New-York tribune., 1882-02-19


i think, though, yOu wight have guessed that
anyone coming here with my sister. who is a maid
OF honor 10 the Grand Duchess hal a right 10 pass
/ unque,tioned, remarked the Marquis de Cyprl
with French testinfss
Is ihaI young lady he was going TO say that
/ beautiful young iady your sister inquired Nc
/ EWen. was not aware that she belonged to her
Highness's hOuSebOld'
1T is true that she was only appointed fort
! night ago answered the Marquis. But anyhow,
Monsieur e COmte, this is pretty kettle of fish
winch you have set stirring. We have not heard
the last of it.
McEwen guessed as much, and wished himselSa q
hundred miles away. He afraid that ne had
nnwillingly discovered the secret OF some gal liant
tiGisOH of she Grand Duchess, about wi ich loyal
subject would have preferred 10 know nothing and
he muttered silent anathemas upon Wildotski,
I whose tIpsiness had brought him to this pTecIda-
meut
II was too late however. for regrets. Suddenly
/ the door opened. and the Grand d-Duchess Paulina
! herself entered the room, followed by Nile de
/ typt. Her Hlgbncss had commanding hguTe,
aud now bore her head with an imperial air rem
dered the more significant by flush of anger that
I suiluSed heI cheeks. Her cOuntenance fell, how
/ eyer, when she beheld Makuine: thought young
Nidotsli was on guard she said her blush fading
awav lnto paor
/ 50 he was but he is unwelI. and Makune took
! hIS place answered CyPri, who loObed sulky and
/ ashained IN ms feminine clothes, and remained
seated IN the Grand Duchess'- presence.
/ 'Ah! MaOulef leave the roor,' said her High
ness. addressing the mayor lOmO; and for a moment
alter the servant had retired there was silence IN
the room. The Grand Duchess was agtatei. and
/ cast two or three inQuiring glances at Makulne
! before she ventured TO speak. She was trying to
/ observe on his countenance what effect the scene
/ had produced upOn him; but he stood in a respect
/ ful attitude, ms expression quite composed.
Count Makuine you are man of honor and can
keep secret" said the Grand Duchess at last Il
/ cannot let yOu 90 away with any false impression
about what has happened tonight. The Marquis de
CYprl ls my husband Makune bowed first TO the
Grand Duchess. then to the Marquis and tried TO
refrain from any look OF astonlshment. The prin-
cess proceeded with more calmness and dignity now
tha' her secret was out. The Marquis and were
privately married "A month agn but for many reasons
we cannot yet disclose our union. he Gar dlsap-
proves our attachment and last week my husband
was ordered to go and reside for six months upon his
estates If II were known that he was here he
would be arrested. That is why he was Obliged to
come to my house this night in disguise
lou understand now the in portauce If holding
yOur tongue about all this" remarked De Cyprl
whose goOd-humOr was returning, though he
still itte vexed and cast disgusted gLances at his
petticJatS.
Not soul shall hear the secret from me- prom
isfd the ScOtrhm IL, bending his looks rather to-
ward the beautiful Mile. de Cypri than toward the
Grand. Duchess rs he spoke. That young lady red
dened and turned her head away.
1t is we'll: | know our secret could not be in
safer hands declared the Grand Duchess graciously
and very sweet smile spread itself over her plump
dimpled cheeks, that were like cream and roses.
Since vOu know the truth. however, Count
hakulne, we must see whether we cannot make 1t
turn 10 your advantage aud to ours Colonel
SOiOIne, my aide-de-camp, Is going 10 he promoted,
and his place viii become vacant. II you will
please TO accept 10 yOu Will gain step and be able
to render rs some services
And you must promise me that I shall not share
the fate of Strenko, laughed the Marquis as he held
out his hand laughing 10 the ScOtchman. We
have ali heard the saying Let nobody pass when
Blakuine is guard" 1t seems you are a terrible
fellow with those who sail under false coors.
Here the interview ended. tor when Makune had
kissed the Grand Iuch'-ss hand her HIghness
tired with her husband, who disguised himself in
his wig and cloak again TO pass up the staircase
unnoticed. Presently Prince WIdotski returned
sober, with his hair damp from cold water ablu-
tons. and merry. apology on his lips for the
trouble which he had gwen his comrade. He
harmed nvthlug OF what had occurred; and
5iahuine left the palace to return to his lodgings.
As may be imagined he was not quite at his ease,
for man who has surprised "a mumentOus Court
secret experiences many OF the qlalms of one WHO
Is pOssesspr OF stolen property. IL slight
matter that "a Grand Duchess OF immense wealth
should have bestowed her widowed hand upon a
Frcnchman of broken fortune, fifteen years voun ger
than herself The Marquis ne Cvprl had reputa-
ton as gay gambler and hbettIne. and MCEwen
quite understood why the infatuated O'rand-Duchess
should desire to keep her espousals with him
secret. But what If she m her almost sovereign
officers discretoug She might have him arrested
on some trunped-up charge and spirited away TO
Sihe.5l before he could raise "a vore N bis own
dcfrucr. ArChe McEwcn was tue reverse of
coward. bat ~ going to bed that night ne put
six-channer revolver loaded under his pillow and
resolved 10 sell his liberty dearly If anyone should
come 10 mOest him.
The Grlud-Duchess Panlina would have laughed
at these appreheus had she been aware Ut tneu
tor she vas q Kindly princess who h1d never
n .el her power to hurt human beng At heart
she was rather g.dt-uOW the tliuE was done
tiat Ler secret was known TO the scottish officer |
ana his for two reasons Hrtiy, ueCau-e her young
husband. Icing somewhat feathcr-biained and III /
drueuucut IN character was likely 20 Doe on has good
hrhavOr now that hi7 status was known to a |
brother officer SD esteemed as NaNuIne: and /
secondly. because the Grand Duchess reelected that
an officer lie his ~,otcumau. brave cool and chlv-
alr1u., lust the kind of man whom 10 would be /
useful 10 have abOnt her person IN order that her
secret might DE guarded against eyes less discreet /
tuID hi, own 50 her Imperial Highness very
fr.r Ir ed her % D Do
tlikuIue appointed % her household. To the great |
surprise OF hs CunIrades who could not explain his
unIcc. uutablv sudden rise IN court favor Archie /
lIcL wen was in few days promoted to the rank OF .
Iicutenaat-C Colonel and gazette as aide de-camp |
Iu ordinary To the Granl-Duche.s. Bv virtue OF his /
junction, DE bad apartments IN the palace ami be-
came practically bv u Of the confidence which !
his mistress placed IN him. Marshal OF her house.
He quickly perceived that although not blind to
her husbands fault- the Giaud-Duchess was
mally in love with he scapegrace Frcnchman. The
Marquis de Cypr was Just such person as women
love not wisely but too well. Handsome. mirthful,
vain AMI se.f-conhdent, be was
wiliul as spoilt child and dOce as a
good-natured one. There were moments when his
f-s OF passion made hls wife trem9le and cry. and
others when by humorng his weakness she could
90 with him she plrased. He had run through
large fortune rs Dacheior anu now ms VIE was
engaged IN privately pat ing MS deptS iOi MIN ana
relieving his estates from cncumbrances II was
the Marquiss grandfather who had settled the
family OF De CypU IN Russia. at the time of tine
Grand Duchesss husband though born in Russia
had educated IN the country of his OrefatheT,
and both looked and talked like thorough
Partisan. he was 50 eNtrdvagant that had 10 not
beer Tor his lucky marriage he must have been
reduced 10 utter poverty as 10 was he had brilliant
prospects, for MS VIE was intriguing 10 gel MN
created "a prince. hoping that when this had been
done and when De Cypri's estates had been re-
claimed. she might publish her marriage with him
without der0catng Meanwhile her llIgbness was
also interesting herself about her husbands sister
Mile. Berthe de Cyprl. whom she thought Of
matching with yOuug Prince Wlldotski-nOt be |
cause the latter was very respectable member OF
society, but because he part owner Of a silver
mine. and BELONGED % Ons OF the most powerful
famles OF the Empire.
~ ,n.u. tL. nod naiurnh nrincnss