The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-05-21

lips were firmly, almost sternly set. Still
she said nothing, aud he went on: 81
knew it was folly when first found that
| loved you over there, in St Petersburg.
| was poor English gentleman, and you
well have fallen in love with star. So
l came away" He said the words sim
ply, with quiet conviction, and held out
his hand. Goodbye, Princess, and for
give my folly"
She rose and faced him. Any one of
the hundreds in the great room beyond
who chanced to look at the couple half
hidden by the curtains of the deep win
dow would only have seen a man and q
woman talking lightly of light things.
"And you have not forgotten me yet {"
she said
81 never shall forget you," he answered
sadly. II cannot love more than once,
and love you with all my soul. Do you
remember one day, when we drove to-
gether in the Neva Perspective, how you
stopped to give some money to an old
beggar? Ienvied the beggar for getting
gift from you, and you in jest dropped
a coin into my outstretched hand" He
took out his watch-chain and showed her
the tiny gold coin with the Russian Eagle
on it. "I have kept it ever since," he
said. 1t is the only thing care for in
the world. have lived and shall live 80
much in the East that l am somewhat
superstitious, and think it is my tails
man. Goodbye" He held out his hand
again. She took it,
Will you come and see me before you
lcave?" she asked, almost appealingly.
He shook his head. "Better not" he
said.
For moment she was silent she
seemed to be rejecting. Then she said
with sudden vehemence: "Promise
me that if | write and ask you to come
you will obey me. Promise me that for
the sake of our old friendship"
He bowed his head. 81 promise" he
said.
"And now give me your arm and take
me to my carriage" said the Princess
Bar Barnabas n 4 want to go home to .
The next day Julian heard nothing
from the Princess. "Of course not" he
said to himself, struggling his shoulders
at the fantastic hopes which had beseiged
his brain since that strange meeting, and
he doggedly faced his approaching exile.
But on the afternoon of the second day
after the meeting at the Embassy, Julian
Sinclair, coming to his hotel after a day
spent in busy preparations for departure,
found a tiny note awaiting him. 1t was
from the Princess, and had only these
words: "Come this evening, shall be
alone" And he went.
This was part of conversation which
Princess Barnabas chanced to overhear
at reception at the Foreign Office, on
the eve of her departure for the East.
The speakers were Sir Harry Kingscourt
and Ferdinand Lepell. Said the painter:
Have you heard the news about the
Princess Barnabas She is going to
marry fellow named Sinclair, and is go
ing to live in the East-Persia, or some
place Of the kind. The fellow hasn't a
penny in the world and won't have from
her, for believe that by her husbands
will she loses almost all her fortune if she
marries below her own rank" "How very
romantic" yawned Kingscourt. Gro
mantle" replied Lepell; /" it is absurd.
Have you not heard ?-the woman has
committed suicide" And the speaker
moved away.
"Suicide," said the Princess to herself,
smiling. 'No, no; was going to com
NIT suicide once, but have learnt what
life is worth, and I have changed my
mind