Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-10-10
"A KISS, A WORD"
a Story Of u Woman Who Could
Not Keep Secret and How
She Paid tho Penalty.
BY MAURUS JOkAl.
Observation-Disclosures

Observation-Disclosures;
When the Princess Alexandra Ser
SatoH was presented at the luxurious
court of Catherine III, two men had the
most influence I'm the empire. One was
Gregory AlcXan1rovitch Potcmkln, the
mighty minister, the other Prince Mon.
omoff, the handsome fnvoritc OF the
cZarlna.
The gossiping world said that the
pretty eyes OF the favoritc had Just as
much share in governing the land of all
Russians as the great brain Of the IA
nous statesman.
The quick eye of Prince Monomofr
noticed at once the extraordinary beau
ty OF the new court lady, and OF course
1t was only natural that SO wide awake
statesman as Potcmliin, whose less
pretty but nevertheless watchful eyes
were always open, couldn't help seeing
and admrlng.
Both men fell in love with the young
princess, and In the ensuing ardent but
secret struggle for her love the czar-
mas fnvortc, Monomoif, was finally
the more successful. He became the
the wise Potcmliin, knowing that he
was mot in IT. any more, withdrew,
Durying his malice In his diplomatic
heart.
Thanks to his intrigue, the new love
or Prince Monomoff now became
known to the czarina, who, to avoid a
scandal, ordered her favorite 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 bcwitchingly
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 n
large solitaire diamond. It's won
drous fire had n beautiful color
Nothing marred the happiness OF
the young couple, and their honey
moon passed in JOY and pleasure.
Once In happy hour the young wife
approached her loving husband with
this inquisitivc question:
"Tcll me, dear, what Is the value Of
that large diamond which YOU have on
your 1ingcrT"
Monomon looked upon the cZarina's
present and did not answer for awhile.
"Tcll me honestly, sweetheart" con
tinucd the princess, chow much was
given for thnt stoncT
"a kiss" thoughtlcssly replied Mono
mon. They both laughed at the Joke.
"Won't you sell 1t to me? / VIII pay
you double that much for It," And the
charming young woman demonstrated
right away her generosity by allowing
her husband to ''hclp himself" and
the price, two kisses, was willingly
pald-in fact, ovcrpaid 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."
81 do promise to you, dear, that no
soul Shall learn from me the price of
the diamond"
Il have also promised to Cathnrina
and told you lust the same"
"Yes but I won't"
And she di1n't--until the next court
reception. OF course she didn't mean
to tell It to n soul, ana IT was only
by mere chance that the secret cs-
capped her lips. During the evening
her most intimate friend, the Prin-
cess Orloif, had admired the sparkling
gem ana 1--WE mC 1t remember that all
this happened In Russa) inquired
nbout It's value.
Princess Monomon smilngly whis.
pcrcd into her rosy ears: cit was given
to my husband for Il kiss. gave him
double the amount for ii. But I said
this only for YOU ana to no one else.
Don't let II 90 farther, or ii may bring
rs into danger"
or course Princess Orion did not
want to tell the secret to any one ana,
In fact, did not tell 1t to soul except
to the Wife or General Romanoir, but
she was such an intimate friend Of
hers that She could be trusted without
fear. And she knew also perfectly
how TO guard an inrIstcd secret No
body learned it from her but her bosom
friend the Princess Kcrchikon. The
Princess KcrchlkoT told 1t to no one
except to the Princess Daskofr So the
wen Kept secret rcnchcd Princess po-
tcmkIn shortly after midnight. Wits
pcrcd conhdcnialy by IN unrccordcd
ladys rosy lips under the promise OF
strict secrecy.
IrlnccSS 'otcmkM hated Princess
Monomoli, and, being the wife Of n
great diplomat, she was herself n great
intrigucr She had mnncuvcrcd so
skillfully that size approached The en-
press unnoticcn, ana wien the Princess
Monomoif paradcd by She remarked
lnnoccntly:
"Oh, how beautiful Is that diamond