Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-03-24

"Who knows7 Princess Olga is rather
eccentric. She is, perhaps, capable oil
taking q fancy to you"
"Thanks-much Obliged"
"Don't be vexcd. Will you go with
met"
"Yes, will CO."
Olga and her maternal grandfather.
the immensely rich Orlando Ghirolandi,
lived at Paris in fine house on Rue de
la Boetie. They moved in the most
select circles and entertained with mag
nificence.
People sometimes wondered why the
princess did not marry. Everyone
agreed that she was virtuous, charitable
and deyout, after the manner of Rus
SLAMS, who still keep q certain dc pth of
mysticism in spite of the friction of nine.
tcenth century cynicism.
But the young lady was odd to the
very limits of cccentricity, even, some
people said, to the limits of rudeness.
She was a good musician aud played
we'll on tho violin. But, after executing
some classical concerto so as to excite
the admiration of connoisseurs, she
would dash off into an absurd refrain
OF popular melody and would seem doc
lighted with tho annoyance of her au-
dience. When she went out walking
with her grandfather, or her prim Eng
lish companion, she never failcd to stop
the little street musicians aud ask them
torrent of outlandish questions in an
outlandish Italian patois she had learned
dear knows where. One of her most
unaccountable eccentricities was that she
persisted in appearing everywhere, even
in ball dress, with an embroidered
handkerchief hearing initials not her
own, and stained with spot OF ink that
was beginning to turn yellow. One or
two of her most intimate friends had
vcntured to ask her why she carried
such strange object, and she had an
swcrcd very gravcly: "Hushi it has
history!"
She treated all circumstances with in.
difference, even those of her grand
father, who spoiled her. Pretty and
rich, the singular little princess might
easily have made good match; but she
declared that there was only oae mau
IN the world she would marry, and that
it WAS extremely unlikely he would ever
ask her hand.
Affairs were thus, when 1 received
Signor Ghirolandi's permission to pre-
sent my friend George Brcval. George
was already very much in love. Olga
received him prettily and granted him
the waltz he begged. But although he
was said to be the most graceful man in
Paris, no behaved like an awkward
schoolboy, and was so afraid of saying
anything foolish that he scarcely opened
his mouth.
"Mademosclle," he remarked at last,
"the moro look at you the more certain
| feel that have seen you somewhere
that we have meet before"
"You are right" she answered scri-
ously; we have meet before, and if we
ever grow well enough acquainted may
tell you where"
"Won't you tell me now"
ono; not yet"
us this the mysterious handkerchief
that is supposed to be your fctich2" he
queried. "lIay l look at it9 1t reminds
Inc OF one lost under peculiar circum.
stances"
She drew it gently away, turning it so
That the initials could not be seen.
"Some other time, she said, "I may
tell you all about it,"
George had tc wait her good pleasure;
but his curiosity was piqued, aud he
thought Of little beside the charming
princess.
One day. some weeks after, he re.
peatcd his questions and pressed for
reply. "Tell m,," he said, ''where
have we met bc!ore?"
Olga seemed strangely embarrassed.
She colored deeply, looked down AMI
twisted corner of her hideous banker
chief. Then, raising her clear. candid
eyes to his she ANSWERED.: at was in
your room, don't you remember2 Take
this, and then you will know" She held
out the handkerchief. "Don't YOU re-
cognize it9" She added: ''Thosc are
your own initials"
sit is mine! my handkerchief Then
that little beggar-was it, could it
be-"
"It was l."
You are joking7'
"Not at all. My history is cxtraordi.
nary, perhaps, but not impossible. My
father, Prince Dragomiroff, loft Russia
under the Cars displeasure. He went
to Naples and married the daughter of
the banker Ghirolandi After 1 was
born, my parents purchased a villa in
Sicily, and when was eight years old
was stolen by br;gands, of whom there
are still number In Sicily. Tley sold
me to man who dealt in street musicians.
who treated me very cruelty. 1 was with
his band for some years, and developed
so much talent for the accordion that
was well beaten if failed to bring back
fifty sous each day.
Zone evening, half dead from hunger,
cold and fatigue, dropped down across
your door and fell asleep. I should
probably have died there like an aban.
doned kitten, if you had not taken me
In. You gave me food and shelter, and
gave up your own warm bed. awoke
early, and naughty child that 1 was. be-
gan TO rummage through all your things.
folnd n handkerchief on vour dest