Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-05-20

fSmlly uulout bsseeSN s"e fs.s'i'>sSs =.
marriage between the grand duke and
his daughter with enthusiasm, espe-
cially when he discovered that the
Young folks themselves were fond OF
each other. The king then delicately
inslnuated to his daughter that II she
| had taken liking TO the grand duke,
and had reason to believe that the
prince entertained similar feelings
| towards her, their marriage
would meet with no objection
OH his part. But the young princess,
although secretly delighted in a hope
which fully responded to the secret
wishes of her heart, was either too
proud or too bashful to confess to her
| father love for the grand duke, who
had not yet made any declaration to
her. In this manner the day APP
preached on which the grand duke
was to leave Berlin. On the eve of his
departure grand gala supper was
given In his honor at the royal palace,
and, by the way of accident or lolicy,
the young Princess Charlotte was
seated by the side of her distinguished
admirer. The grand duke was I'M
commonly taciturn during the even
ing. His forehead was clouded, and
his gloomy eyes seemed to follow In
space vague phantoms fitting before
his imagination. Repeatedly he neg
lected to reply to questions addressed
to him; and when he was asked to re-
spond to u toast which one of the
royal princes had proposed to his
honor, he seemed to wake from pro-
found dream which had entirely with
drawn him from his surroundings.
Suddenly, as If by "a mighty effort Of
his will, he turned To his fair neighbor
and whispered so rs only to be under
stood by her: $50 shall
leave Berlin tomorrow He
paused abruptly and looked
at the princess as If he was waiting for
an answer which expressed sorrow and
grief on her part.
But the princess was fully as proud
as the grand duke, and overcoming
the violent throbbing of her heart, she
said politely to him: 1--WE are all very
sorry to see your imperial highness
leave is so soon. Would ii not have
been possible for you to defer your
departure ?p
you will all be very sorry ?n NUT
tered the grand duke, not entirely
satisfied by the vagueness of sorrow
which the words Of the princess inn
piled. "ISut you in particular, mad
am" he added after some hesitation:
tor it will depend on you alone
whether i shall stay here or depart
"Ah ~ replied Charlotte with her
sweetest smile, land what have | to
do TO keep your imperial highness
here ~
You must permit me to address my
admiration and homage to YOU"
as that all?p
And you must encourage me to
please you"
THAT is much more difficult said
the princess, with IA deep blush, but at
the same time her eyes beamed forth
so much affection and delight that the
| prince could sec at glance that his
fondcst hopes had been realized before.
hand.
During my short staya Berlin the
grand duke continued in the same tone
of voice, 81 have taken pains to study
your character and your affections,
and this study has satisfied me that
you would render me happy; while on
the other hand ! have some qualities
that would secure your own happi-
ness
The princess was overcome by emo
tons, and in her confusion did not
know what to answer. AT last she
said: but here, In the presence of the
whole court at the public table, you
. put such question to mel
"'Oh ~ replied the prince, "you need
not make any verbal reply. 1t will be
sufficient for you to give me some
pledge of your affection. | see there
on your hand "A small ring whose pos
session would make me very happy.
|, Give 1t to me.n
what do you think Of Here in
the presence of hundred specta.
=, tors ?n
( "Ah, ii can be easily done without be,
/ ing seen by anybody. Now weare chat
: ting so quietly with each other thai
j there Is not one among the guests who
c suspects in the least what we art
/ speaking about; press the ring into 1
: morsel of bread and leave IL on tn,
d table. / will talk, the talisman ant
t nobody will notice It,"
g "The ring Is really talisman."
d ~ expected so. May hope to hea
!. its history"
r, why not? My first governes
e was II Swiss lady by tn
r name of Wildermat. Once sh,
q went to Switzerland in order to ente
& upon an Inheritance which had bee,
's bequeathed to her 10y distant relative
e When she came back TO Berlin n few
l. weeks afterwards, she showed M,
= quite collection of pretty and cost,
s. lewelry, which formed part OF tn,
ie inheritance. This is curious ring.
n a'd TO her, AS ] put this little old
y fashioned ring on my finger; does /
II not look queer and cunning? Perhap
rs IL 10 an old relic or talismnn, and ma,
"a nave te,n worn centuries ago by
G. pious lady who had received il from
he ner Knight tried TO take the rim
H. from my finger again, but could no
p get II oil, for / was u little ieshier ther
er Than now" said Charlotte, smilingly
}. My governess insisted on my keepin,
= the ring as n souvenir. j accepted he
At present and the ring has been on m,
rs linger ever since. Some time after
Of wards, when | was contemplating II
ID strange workmanship, succeeded ii
70 pulling IL rom my finger, and wa
le much surprised Mt seeing engraved OF
so the inside some words which. thoupl
L. nearly rubbed out by wear of time
es were still legible. Now, your i'm
ar periai highness, what do you thin
70 were the words engraved upon il?
III th'nk when you hear them YOU will
~ take some interest in the ring.n
III An and pray what were theyon
ie Inc words engraved upon the I'm
~ SIDE We're Empress of Russia Thi
Ih ring had undoubtedly been presente,
IL. by An pmnraaa NJ pnaa,a a. ~,