Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-05-23
A ROYAL LOVE STORY
HOW CAR NICHOLAS n WOOED AND
WON HIS ORPHAN COUSIN.

There Were Grave Objections 10 the
Many Enemies, but Love Finally
Triumphed over All.
The car. Nicholas IL. always loved
his orphan cousin. and as they met
somewhat frequently he did not lack
opportunity OF discovering for himself
that his love was reciprocated. But
there were 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 Alix was a
Lutheran. and Nicholas belonged to
the Greek church. To Alexander III
this was almost a fatal objection to
their marriage, and everything was
done that could be done TO convince
the young heir to all the Russias that
he must accept another bride. Even
Queen Victoria Joined the little army
arrayed against the lovers. Princess
Alix was her faVorite granddaughter,
and she did 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 Alexander III was naturally anx-
ious that the throne Of Russia should
be occupied by his sons SON. At last
the obstinate czarowitz was sent on a
long voyage round the world, ii being
hoped that in the constant change Of
scene he would forget his love and
come back prepared to do as he was
told. The love which had bound Mich
Olas TO his orphan cousin was not, how
ever, 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 low
ed. The voyage had greatly improved
his health so that part OF the objec-
ton was removed.
But there still remained the religious
objection, and Nicholas pressed his
suit. He was fortunate in securing
two powerful allies, the then Duchess
Of Edinburgh and the Grand Duchess
Serge, sister Of the princess Together
these women were able to overcome
the fathers objections, but Queen Vic
toria 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 pre-
vailed upon her majesty. Then, as IL
TO compensate the young people for
their disappOintments, the queen sug
gested that they should visit England.
Prince Louis Of Battenberg invited the
princess TO Walton-on-Thames, and
hither the young man who was to rule
100000 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 she should not change her creed,
she herself had felt so even more
strongly. Years before, when the caro-
WITT first spoke OF love to her, she had
not listened, because OF her horror Of
having to change her CT ed, In which
she is said to have devoutly believed,
and her strong religious nature had
only rooted thi objection deeper and
deeper as the years went by. What
happened at Walton, how passionately
the devoted Nicholas pleaded, we do
not know. But we know that q year
afterward, at the wedding OF her broth
er, the Grand Duke Ernest Of Hesse,
and Princess Victoria Melitia Of Co
burg, the betrothal was publicly an
nounced. The czarowitz had turned
up at Coburg at the last moment, not
having been expected until shortly be-
fore he arrived. Il 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 to her re-
ligious scruples before her brother.
You do not love him, them" snid the
Grand Duke Ernest. And the answer,
ooh, yes; ] dol do" showed how
painful the struggle in her mind must
have been.
The queen was the first to be in
formed of the news that the czarowitz
had proposed and been accepted, and
there was great joy among their
friends that at last the long wooing
was over. Then came the illness Of
Alexander III, and the princess was
summoned TO Livadia to nurse the dy-
ing car. When the monarch passed
away and her lover was emperor of
Russia, Princess Alix wore no signs Of
mourning. 1t was happy thought Of
the widowed empress that no needless
pain should mar the joy Of the bride
who was so soon to share her sons
throne, and the house OF mourning was
frightened day by day by the beauti-
full, sad figure Of the future empress
dressed in purest white. 1t was
thought best that there should be no
delay for forms sake, and the funeral
was quickly followed by a wedding.
On Nov. %. 1894, at the age Of %, Prin-
cess Alix became empress OF Russia
Young Women.