Milford chronicle., 1885-04-17
THE PRINCESS BARNABAS.

The Princess Barnabas was in q state
OF the most profound perplexity. She
could not for the dainty little life of her
make up her mind on the important
question as to whether she should or
should not commit suicide at the closeof
the season. 1t was not very easy for the
Princess's many admirers to understand
why she should perturb her mind with
such problem at all, but perturb it she
dld with that very problem, whether
wisely or unwisely.
The Princess Barnabas was a very re-
markable young woman, who had proved
the puzzle, the pride, and the passion of
London society for three whole sense
sational seasons. She was not vet four
and-twenty. She bore the title of q
great Russian Prince who had married
her just before she came of age. at a
time when he himself was old enough
to be her grandfather, and who had con-
siderately died within two years of the
ceremony, leaving her the absolute mis-
tress OF his fortune and his territories.
as she had been during life the absolute
mistress of his heart for the short time
in which he swayed it. She was said
to be fabulously wealthy. Her Jewels
were the wonder Of the world. and she |
delighted in wearing them in season and !
out OF season, with a emi-barbario en- |
ioyment of their glitter and splendor.
which was, like everything else about |
her, partly Oriental and partly childish.
Some time after her husbands death
she had come to Paris and got tired of
1t, and then she crossed the Channel
and conquered London. During one re.
splendent session little else was talked
about but the Princess Barnabas. So
ciety journals raved about her delicate
beauty, which seemed to belong to the
of the last century, which
ought to have been immortaiized on
pate teradre, and hymned in madrigals.
Men adored her. Women envied her
marvellous dress and her matchless Jew
9ls. The dying ashes of a seasons
scandal tiared up into marvellous activ- ,
ty around her pretty personality. She
vas enormously "the thing" Enor-
nously "the thing" she remained during
second season, after an interval of alb
olute disappearance into the dominions
II the Gar. Enormously "the thing
he still appeared to be now in her third
eason, in spite of the rival attractions ?
4 an American actress who had not Il
married an English duke, and an Amer
,an girl with millions who had married b
he bluest blood and the Oldest name in
lurope. 1t would have been absurd u
or any one to contest the point that the n
'1ncess Barnabas was the very most in. {!
sresting figure of that phantasmal 81
ance of shadows which is called Lon
on society. n
Nevertheless the Princess Barnabas IL
as weary, positively bored If she had re
cen less Of a success, life might not have
1peared so desolate. There would have "
cen piquancy in the possibility of ri
llry which would have lent a new in O.
rest to the tasteless feast. As it was, pl
)wever, London life at the height of Il
j maddest activity appeared to her as aV
ear and gray as those vast stretches of a2
eppes which lay like a great sea
ound one of the Russian castles of the
10 Prince Barnabas. It was during III
is fit Of depression when the Princess Vo
Irnabas was graciously pleased to
rec with the author of "Ecclesiastes. :" IN
at life was vanity, that it occurred to US
r that in all her strange experiences on
g had never yet committed suicide. In'
o Immediately gave up her mind to ce'
, important problem, whether she -
Ould gain this ultimate human expe- irU
nee at once, or postpone it indef- a.
ely. no
It was in this frame of mind that the 70
ncess went to the ball at the Russian W.
lbassy. As she nestled among her '''S
s in the dim, luxurious warmth of s
: carriage, her mind was running en- iiei
'ly upon the various forms of self 49,.
truction which had been made fa- 0"q
us by celebrated persons at different a.
ges OF the worlds history, and she ~; ~?
Id find none that were sufficiently at 'O1
'tive or remarkable to please her
ood heavens r she thought to her. you
with little shudder which even 1
warmth of her surroundings could witt
repress. ''is it impossible tobe 5aRale vOiC
q in that?" and she gave little groan
he stepped out of her carriage and fool
The embassy steps. The thought was "
on her mind and tracing the least that
gestion of a frown upon her exquisite +"
ish face as she entered the great foil,
a and took the hand of the ambassa- new,
IS. The thrill of interest, of excite did
t, of admiration, which as a matter Moi
purse attended upon her entrance did toge
give her any answering thrill of Eue
ification. She appeared to listen INV
the most gracious attention TO the first
pliments of the ambassador. She Won
1ered with the daintiest little air OF Fl
luie oDelsahcs .he Ola World cour- won
OF white-halred minister who whic
q nave oeen as ancn at home as she but
eii IN y, Q salon oi the regent OF Or set.
! 9ne conoescenued 70 entangle II on
work Of fascination particularly II
rate and impassive Secretary Of foup
J. Shepatronized prince Of the ST i
royal and was exceedingly frank cent
friendly with the young painter Barn
u, who knew exactly how much her in 10