The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-11-03
THE CzARINA,s LOVE STORY.
A Long Opposition 10 BE Overcome
Before she Married.

tTom the Young WOman.)
The Car always loved his orphan cous-
in, and as they met somewhat frequently
he did not lack opportunity of discovering
for himself that his love was reciproeatef
But there We're grave objections to the
match and the young lovers had many
enemies. The Cars parents opposed the
union with all the emphasis they could
command. Princess. AIix was Lutheran,
and Nicholas belonged to the Greek
Church. To Alexander III this was almost
d fatal objection to their marriage and
everything was done that could be done TO
convince the young heir to all the Russ-as
that he must accept another bride. Even
Queen Victoria Joined the little army ar
rayed against The lovers. Princess AK
was her favorite granddaughter, and she
aid not wish her to change her religion or
to face the perils of the Russian throne.
There was another serious objection, too
Both the, lovers were delicate, and Alex
ander III was naturally anxious that the
throne OF Russia should be occupied by
his sons SON At last the obstinate
CzarowitCh was sent on a voyage around
the world, it being hoped that in the con-
slant change Of scene he would forget MS
love and come back prepared to do as he
was told. The love which had bound
Nicholas to his orphan cousin was not,
however, a thing that could be put off IN
a new country, and the heir apparent went
back TO Russia more determined than ever
not to marry unless he loved. The voyage
had greatly improved his health, so that
part OF the objection was removed.
But there still remained the religious OBJ
lection and Nicholas pressed his suit. He
was fortunate in securing two powerful al
lies-the then Duchess of Edinburgh and
the Grand Duchess Serge, sister of the
princess. Together these women were able
10 overcome the fathers objections, but
Queen Victoria had yet to be won over. 1t
was no easy task to convert the Queen, but
it was done at length The Duchess of
Edinburgh persuaded the Prince of Wales,
and the Princess Victoria prevailed upon
Her Majesty. Then. as if to compensate
the young people for their disappointments,
the Queen suggested that they should visit
England Prince Louis of Battenburg in
yited the Princess to Walton On-Thames,
and hither the young man who was to rule
hundred millions of human beings came
to win the hand and heart of the woman he
loved.
One would have thought that now the
task was easy, but the Princess was not
easily won. If others had felt that che
should not change her creed, she herself
had felt so even more strongly. Years be-
fore, when the Czarowitch first spoke Of
love to her, she had not listened, because
Of her horror of having to change her creed,
in which she is said to have devoutly be-
ieyed, and her strong religious nature had
only rooted this objection deeper and deep
er as the years went by. What happened
at Walton, how passionately the devoted
Nicholas pleaded, we do not know. But We
know that a year afterward, at the we'd
ding of her brother, the Grand Duke Ern-
est Of Hesse, and Princess Victoria Melita
OF Coburg, the betrOthal was publicly an
nounced. The Czarowitch had turned up at
Coburg at the last2 moment, not having
been expected until shortly before he ar
rived. i am determined at last to have an
answer out of her own mouth" he said to
his parents as he started. A day or two
| before the Princess had talked of her lover
with tears in her eyes. She gave vent tc
her religious scruples before her brother
You do not love, him them" said the Grand
Duke Ernest; and the answer, "Oh, yes,
do, l do showed how painful the struggle
in her mind must have been.
The Queen was the first to be informed
Of the news that the CZarowitch had pro-
| posed and been accepted, and there was
! great joy among their friends that at last
! the long Wootng was over. Then came
the Illness of Alexander III and the Prin-
| cess was summoned to Liyidia ito nurse
the dying Gar. When the monarch passed
away, and her lover was Emperor of Rus
sia Princess Alix wore no signs of mourn
! ing. 1t was happy thought of the widow
! ed Empress that no needless pain should
mar the JOY of the bride who was so soor
/ to share her sons throne, and the house OF
| mourning was frightened day by day by
! the beautiful, sad figure of the future EN-
press, dressed in purest white. 1t was
| thought best that there should be no de-
| lay for forms sake, and the funeral was
| quickly followed by wedding. On No
! vember %, 1894, at the age OF Twenty-Five
| Princess AIiX became Empress of Russia.