The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-17
MARIE'S CHOICE.

Years since, there was in the cit,
of St. Petersburg young girl so beau
tiful and lovely that the greatest prime
Of Europe, had he met her even in
peasants hut, might well have turnet
his back upon Processes to offer hi
hand and throne. But, far from hav
ing seen the light in peasants hut
she was born in the shadow of the
proudest throne on the earth. It was
Marie Nicolaewna, the adorned daugh,
ter Of the Emperor of Russia. AS hel
father saw her blooming like the May
flower and sought for her all the heirs
OF royalty, he cast his eyes upon the
fairest, the richest, and the most pow.
erful OF them, and, with the smile of a
father and king, said to her:
MY child, you are now of an age to
marry, and have chosen for you the
prince who will make you queen, and
the man who will render you happy"
The man who will render me hap
py!" stammered the blushing princess,
with a sigh-which was the only OBJ
| lection to which her heart gave ut
terance. Speak, father!" she said, as
she saw frown gathering on the brow
OF the car; speak, and your majes-
ty shall be obeyed!'
"Obeyed!" exclaimed the emperor,
trembling for the first time in his life;
lis 1t then only as an act of obedience
that you will receive husband from
my hands?"
The young girl was silent, and con-
cealed a tear.
is your faith already plighted"
Yes, father-if l must tell you-my
heart is no longer my own; it is be-
slowed upon young man who knows
1t not, and who shall never know 1t,
II such be your wish! He has seen me
but two or three times at distance,
and we will never speak to each other,
If your majesty forbids it,
The emperor was silent in his turn.
He grew pale. Three times he made
the circuit Of the salon. He burst not
ask the name Of the young man.
"A Stranger"
Eyes, father"
The Emperor fell back into an arm
chair and hid his face in his hands.
like Agamemnon at the sacrifice of
Iphigena.
Where shall I see him." said the
car, rising, with threatening as
pect
Tomorrow, at the review"
How shall l recognize him?" de-
manded the czar, with a stamp of his
foot.
by his green plume and black
steed."
"'Tis well! Go, my daughter, and
pray God have pity upon the mani"
The princess withdrew in a fainting
condition, and the Emperor was soon |
lost in thought.
"A childish caprice!" he said, at
length; "am foolish to be disturbed at
it! She will forget it," and his lips
dared not utter what his heart added. |
1T must be, for all my power would |
be weaker than her tears!"
On the following day, at the review,
the car, whose eagle eye embraced ali
at glance, sought and saw in his bat
talions naught else than green plume
and black charger.
He recognized in him who wore the
one and rode the other simple colonel
OF the Bavaran Light Horse-Maxi.
million Joseph Eugene Auguste Beau
harnais, the Duke of Leuchtenberg,
youngest child of the son of Josephine,
who was brief time Empress of
France, and of Auguste Amelia, daugh-
ter of Macmillan Joseph, Of Bavaria,
an admirable cavalier, in truth; but as
far inferior then to Marie Nicolaewa
as common soldier to an emperor.
rs 1t possible?" said the car to him.
self, as he sent for the colonel, with
The design of sending him to Munich.
But at the moment when he was about
10 crush him with word he stopped
1t the sight Of his daughter fainting in
ler caleche. There is no longer a
loubt," thought the car; Its indeed
le!"
And turning his back upon the stu
)ehed stranger, he returned with Ma
lie to the imperial palace.
For six weeks all that prudence, tenn
'ered with love and severity, could in
pire, was essayed to destroy the image
II the colonel in the heart of the prin-
ess. At the end Of the first week she
vas resigned, at the end of the second,
he Wept; at the end of the third, she
'ept in public; at the end of the fourth
he wished to sacrifice herself to her
ather; at the end Of the fifth, she was
wing. Meanwhile, the colonel, seeing
imself in disgrace at the court of his
ost, without daring to confess to him
elf the cause, did not wait for his dis
lissal to return to his regiment. He
'as on the point of setting out for
lunch, when an aide-de-camp of the
Tar came for him.
Il should have set out yesterday"
e said to himself; ~ might have /
voided what awaits me. At the first ]
ash save yourself from the thunder
olt!"
He was ushered into the cabinet !
here kings only are allowed to en- !.
r. The emperor was pale and his s
,e was moist; but his air was firm
Id resoute. c
Colonel duke" said he, envelopng r
I'd penetrating him with a glance. !
'ou are one Of the handsomest off, 4
RS in Europe. 1t Is said also-and 3:
'lieve it is true--that you possess an 81
evated mind, thorough education, a S
1ey taste for the arts, noble heart, e
ID loyal character. What think you u
the grand duchess, my daughter, e. e.
arie NicolaeWna?" y
1.-The Princess Marie SIRE" ex-
aimed he reading at last his own
art without daring to read that of
e car. your anger would crush me e. e.
I told you what think of her, and ~ ~
should die of JOY il you permitted az
You love her-'tis well!" resumed m
e czar, with benignant smile; and at
e royal hand from which the duke -.
S awaiting the thunderbolt, deliy- oo
I'd to the colonel the brevet of gem a.
il aide-de-camp Of the emperor, the ~
svets of commandant of the cavalry, 81.
the Guards, of the Regiment of Hus- ia
s, of chief of the Corps OF Cadets, en-
Of Mining Engineers; of president ~
tho Academy Of Arts and member of
Academy Sciences of the Uniyer-
es of st. Petersburg, of Moscow, OF I
aGan, Of the council of the military Br
ools, etc. All this with the title OF Soi
oerial highness, and several millions ~, 10
revenues. s
You see that also love my dapgh. or
" said the father, pressing his son. box
aw In his arms.