07
THE FORTUNE OF A PoTEMKIN.
How an Adventurer Became the Official
Husband of q Czarina.
Temple Bar.

AASoahn VI - ~1aAAha*
Temple Bar.
1t was the day on which Catherine, plac
ing herself at the head of 1000 soldiers of
the Ismailoffsky Guards and added to her
many infidelities the crime of rebellion, had
marched to the church of Kasan and forced
the Archbishop of Novgorod TO crown her
Empress of all the Russias. This took place
at seven o'clock in the morning. At noon
of the same day, Catherine, in the flush of
her youth and beauty-for the favored NOR
tails who beheld her seem to have carried
away In their imaginations vision of love-
illness and grace that never left them; and
even old and cold chroniclers efloresce into
the language of the lover when they venture
to speak of the charm Of her presence--at
noon Catherine again appeared before her
enthusiastic subjects dressed in the uniform
of an officer of the Guards, her long beauti-
full chestnut hair spread out as sail on the
air as she rode through the streets, sitting
astride her white horse, to the ground where
she was to review her troops before march,
ing against her husband. There was one
article of adornment wanting to complete
her military attire; she had no plume in her
hat. A young officer rode up, and pointing
out the omission, offered his own. 1t was
accepted with that grace and brightness
which Cathrine in her early years possessed
above measure, and of which even the cor
nF har huu in
ripper years did not altogether rob her. Po-
Jenkins horse, 1t Is said, accustomed to form
into squadron, n,persistently refused TO respond
to its riders efforts to retire from the impe-
rial party. Her Majesty smiled on his con-
fusien and helplessness, entered into con-
versation with him, asked him about his
family, and soon after appointed him to the
post of Gentleman of the Bedchamber, with
an annual pension of 1000 rubles. OF
daring ambition, gifted with an arful and
tnsinuating manner, and an Imagination fer
tile In devices to accomplish the ends his in-
telligence had set before him, he resolved to
oust Gregory Orlotf from the seat in the En-
presss affections which he had obtained
while she was yet Grand Duchess. The
brothers Orloff had furnished the brain and
nerve of the revolution,so that Catherine, be-
side being linked to the eldero them by the
ties of love or lust, was bound to him by
gratitude, and though she silently resented
his imperiousness, yet she lacked at this pc
riod of her career the courage to risk rup-
ture with the man and husbands murderer
whose boldness had placed her on the
throne. At the private evening parties of
the palace, where Catherine laid aside the
sovereign and became the simple, refined
lady, banishing the formalities Of courts and
substituting the freedom of home life, Po-
temkin was frequent guest. He imagined
he saw in GATHERINGS movements evidence Of
a desire to linger near him and to select him
from among the company for special marks
of friendliness and sweeter smile. He be-
gan TO assume the airs, the sigh, and the All
straction of an unconfessed lover, thereby
provoking the enmity and dislike of Prince
Orloff, who resolved to punish him for his
audacity while he still wore the mask of cor
diality. An opportunity soon offered which.
though it humbled Potemkin, invested him
with new interest In the eyes of the En-
press. A friendly banter passed between the
pro-husband in posse and the one in esse.
| The chaff 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 Catherine Po-
| Jenkins 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 ca
pitulate to him would have done credit to
an experienced actor. lie moved about the
palace blighted being. His natural gayety
forsoek him; he was seldom seen to smile,
and when he did the smile was heartrend-
ing. Every sentence he uttered wound up
with sigh. Able to endure the agony Of
unrequited love no longer, he fed the court,
and caused 1t to be rumored abroad that he
was about to shut himself up in a convent.
Catherine made inquiries about his absence,
and learned that his unfortunate passion had
driven him to despair, and that he had fed
to where he could not see the object of it in
the hope that he might soon conquer it. 81
never thought" said she, "that he would
take II so much to heart. l thought had
given him all the hope aud encouragement
l could" This speech was reported to the
would-be monk; he redoubled his distress
actually entered convent and put On cleri'
cal attire, declaring his intention to take
holy orders and think Of the earth and hel
daughters no more. Every fibre of emotion
in GATHERINGS nature was moved; she dis
patched the Countess Bruce to invite Potem
kin back to court, and, without promising
too much, to inspire him with the hope tha
his love would yet be crowned. Potemki,
quickly threw of the cowl, and in few day
: found himself installed as the Czarina's Off
cial husband, with pocket allowance of IL,
600 rubles, which he found on the first da.
J of each month lying on his 6ressing-table.