El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-06
"A KISS, A WORD"
A Story of a Woman Who Could
Not Keep a Secret and How
She Paid the Penalty.
By MAURUS JOkAl.

II
When the Princess Alexandra Ser
batoff was presented at the luxurious
court of Catherine II, two men had the
most influence in the empire. One was
Gregory Alexandrovitch Potemkin, the
mighty minister, the other Prince Mon
omoff, the handsome favorite of the
czarina.
The gossiping world said that the
pretty eyes of the favorite 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 Monomoff
noticed at once the extraordinary beau
ty of the new court lady, and of course
1t was only natural that so wide awake
q 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, Monomoff, was finally
the more successful. He became the
devoted admirer of the princess, and
the wise Potemkin, knowing that he
was not in it, any more, withdrew,
burying his malice in his diplomatic
heart.
Thanks to his intrigue, the new love
Of Prince Monomon now became
known to the cZarina. who, to avoid n
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 bewitchingly
beautiful. but also enormously rich.
The wedding took place with great
pomp ana ceremony. The young pair
was overwhelmed with the costliest
presents, among which the most valua-
bic was that of the czarina. 1t was Il
large solitaire diamond. Its Won
drous fire had a 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 inquisitive question:
Tell me, dear, what is the value of
that large diamond which you have on
your finger:
Monomoff looked upon the cZarina's
present and did not answer for awhile.
Tell me honestly, sweetheart" con-
tiHued the princess, chow 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? 1 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, 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 Catharina
and told you just the same"
YES, but l won't"
And she didn't-until the next court
reception. OF course she didn't mean
TO tell it to soul, and it 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
this happened in Russia) inquired
about it's value.
Princess Monomoff smilingly whis-
pered into her rosy ears: sit 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 it go farther, or it 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 it to a 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 to guard an intrusted secret. No
body learned it fromher but her bosom
friend the Princess Kerchikoff. The
Princess Kerchikoff told it to no one
except to the Princess Daskoff. SO the
well kept secret reached Princess Po-
temkin shortly after midnight, whis-
pered confdentially by an unrecorded
iady's rosy lips under the promise of
strict secrecy.
Princess Potemkin hated Princess
Monomoff, and, being the wife of Il
great diplomat. she vas herself n great
tntriguer. She had Unanswered so
skiIlfully that she approached the en-
press unnOticed. and when the Princess
Monomoff paraded by she remarked
funocently:
"Oh, how beautiful is that diamond