The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-21
Camille I'm Real Life.
Vera Douglas the Counterpart Of the Famous Heroine Of
- Dumas Novel.


ing parents. who knew nothing of the life
that ended so tragicaly.
The story Of Vera Douglas, as told by
her letters to her family and as related to
her friends, varied greatly. Arriving In
Chicago from her home, she met there
number of young men of the swell set,
who admired her beauty and did not OBJ
ject to spending their money to crafty
her tastes. She was employed ostensibly
by one of them as a stenographer and re-
.ceived a salary from him for her work,
but this work consisted practically Of
taking short dictation daily upon his
few business affairs. She fell from her
home ways easily and was charmed by
the pleasures of her new existence. Yet
her wit fitted her for larger career, and
so she went to New York.
She lived about town, dressing lavishly
and satisfying her every whim at the ex-
pense Of her admirers. Finally, she fell
in with George Kessler, to whom she was
devoted for some time. Finally, however.
she became troublesome to him, and he
sought unique way of being rid of her.
He told her that they would sail to-
gether for Europe on the next steamer,
and she, nothing loath. agreed. The two
then boarded the steamer and secured a
stateroom. But as the time Of sailing ar
rived his trunks did not come. Hers
about his own. When the gangplank was
withdrawn she was alone in her cabin,
supposing him to be on deck, but he was
safely housed in his Office on Broadway
and cared nothing what became Of her
at the other end of her journey.
She arrived in Liverpool in due time,
having made the acquaintance Of several
Englishmen on board, to whom she ex-
planned how her husband had been left
behind. They agreed to escort her to
London, where she could await his COM
ing on the next steamer. They provided
for her at one Of the leading hotels, and
1t was not long before one Of them fell
victim to her charms and was paying her
assiduous attention.
He introduced her to the set she wished
to meet, and she was as well off there
as she had ever been In New York. She
soon had friends enough and before long
she had written to Canada announcing
her marriage to Sir William Manners.
The latter was a fictitious person, and
his name simply allowed her a freedom
that she could not have otherwise en-
joyed.
It was not long. however before a
marriage did become a reality for her.
Among those who came to pay court to
her at her shrine was a young smooth
spoken Frenchman, who passed by the
name of Count Malakoff. She was won
by his address. and. in anticipation Of the
liberties and luxury which his name
would give her. she married him, to find
shortly after that he was rascal and
that his title and family were myth.
This did not interfere at all with her
plans. She became the Countess Mala-
koff just the same and went to Paris to
live, where her talents would have a bet
ter opportunity to shine in Respondent
unrestrafned glory. She soon became the
center of distinguished attention and
numbered among her admirers some Of
the best known men in France. Nor were
the noble and the distinguished names
confined to France. OF every country
they came, and her face spread over the
world. But 1t never reached that little
Unitarian village in which her parents
fondly dreamed OF her.
She was thus enshrined upon the pedes-
tai of Partisan favor when the Grand
Duke Alexis, the son Of Car Alexander
H., met her. Duke Alexis at once be-
: came visitor at her salon. Her beauty
and ready wit captivated him. He really
fell in love with her for herself alone
and she with him! Their intimacy grew
until ugly rumors began to leave Paris
and penetrate to the: courts Of Europe.
Ia Eventually they reached the Romanof
court at ST. Petersburg. There was a
grave anxiety expressed there for the
scion Of the royal house. His imperial
brother then on the throne, appealed to
him, but In vain. He needed no word.
His prospects and all else were forgotten.
There was nothing to do but to reach
him in another way.
The Romanoffs strongly suspected that
the attachment of the woman was really
aside from any interest she might have
for his station. For did she not refuse to
give him up. in spite Of the danger Of
his losing that station, and in spite of the
large brides which were offered her and
rejected? So an agent was dispatched to
see her. He talked Of how she was ruin
ing the prospects Of the man she loved.
It was better to sacrifice his love and
hers than to let him forget his duty and
his honor. Would she not end the at
tachment then and save him from him
self that he might not reproach her later?
She was moved and touched She took
the necessary step to drive him from her
Words could not have done 1t, but actions
did what words could not do. What she
did seemed to indicate that she was per-
f1dious. So he left her in rage and cursed
his former folly. Whether he suspects
the truth or not Is unknown, but she GER
tainly sacrificed herself Tor him
This is the story of her Partisan life
and it's love for the royal scion. His love
for her was as great. though he believed
he had been deceived. After he left her
there was nothing In life for her She
simply lived out the span to the end.
while he resumed the position he wished
to- forsake for her. This Is the ending