The Washington critic., 1888-07-21
QUEEN NArAnIE,s ROMANCE.
Her sorrowful Experience with an I'm
fnithfnl and Proflignte Hnsbanh.


from her arms by Bsmarck's minions
last week, is decidedly the most romantic
and pathetic episode that has transpired
in European politics since poor Car
lOtta," the wife of the illstarrcd Maxi
milan, went daft.
The one lost her husband and reason,
the other has lost husband and child, and
with o smirched character Is q homeless
Yanderer.
Her Childhood Home.
Away off in Southwestern Russia, in
one Of the charming corners of Bessarabia,
there stands the castle of Colonel Kechko
He was one of the wealthiest of the Rus
sian nobility, and his extensive domains
in WallaChia and Brcssarabia Welded him
n prinCely income. His wife was the
Princess Pulcherie Stourdza, and related to
the diplamat and statesman, Prince Gorts.
chakoH. But the greatest treasure of
Colonel KcchkO's castle was his charming
daughter, Natalie. Her beauty was far.
famed, her eyes luscious and dark, her
hair raven black, which responded to the
faintest emotion, while her complexion
was remarkably clear and her skin of a
satiny softnr that contrast;d i'm its
whiteness with her eyes and raven hair.
She was an accomplished linguist, and
had received her education at Paris under
the most accomplished professors.
Ahe hrihCe 8ppeHrs'
To this elegant castle there came in 1875
Prince Milan Obrenoyich of Servia. He
was en- route to st. Petersburg to see il
the Gar would lend more than moral
assistance to the cause of his country.
The Bosnians, Mohtenegrins and Mace.
domains were engaged in q bloody war
with Turkey. The atrocities of the Turks
in Bulgaria aroused the entire Christian
world. Servia wished to assist her breth-
Ien, and the young Prince was making
the journey to Russia for the required
aid. Colonel Kcchko had years before
been the tried and true friend of his uncle,
Milosh Obrenovich, who from q simple
swine. herder had elevated himself to be
the King of Servia. When driven out of
Servia IN 1872 the uncle Of the Prince had
found safe refuge in the castle of
Colonel Kechko. When the young
Prince reached the castle grand enter
tainment was given in his honor. The
castle was gorgrously illuminated. The
ballroom was transformed into flower
garden, with all the treasures of Flora's
kingdom in Southern Russia. The old
est wines were brought out from the
wine cellars, and troupes of gypsy girls
danced their prettiest Tor the royal guest.
The choicest flower of all was the
Princess Natalie, and the young Prince
fell in
Love mt First Sight.
IL was not, however, case of mutual
admiration. Though the Prince danced
with none but the Princess; though he
prolonged his visit of q day into week
though he proposed marriage and offered
her throne, yet she turned at first deaf
ear upon him, and received his addresses
and protestations Of love with icy cold.
ness. She loved another, young Rus
n nsN a.
lady, and the Prince was as persistent as
Shakspeare's youth who sighed like a
furnace, and wrote sonneis to his mis-
tress' eyebrows. He won the father,
who commanded Natalie to listen to the
suit Of the young Servian Prince. If love
failed, ambition conquered, and to be the
Queen of young nation struggling
for existence Nat llie surrendered to
the command of her father and the en-
treaties of the Prince. They became en-
| gagged and the news of their betrothal was
received with salvos Of joy by the
| Servjans, for ii meant alliance for the
Prince with wealthy and powerful Rus.
| sian family, as well as aid. The Russians
received the news with favor and the
| Prince YVES enthusiastically received at
| all the Russian cities. That summer the
with great pomp. In the spring Serp ia
declared war against Turkey Russian
wealth poured into Belgrade, the capital
| of Servla. Russian soldiers enlisted to
fight for Sci wan independence, and
Chernayeti, the Russian general, COM
mandcd the Servian forces. Turkey was
beaten. Servia became free and inde-
pendent country. Natalie was adored by
the Servians. She was devoted to their
| cnuse and made herself a Florence
| Nightingale upon the battlc-felds and in
the hospitals ministering to the wants
and binding the wounds of her adopted
country men.
A Change Came.
The Prince of Milan, now the King,
soon lured by the charms of his court
beauties, neglected his wife. While
Natalie was living at Belgrade the King
was indulging in orgies and debaucheries
at Nish that rivaled the mysteries oi
| Venus at Rome or the peccadilloes OF
Lady Hamilton at the Court of Naples
While Russia had not favored his aspira-
assisted him on condition that he become
an ally of that nation. 1t was in 1882
that he proclaimed himself King
Trouble came to Natalie in another
way, She had son. Alexander
King Milan wanted him edu-
Gated by Austrian tutors. Queen
Natalie by Russian. Milan did all he
| Coulu 70 oeIheaH tue SueeH. One uuy
the Metropolitan Michael of Belgrade
called on the Queen. He said he came in
response to note she had sent him.
She declared the note forgery and part
of conspiracy against her. The next
day he was arrested for alleged intimacy
with the Queen. The King applied tc
the Syncd for divorce. Russia inter
fer6d, she proved her innocence and the
Metropolitan was banished.
They Separate.
Next came living apart Milan con
tinued his debaucheries and wild life, anC
spent his time rioting with gypsy ballet
dancers and mistresses. In 1884 revolu
ton broke out in Servia. 1t was sup
pressed, and ninety-six of the rebels were
condemned to death. Natalie, with {
woman's heart went to the King anC
begged mercy for the prisoners.
"Will you live here and be the cham
berwoman Of Nonon?' was his insulting
answer.
Nonon was an ex.ballet dancer and the
Kings mistress. She Indignantly re
jected his beastly proposal. Fifty-six o
the prisoners were shot. The war witt
Bulgaria broke out, and Milan tool
command of the Seryian forces He Wen
to the field of battle like Alexander thu
Great maddened with wine and sur
| lOullhtu ny tOllOIlo VI hllotloboSSi DIJ uu
like Alexander, he was whipped, driver
out of Bulgaria by Alexander of Batten
burg, and ignomlniously defeated,
Porsecutes His Wife.
Now began system of relentless perse
cution of the Queen. Her every actor
was scrutini2ed and falsifed. She wa
accused of intimate relations with TIN
handsome Count Rudolph Won Kneyen
huller, the Austrian Minister Plenipoten
tiury to the Seryian Court Then tn
Queen was charged with illicit relation
with NJ. RistitCh, the Prime Minister
and last NJ. GaraChanne fell into tn
same category rs q lover, not ON the orde
Of Joseph at the Court of Pharaoh.
These charges reached the ears of tn
Queen, who last year, i'm the spring o