Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-04-21
A RUSSIAN PRINCESS.

-tNltE ht'pt I'tillihS away ''' i'i'' N'S'''
while | looked out of tn" great window
at the falling snow They had beer
telling stories. and thus far he had
listened. Finally he said. with Il smile:
Il don't believe I've ever told YOU of
the part | played in Il diamond swim.
die. have II
"What?' calculated lIrnncuuin,
with mock horror is it possible that
W., have been harborng Il crimiHa!: ::
We'll. go on with your damaging c"u-
fcSSion."
The waiter had Just entered with a
tray Alder first drank his creme dc
mcnthr Then he settled himself back
in the comfortable leather chair ana
Went on with laugh:
1T happened two years ag" coming
over in Il French steamer. 1t WAS il
the winter time. and there We're very
few Passengers. Our Christmas was
spent at sea. and a right jolly Christ
mas it was. capt. Fourget and | were
old friends. | had made the trip with
him half Il dozen times before. ANA he
did every thing to make things .:grec-
able for me.
I'VE have Il real live Russian prin-
cess with us this time, mon ami. he
laughed. as we sat playing vingtet-Un
the first night out. Il am afraid that
when you see her you will lose your
heart
lis she so very beautiful. them
asked carclrssIy.
"'Shr is superb was his reply, 1
do not think il more charming woman
has ever travelled on my ship
Il confess that. after what the cap
tain had said. | was rather curious to
see this Russian princess, But she did
not leave her State-room for the first
three days out. She was suffering
from an aggravated case of mal-d-
mrr WAS told Finally she made her
appearance at the captains table. and
her beauty created a veritablr S"n>a-
ton.
"Shr was all the captain had said
and more. do not believe | havr
ever seen Il more beautiful woman
anywhere. and. as you know. | hay"
been something of ii globc-trott"r Ii!
she WAS not Il princess. which even
then | doubted. she certainly looked il
in her costly Sablcs Whatever she
was. she ought To have been Il queen.
she was seated on the captain :
right. and the next place at the tabr
w.S mine. l was able. then. to extend
her Il few little polite attentions, which
soon put us on the best of terms. Ar
uulintanccs, as you know, ar" easily
made on shipboard. to be dropped, il
you like. the moment the steamer
touches its dock.
"'Ah. monsieur the princess said
speaking French with delicious lr-
cent. 1 have heard of you before. You
are the American gentleman nest GO
| pas. who several years ago, nearly
broke the bank at Monte Carlo
she alluded To II lucky coup of min"
at rougr-ct-noir The newspapers at
the time had got hold OF il. aud C>;,-s-
gcratrd my winnings into priu""IN
fortune, although in reality they vrtr
only some thousands.
IL have seen you before. monsieur
said the princess. with her luminous
eyes fixed upon me.
THAT Is strange said. I cannot
rrc"llrct it. And. il saw YOU once,
] never should forget you.
"'Ah. said she. with u charming
smile. but you did not see me Th"
Princess Dolgnrouki pointed ynu ont
To me on the Nrwsky Pro>pckt. in ST
Petersburg. You arc known all over
Europe. il seems. monsieur
| Well hirtcd with the princess all,
! lI' WHY over. We lTtilt''ud'l'h lu''
decks. and spent our evenings together
in some cosy corner "n tctc-;I-tct". Sh"
gave me soft glanccs. and permitted
| gentle preSSurcS of her plump hand.
| There was one passenger, u French
man. to whom | took u violent dislike
He looked like Il cruupicr ! had once
seen at Monaco. lie followed lis about
with his Snaky black eyes. and he hId
IL nasty habit of turning up when hr
WAS least wanted. But everything hr
did was apparently accidental. and he
W, very careful not to dn anything
for which | could take him tn account
l strongly suspected. however. he was
playing the part of spy.
The Princess seemed 10 grow very
uneasy when the voyage was ncar'y
over. Our Christmas WIS spent og
the Banks. The day was warm aud
sunny. and we had quoitS on deck
While was pitching them the seam
in one of the shoulders of my coat
Ripped.
You will let me repair il for YOU
will you nOtT asked the Princess. lay
ing her glovcd hand on my arm.
IL could not think of allowing you
] said The stewaricSs will attend Ia
it. dare say. Unfortunately | haven't
another coat in my steamer trunk
Let mt fix it, she said. with u
shalr of anxiety in her tone. I wish
to do So
Very WELL l said. You are too