The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-03-20

csssy t1HfD1tc0 tuG SeTeu0 pGauby
and Attic grace of 8 young Athenian;
the serious Periciee seemed. by the in
visible wand Of q magician, to have
been transplanted into the youthful
Aicibiades.
At this time, however, the matchless
personal charms of the Grand Duke
were enhanced by political prospects of
the most exalted character. He was
not eventually considered an heir to the
imperial crown of Russia, It 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 in
herit the throne of Peter the Great,
and leave to Nicholas at best but the
position of q Prince of the first
blood. Nevertheless, Frederick Will
lam, charmed 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 fam
lily union, greeted the prospect of a mar
rlage between the Grand Duke and his
daughter with enthusiasm, especially
when he discovered that the young
folks themselves were fond of each 9TH
er.
The king then delicately insinuated
to his daughter that, if she had taken a
liking to the Grand Duke, and had rea-
son to believe that the Prince, enter
tanned similar feelings toward her, their
marriage would meet with no objection
IN his part.
but the young Priacess, although Sc
cretly delighted in a hope which fully
responded to the secret wishes of her
heart, was either too proud or too BASH
full to confess to her father her love for
the Grand Duke, who hadn yet made
any declaration to her.
In this manner the day approached on
which the Grand Duke was to leave
Berlin. On the eve of his departure a
grand gala supper was given in his
honor, at the royal palace, and, by the
way of accident. or policy, the young
Princess Charlotte was seated by the
side OF her distinguished adiTnireT.
The Grand Duke was uncommonly
~taciturn during the evening. His fore
head was clouded, and his gloomy eyes
seemed to follow in space vague phan.
toms fittings before his imagination.
Repeatedly ne neglected to reply to
questions addressed to him; and when
he was asked to respond to a toast which
one of the royal Princes had proposed to
his honor, he seemed to awake from a
profound dream which had entirely
withdrawn him from his surroundings.
Suddenly, as if by a mighty effort of
his will, he turned to his fair neighbor
and whispered, so us only to be under
stood by her:
$50 / shall leave Berlin tomorrow
He Paused abruptly and looked at
the Princess, as if he were 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:
n# We are all very sorry to see your I'M
perial Highness leave us SO SOON.
Would it not have been possible for you
to defer your departure?'
"You will all be very sorry?' mutter-
ed the Grand Duke, not entirely salts
fed by the vagueness of sorrow which
these words of the Princess implied.
"But you in particular, madam" he
added after some hesitation "for / will
depend on you alone whether / shall
stay here or depart"
"Ah!" replied Charlotte, with her
sweetest smile; "and what have | to
do to keep Your Imperial Higghness
here?"
"You must permit me to address my
admiration and homage to you"
els that all?"
.And yen must me to
please you"
"That is much more difficulty" said
the Princess, with a deep blush, but at
the same time her eyes beamed forth SO
much affection and delight that the
Prince could see at a glance that his
fondest hopes had been realized before
hand.
sDuring my short stay at 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 qualities which would
secure your own happiness"
The princess was overcome with
emotion, and in her confusion did not
know what to answer. AT last she
sand:
"But here, in the presence of the
whole court, at the public table, you
mt sucb q question to mein
"Ohl" replied the prince, ayou need
not make any verbal reply. It will be
sufficient for you to give me some
pledge of your affection. I see there
on your hand q small ring, whose pos
session would make me very happy
Giye it to me?"
aWhat do you think of? Here, in
The nresenca Of q hundred spectators p