River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-02-15
A RUSSIAN PRINCESS.
She Was a Charming Woman and
Played Her Part Wen.
Her Presence frightened the Winter
Atlantic Yoyage-On Arrival at New
York She Received a Hearty
Welcome

Alder kept putting away at his cigar.
while / looked out of the great window
at the falling snow. They had been
telling stories, and thus far he had lis
tened. Finally he said, with a smile:
II don't believe I've ever told you of
the part played in a diamond swindle,
nave ~
'.What?" calculated IIennequin. with
mock horror. is it possible what we
have been harboring criminal? Well.
20 on with your damaging confession"
The waiter had just entered with
tray Alder first drank his creme de
menthe. Then he settled himself back
in the comfortable leather chair and
went on. with a laugh:
1T happened two years ago, coming
over in a French steamer. Ii was in
the winter time, and there were very
few passengers OuT Christmas was
spent at sea, and right jolly Christmas
It was. Capt Fourget and we've old
friends. ! had made the trip with him
half dozen times before. and he did
everything to make things agreeable
for me.
1--we have a real live Russian princess
with rs this time, mon ami he
laughed. as we sat playing vingt-et-un.
thefirst night out 4 am afraid that
when you see her you win lose your
heart
lis she 50 very beautiful, thenP 1
asked carelessly.
She Is superb. was his reply. 1
do not think more charming woman
has ever travelled on my ship
Il confess that. after what the cap
tain had sid, ! 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
pearanee 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. AMI. a. you know. | have been
something of globe trotter. III
she was not princess. which even
then I doubted, She certainly looked il
in her costly sables. Whatever she
was. She ought To have been 4 queen.
''She was seated ON the captains
right. and the next place at the table
was mime I was able, then, to extend
her few little polite attentions. which
soon put us on the best of terms Ac-
quair tances. as you know, are easily
made on shipUoard. 20 be dropped, If
You like. the moment the steamer
touches its dock.
".Ah. monsieur the princess said.
speaking French with a delicious ac-
cent, ! have heard of you before You
are the American gentleman, nest &C
pas. who. several years ago. nearly
broke the bank at Monte Carlo?'
''She alluded to a lucky coup Of mine
at rouge-et-uoir The newspapers at
the time had got hold Of it, and exag-
gerated my winnings into priucely
fortune. although in reality they We're
only some thousands.
- have seen You before, monsieur,
said the princess, with h'r luminous
eyes fixed upon me.
- That Is strange I said. I cannot
recollect It AND. II 4 saw you once.
never should forget YOU
All. said She. with a charming
smile. but you did not see me. The
Princess Dolgorouki pointed V, out TO
me on the Newsky Prospekt, in ST
Petersburg You are known all over
Europe, it seems. IN lnsieur.'
Well. I tiirted with the princess all
the way over. We promenaded the
decks. aud spent our evenings together
in some coy corner en- tete-a-tete. She
gave me soft glauces aud permitted
gentle pressures OF her plump hand.
There was one passenger, a French
man. 10 whom l took violent dislike.
He looked like croupier ! had once
seen at Monaco He followed us abou,
with mis- snaky black eyes. and he had
a nasty habit OF turning up when he
was least wanted But everything he
cid was apparently accidental. aud he
was very careful not TO do anything f I
which | could take him TO account.
strongly suspected. however. he was
playing the part of spy.
The princess seemed To grow very
uneasy when the voyage was nearly
over. Our Christmas was spent off the
Banks. The day was warm and sunny.
and We had quoits on deck. While /
was pitching them, the seam in one Of
the shoulders Of my coat ripped.
'You win let me repair il for you.
will you not2' asked the princess. lay
ing her gloved hand On nv arm
could not think of allowing YOU.
] said The stewardess will attend to
ii, ] daresav. Unfortunately haven't
another coat in my steamer trunk
Let me Tx it sue said. with a
shasie of anxiety in her tone 1 wish
to do so.
Very well said You are too
kind
.'She took the coat to her stateroom.
and was rather a long time thought,
in making the necessary, repair But
: her dainty hands might not have been
Rccustomed TO needlewOrk. She was
traveling alone. for her maid, French
Nj. had been detained bv the sudden
III ness OF her mother. She was to fol-
loN. the princess explained, by the
next steamer.
f-She sent the coat 10 me. and when
we met at dinner she said, with little
nervous laugh: