The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-01-03
"A KISS, A WORD"
A Story of q Woman Who Could
Not Keep q Secret and How
She Paid tho Penalty.
BY MAURuS JOKAI.

When the Princess Alexandra Ser.
batoff was presented at the luxurious
court of Catherine III, two men had the
most influence in the empire. One was
Gregory Alexandrovltch Potemkln, the
mighty minister, the other Prince Mon
omoff, the handsome favorte of the
czarna.
The gossping world said that the
pretty eyes of the favorite had just as
much share in governing the land of all
Russians ms the great brain of the ia
nous statesman.
The quick eye of Prince Monomoff
noticed at once the extraordinary beat
ty of the new court lady, and of course
1t was only natural that so wide awake
n statesman as potemkin. whose less
pretty but nevertheless watchful eyes
were always open. couldn't help seeing
and admlring.
Both men fell in love with the young
princess, and In the ensuing ardent but
secret struggle for her love the czari-
mas favorite, Monomoff, was finally
the more successful. He became I8e
devoted admlrer of the princess, and
the wise Potemkin, knowing that he
was mot In 1t" any more, withdrew.
burying his malice IN his diplomatic
heart
Thanks to iis4ntrieuc, the new love
of Prince Monomoff now became
lInowm@to the ezarina, who, to avoid
scandal, ordered her favortc 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 bewitchlngly
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 yalua-
bic was that of the czarina. 1t was d
large solitaire diamond Its won
drous fire had beautiful color.
Nothing married the happiness OF
the young couple, and their honey
moon passed In JOY and pleasure.
Once In IA happy hour the young wife
approached her loving husband with
this inqusitlye question:
"Tell me, dear, what Is the value of
that large diamond which you have on
your iingerY
Monomoff looked upon the ezarlna' IS
prescu; and did not answer for awhile
Tell me honestly, sweetheart" con-
tlnued the princess, "how much was
given for That stoneF
"a kiss" thoughtlessly replied Mono
moff. They both laughed at the Joke.
won't you sell IL 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
paid-in fact, overpaid-but of course
that Is none of our business.
alexandra, II 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"
81 have also promised to Catharlna
and told you Just the same"
eyes, but won't"
And she dldn't-untll the next court
reception. OF course she didn't mean
to tell 1t to II 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 Orloff, had admired the sparkling
gem and 1--WE must remember that all
1T 10. II .taN
about It's value.
Princess Monomoff smilingly whls-
| pered Into her rosy ears: ut was given
to my husband for a kiss. gave him
| double the amount for It, But said
| this only for you and to no one else
| Don't let 1t go farther or II 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 TO n soul except
to the wife OF General Romanoff, but
she was such an intimate friend of
hers that she could be trusted without
fear. And she knew also perfectly
| how 10 guard an lntrusted secret. No
| body learned II from her but her bosom
| friend the Princess Kerchikoff. The
| Princess kerehllioff told II to no one
except TO the Princess Daskoff. So the
well kept secret reached Princess Po-
temltln shortly after midnight, whis-
pcred conildontially by m unrecorded
lady's rosy lips under the promise OF
strict secrecy.
Princess Potemkin hated Princess
Monomoff, and being the wife of a
great diplomat. she was herself great
intriguer. She had Unanswered so
skllfully TINT she approached the en-
press unnoiiced, and when the Princess
Monomoff paraded by she remarked
Innocently:
ron how beautiful is that diamond
the Princess Monomoff wearsl Splen-
did,
The czarna recognized at once her
gift to her former lover, but neverthe-
less nonchalantly said:
Eyes; 1t is fine stone. 1t must be
very valuable"
The princess tells everybody that 1t
was given to her husband for kiss,
but she gave two for It,
After the court ball, In the early
morning, Prince and Princess Mono
moff retired, giving orders to their at
tendants not to disturb them until
o'clock In the afternoon.
1t happened, however. that hardly
Ill. L.