The Somerset reporter., 1900-01-11
"A KISS, A WORD"
Not Keep a Secret and How
She Paid the Penalty.
BY MAURUS JOkAl.

lfr
When the Princess Alexandra Ser
batoff was presented at the luxurious
court of Catherine IL, two men had the
most influence in the empire. One was
Gregory AieXandroyitch Potemkiu the
mighty minister, the other Prince Mon
omotf, the handsome favorite of the
cZarina.
The gossipng world said that the
pretty eyes of the fayorite had just as
Russians as the great brain of the ia
nous statesman.
The quick eye of Prince Monomoff
noticed ut once the extraordinary beau
ty of the new court lady, and of course
it was only natural that so wide awake
statesman as Potemkin. whose less
pretty but nevertheless watchful eyes
were always open, couldn't help seeing
and admiring.
Both men fell In love with the young
princess, and in the ensuing ardent but
secret struggle for her love the czari-
mas favorite. Monomon, was finally
the more successful. He became the
devoted admrer of the princess, and
the wise Potemkin, knowing that he
was mot in it, any more. withdrew,
burying his malice in his diplomatic
heart.
Thanks to his intrigue, the new love
of Prince Monomoff now became
known to the czarina, who, to avoid a
scandal, ordered her fayorite to marry
at once the girl.
The punishment" was taken by the
prince with resignation, which was
only natural. knowing that the young
princess was not only beWitchingly
beautiful, but also enormously rich.
The wedding took place with great
pomp and ceremony. The young pair
was overwhelmed with the costliest
presents, among which the most valua-
bic was that of the czarina. 1t was a
large solitaire diamond. Its won
drous fire had beautiful color.
Nothing marred the happiness of
the young couple, and their honey
moon passed in JOY and pleasure.
Once in a happy hour the young wife
approached her loving husband with
this inquisitive question:
Tell me- dear, what is the value of
that large diamond which you have on
your fingerY
Monomoff looked upon the czarina's
present and did not answer for awhile.
Tell me honestly, sweetheart" con-
tinued the princess. how much was
given for that stone?"
"a kiss" thoughtlessly replied Mono
moff. They both laughed at the joke
won't you sell it to me? will pay
you double that much for it." And the
charming young woman demonstrated
right away her generosity by allowing
her husband to help himself" and
the price. two kisses. was willingly
pad-in fact. overpaid-but of course
that is none of our business.
alexandra, If you value our lives
you must not tell of this bargain to
any one. You know the czarina"
II do promise to you. dear, that no
soul shall learn from me the price Of
the diamond"
Il have also promised to Catharina
and told Won just the same"
yes, but | won't"
And she didn't-until the next court
reception. OF course she didn't mean
to tell It to a soul. and 1t was only
by mere chance that the secret es-
capped her lips. During the evening
her most intimate friend. the Prin-
cess Orion. had admired the sparkling
gem and 1--WE must remember that all
this happened In Russia) inquired
about Its value.
Princess Monomoff smilingly whis-
pered into her rosy ears: at WAS given
to my husband for kiss. | gave him
double the amount for it. But | said
this only for you and to no one else
Don't let It go farther, or 1t may bring
us into danger"
OF course Princess Orloff did not
want to tell the secret to any one and,
In fact did not tell II 10 soul except
to the wife Of General Romanoff. but
she was such an intimate friend
hers that she could be trusted without
fear. And she knew also perfectly
how to guard an iutrnstrd secret No
body learned il from her but her bosom
friend the Princess Kerchlkoff. The
Princess Kerchikoff told il to no one
except to the Princess Daskoff. SO the
well kept secret reached Princess Po-
temkin shortly after midnight. wills
pered coufidentlaily by an unrecorded
'adv's rosy lips under the promise of