The Portland daily press., 1898-04-27
COPYRIGHTED. 1897,
Chapter XVIII.
HER IMPERIAL HIGHNESS.

ceeded in hiding my sorrow beneath
smile, but when at length had shaken
hands with my companions at the corner
of the Rue de la Paix, and to my reilef
found myself once more alone walking
across the Place Vendome, with the black
column standing out before me IN the
bright moonlight, my outburst OF grlef
became uncomfortable. My heart, lancl-
mated by the careless words of my COM
panions, had been burdened by bitter
ness rendered the more poignant because
I had been compelled to laugh with tnem.
Now that l had proof that Ella was
not what she had represented herself to be,
an affectionate, unassumlDg woman OF my
own station, | felt crushed, bewildered,
and disconsolate, for with the knowledge
of our difference of birth the iron had en-
tered my soul.
The manner in which she had posed as
daughter of the pleasant-faced widow OF
Robert Laing. and her calm, dignlnea
bearing as my wife, bad been q most
perfect piece of acting. Never for one
moment had 1 suspected her to be any
thing else than what she represented her
self to be, plain Ella Laing, the only
daughter of the deceased ship-owner; yet
she was actually daughter of the Ro-
manoffs, the most powerful and veal thy
house in Europe. AS 1 strolled slowly
along the Rue Castiglione towards the
hotel asked myself whether she had ever
really loved me. At first doubted her,
because Of the difference of our stations.
Presently, however, when l recollected
the perfect bliss of our honeymoon; when
I remembered how childishly happy we
had been together through those brief
autumn days in the sleepy old towns and
villages of the Indre, content in each
Others joys, / could not longer declare
within myself that hers had been mere
theatrical emotion. Yes, she had loved
me then, this high-born woman over
whose beauty half Paris raved, and I, in
my ignorance, had fondly imagined our
love would last always. The experiment
of the masquerade had amused her at first
perhaps, but soon, alas, she had grown
tired of life in a ten.roomed house in a
quiet road in Kensington. and with a
brief cruel farewell, had returned to her
iewel-case the ring had placed on her
Slim finger, and left me with ruthless dis
regard for all the love I had bestowed
upon her. Yet, after all, was it really
surprising that she, the daughter Of an
Jmpdrial House, should become weary Of
the hum drum life she had been compelled
to lead with one whose private income,
outside his SALARY, was paltry nine hun
dred yearp
While we lived together she had appar-
emily exercised the greatest caution not
to show herself possessed of money, for
she always did her shopping in Kensing-
ton High street with due regard to econ
limited means. Never once bad she
grumbled or sighed because she could
not purchase higher-priced hats or dresses
but always content, she had, I remem.
bered, been proud to exhibit to me those
odds and ends picked up in diapers
shops, so dear to the feminine heart, and
known as bargains. When I had regretted
7 had 60na
than once, she had fondly kissed me, de-
claring herself perfectly willing to wait
until had obtained diplomatic and
more lucrative appointment. "You have
an excellent friend in the Earl she
would say smiling sweetly. she is certain
to give you post before long. Be
patient"
had been patient, and had lost her.
Plunged in deep despair, I turned into
the courtyard of the hotel and sat down
to think. AS did so a servant handed
ms telegam. 1t was from Lord Warn.
ham at Osborne, requesting my return
on the morrow.
The one thought that possessed me was
that Ella-or the woman I had known
and adored under that name-was in
Paris Could leave without seeing herr
She had deserted me, it was true, yet my
passion was at that moment as intense
even as it had been in those calm autumn
days when we had wandered together
along the peaceful lanes around old-world
Chateauroux. hand-in- hand in sweet con.
tentment. In those never-to- be-forgotter
hours We both possessed the delights Of
dove and fever of happiness. To us every
thing was passion, ecstacy, and delirium'
We both felt as if we were living in 6
rose-colored atmosphere; the heights OF
ssntimentality glistened in our imagina
lions, and common everyday existence
appeared to us to be far down below in
the distance in the shade between the
gaps in these heights. I still felt the soft
ness of that tipy hand had so otter
pressed to my lips; I still felt the clasE
0f. her arms about my neck; I still saw
her deep bfue eyes gazing into mine al
we interchanged COWS of eternal fidelity
The cry of a man selling the ''Soir'
aroused me. I rose suddenly. 'Yes,
must see her again. I must see her, il
for the. last time"
Stepping into cab directed the mar
to drive to her house, then seating myself
Blanced at my watch. 1t was already neal
midnight.
Soon with the clip-clap of the horses
hoofs sounding upon the aspbalte WI
were crossing the Place de la Concorde
rendered bright by its myriad lights
then entering the broad Avenue we passed
the lines Of illuminated cafes half bidder
by the trses surrounding them, and driv
Ing on for some ten minutes, at las
pulled up among a number of privat,
carriages that were setting down guest.
before a great mansion. where 1 alighted.
One of those brilliant fetes that were
the talk of Paris was apparently about tx
commence, TOR many notabilities wer,
arriving, and as / went forward to tn,
spacious portico was preceded by tive
pretty laughing girls attended by tai
and distinguished-lo looking man of mill
tary appearance. l drew back while they
entered the great brilliant lit hall witt
its fine marble stairca Sc and profusion O
exotics; then, when they passed on. in
CURED in French of the gigantic Russian
concierge whether Her Highness was al
home.
Eyes. m'sieur,'' answered the mai
gruffiy, scanning roe closely, noticing
that l was attired in suit Of dark tweed
for SO suddenly had 1 left England tina
l had no time to take with me claw
hammer coat. "Her Highness is at home
m'sieur, but she is engaged" he sait
when he had thoroughly inspected me.
l half drew my card-case from my peck
ct, but fearing lest she might not see m,
if she knew my name, said:
$50 to her and say that friend Graves
one momert. of her time upon an import