The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-11-16
my darling, that it will not be because

my darling, that it will not be because
| am idle. Now, good-1,,}ht, my own!
1 daren't keep you any longer"
With heart which as yet felt very
little of the hopefulness that he had
been striving to instill into Olga,
Harold watched her slight figure fit
ting through the garden walks until
she had disappeared safely within the
palace, after which he as quietly as
possible took his perilous way over the
garden wall, whence he dropped noise
lessly into the street and disappeared
in the darkness.
Harold Vincent had made his first
appearance in st. Petersburg only a
month before, on his homeward route,
after an extended trip in Scandinavia
and Russia, and found shortly, even in
the higher grade of Russian society,
the welcome which his wealth, his
genial kindly nature, and his un-
bounded liberality always procured for
him. A few days after his arrival he
had met the young Princess Olga at a
ball given by the English ambassador
and from that evening he had in life
an aim and object which up to the
present had been its only want-the
firm determination to win the fair
young aristocrat for his wife, in spite
of the many obstacles in his way.
The difficulties were almost insur-
mountable, for, though the events of
the week which followed gave him
ground to believe that the lady Of his
love was by no means Indifferent tC
him, he also learned that few weeks
before Olga's father had formally be-
trothed her to a equity old nobleman
with the bluest of blood, one of the
largest fortunes and the most jealous
disposition in st. Petersburg.
Prince Romanzeff was rich in moth
ing but pride of name and ancestry
Sorely was help needed to prevent tbs
utter ruin of the ancient Palais Ro
manzeff, and to pay few of the debt:
of the last bearer Of the name. But
not to satisfy his creditors, nor even tt
save his ancestral home, would the ole
princes naughty pride have consented
to ally the Romanzeff blood with any
other whit less ancient than it's own
so when Count Kolachewski came for
ward offering such a lordly price fol
his daughter, The shadow Of his gene
illogical tree was quite enough to hidt
his wrinkles, his crooked shoulders
and his grizZled head. Olga had diff
ferent ideas on the subject, but that
of course, was matter of no impor
tance whatever.
The jealous count had discovered
the existence of a rival, though thu
lovers had cheated themselves with thu
belief that their many precautions hat
kept their secret hidden from all The
world, and a crisis had come, finding
Harold more determined than ever tC
win his wife in spite of her title.
The next morning little Babette
blushed and smiled with pleasure as
the handsome young Englishman
whom she knew that her beloved mis-.
tress loved with all her heart, ap
preached her where she was buying
grapes and oranges for the princess
and, after CHEEKY "good-morning,
asked her if she had time for an ice in
the cafe over the way.
$50 you have a lover, Babette?" re.
marked Harold, a few moments later
as he enjoyed the girls unfeigned sat,
isfactiOn with the cakes and ices sc
lavishly provided for her entertain
ment. "What happy fellow hemust
ber'
"True, sir, have a lover-as hand
some policeman as ever you saw
But 1 am afraid he is not so happy as
you think, for we are both too poor tC
hope ever to marry" sighed Babette.
Your mistress tells me that his beat
is on the street where you live?"
Yes, sir, he has managed to be
placed there, because 1 often-when ]
am not busy in the evening"
mean"
Yes, 1 understand" remarked
Harold, approvingly. "You go down
to the gate sometimes and cheer W
the poor fellow bit. It's a very lone.
ly Street, and it's real charity for you
to give him little of your society
Upon my word, Babette, you're a very
good girl! L wonder if we couldn't
do something to help that policeman
you and l. l have plan; now listen. >
The plan, whatever it was, sent Ba
5ette almost flying home to her mis-.
tress, with dancing, shining eyes, glow.
ing cheeks, and heart almost burst.
ing with delight and excitement-all
of which she had to hide as best she
might until the evening, for only then
had she an opportunity to speak a few
hurried words to the young princess
in the mOmentary absence of the
watchful and wary aunt.
The days passed on until only two
intervened before the wedding of the
Count Kolachewslli with the Princes:
Olga RomanZeff. From his sister
Prince Romanzeff had heard with some
satisfaction-though it was of course
Of trifling importance-that his daugh.
ter had evidently overcome her repug
nance to the marriage, her tears and
complaints having ceased entirely
while she seemed tohave quite recovered
her spirits. The count was to bid
adieu to his bachelor gayeties at a large
masquerade ball that evening, which
Prince Pomanzeff was able to attend
leaving his daughter alone with heI
aunt, who, as the eventful day an.
preached, did not in the least relax he1
vigilance, in spite of the apparent do.
cility of her charge.
On the previous evening Babettt
had paid hurried visit to her faith
full policeman, whose duty kept him il
the vicinity of the palace only the first
part of the night, from 10 till 2. The