The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-03-25

coined as an honored guest at tht
royal palace.
The description those who saw
and knew the Grand Duke at thai
time have given Of the incompatible
graces of his person and mind. make
| It easy for us to imagine that the
heart of young girl, just budding
into womanhood, was captivated and
charmed by him at frat sight.
Well he might have said, like Ce-
sar, Il came, ! saw, / conquered"
The Princess fell In love with
him, and fortunately for her, the
young Grand Duke returned her
love fully as passionately.
The Grand Duke Nicholas had the
reputation of being one of the hand
soonest, if not the very handsomest
man of the times and his majestic
and stately form, which measured
no less than six feet and two inches,
was considered unparalleled in
! beauty not only in Russia, but in all
Europe.
He was vigorous, stronghold of life
and health, with broad shoulders
,, and chest. while his small hands and
feet were of the most aristocratic ele-
gance. His whole figure realized
the perfect model of manly and COM
manding beauty, which the genius
! of sculptor of antiquity has i'm
mortalized under the features of
Apollo Belvidere.
His features were of the Grecian
cast-forehead and nose formed a
straight line-and large, blue, sim
cere eyes showed singular combi-
nation of composure, sternness; self
reliance and pride, among which it
would haye been difficult for the OBJ
server to name the predominant ex-
preston.
Those who have looked closely
and attentively into these remarka-
BILE eyes would have easily believed
that their threatening glance would
suffice to suppress q rebellion, to
terrify and disarm a murderer, or to
frighten away a supplicant. But
there would have been but few To
believe that the sternness of those
eyes could be entirely softened so
as to beam forth nothing but love
and kindness.
Among those few, however, was
the young Prussiap Princess, who
had drunk deep in their intoxicating
fervor. 1t is true that she was the
only person in the world in whose
presence Olympian gravity of his
features gave way to radiant cheer
fulness, which made his manly beau
ty perfectly irresistible.
In such moments bis magnificent
brow, always the seat Of meditation
and thought, exhibited the serene
beauty and Attic grace of young
Athenian; the serious Pericles SEEM
ed, by the invisible wand OF ma
gician. to have been transplanted
into the Youthful Alcibiades.
At this time, however. the match
less personal charms of the Grand
Duke were enhanced by political
prospects of the most exalted charac-
ter. He was not eventually consid-
cred an heir to the imperial crown
of Russia. 1t is true, Alexander the
First, his brother had no children,
but in case of his death, which could
not be expected soon, the Grand
Duke Constantine was to inherit the
throne of Peter the Great, and leave
to Nicholas at best but the position
of Prince of the first blood. New
ertheless, Frederick William, charm
ed alike by the beauty and intellect
of his guest, and by the hope Of
uniting the sovereign houses of Prus-
sia and Russia by the close ties Of
family union, greeted the prospect
of a marriage between the Grand
Duke and his daughter with enthu-
siasm, especially when he discover
ed that the young folks themselves
were fond of each other.
The King then delicately insinu-
ated to his daughter that, if she had
taken a liking to the Grand Duke,
and had reason to believe that the
Prince entertained similar feelings
toward her, that their marriage
would meet with no objection on 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
her love for the Grand Duke, who
had not yet made any declaration to
her.
In this manner the day approach
ed on which the Grand Duke was to
leave Berlin. On the eve of his de-
parture'a grand gala supper was CIV
en- in his honor, at the royal palace,
and, by the way of accident or poll
cy, the young Princess Charlotte
was seated by the side of her distin-
guished admirer.
The Grand Duke was uncpmmon-
ly traciturn during the evening. His
forehead was clouded, and his
gloomy eyes seemed to follow in
space vague phantoms fitting before
his imagination. Repeatedly he ne
elected to reply to questions address
ed to him; and when he was asked
to respond to toast which one of
the royal Princes had proposed to
his honor, he seemed to awake from
a profound dream which had entire
ly withdrawn him from bis sur
roundings.
Suddenly, as if by a mighty effort
of mis- will, he turned to his fair
nsighbor and whispered, SO as'only
to be understood by her:
$50 shall leave Berlin to-mor-
rowF
He paused abruptly and looked at
the Princess, as if he were waiting
for an answer which expressed sor-
row 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 very politely to him:
I'VE are all very sorry to see
Your Imperial Highness leave US so
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