Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-02-22
A RUSSIAN PRINCESS.
She Was n Charming Woman and
Played Her Part Well.
Her Presence frightened tho Winter
Atlantic voyage-on Arrival at New
York She Received "a Hearty
Welcome.

Alder kept putting away ut his cigar,
while looked out of the great window
at the falling snow They had been
telling stories, aud thus far he had lis
tened. Finally he said, with smile:
81 don't believe I've ever told you OF
the part played in diamond swindle,
have l2'
WHAT" calculated IIennequin, with
mock horror. as 1t possible what we
have been harboring n criminal? Well,
60 on with your damaging confession"
The waiter had just entered with n
tray. Alder first drank his creme de
menthe. Then he settled himself back
in the comfortable leather chair. and
went ON, with laugh:
ut happened two years ago, coming
over In n French steamer II was in
the winter time, and there were very
few passengers. Our Christmas was
spent at sea, and right jolly Christmas
1t was. Capt Fourget and were old
friends. / had made tho trip with him
half "A dozen times before, and he did
everything to make things agreeable
for me.
"'We have u real live Russian princess
with us this time, mon ami he
laughed. as we sat playing vingt-et-un,
the first night out. Il am afraid that
when you see her you will lose your
heart
"'ls she 80 very beautiful, thenP
asked carelessly.
"'She is superb was his reply. I
do not think u more charming woman
has ever Travelled on my ship
II confess that, after what the cap
tain had said, | was rather curious To
see this Russian princess. But she
did not leave her stateroom for the first
three days out. She was suffering from
an aggravated case of mal-de-mer, |
was told. Finally she made her APP
pearance at the captains table, and her
beauty created veritable sensation.
"She was all the captain had said,
and more. do not believe have ever
seen a more beautiful woman any
where, and, as You know, have been
something OF globe trotter. II
she was not a princess, which even
then doubted, she certainly looked II
In her costly sables. Whatever she
was, she ought To have been queen.
"She was seated on the captains
right, and the next place at the table
was mine. | was able, then, to extend
her few little polite attentions, which
soon put us on the best of terms. Ac
quaintances, as you know, are easily
made on shipboard, TO be dropped, II
you like, the moment the steamer
touches its dock.
"'Ah, monsieur the princess said
speaking French with delicious nc
cent, 4 have heard of you before You
are the American gentleman, nest CO
pas, who, several years ago, nearl.
broke the bank at Monte Carlo?'
"She alluded TO lucky coup Of min,
at rouge-et-noir The newspapers a
the time had got hold OF II, and exag
gerated my winnings into princell
fortune, although in reality they wer
only some thousands.
az have seen you before, monsieur,
said the princess, with her luminou
eyes fixed upon me.
That is strange said. 4 canno
recollect It. And, IL / saw you once.
never should forget you
"'Ah,' said she, with charming
smile, but you did not see me. TIL
Princess Dolgorouli pointed you out /
me on the Newsky Prospekt, In 81
Petersburg, You are known all owe
Europe, II seems, monsieur
"Well, flirted with the princess a
, the way over We promenaded Vi
decks, aud spent our evenings togeth'
In some cozy corner en- tete-a-tete St
gave me soft Rlances and permitte
gentle pressures OF her plump hand.
, There was one passenger, a Frencl
man, TO whom took n violent dislili
He looked like croupier ] had one
seen at Monaco. He followed us qbol
with his snaly black eyes, and he hi
nasty habit of turning up whom !
was least wanted But everything |
did was apparently accidental, aud
wAs eaEk nAEaflAl aaA- N ID a. tlAlAs q