The Opelousas courier., 1901-04-27
An Emperor's Daughter.
BIZ LIEUTENANT MU BRAY.

the suns rays, and yet It absorbs tn
whole heart where it exists, and mag
mites everything.
Equality Is not its rule more thai
reason, and certain it is that there ar
no more unreasonable beings in exist
ence than lovers. Though the mos
real and absorbing of facts, still low
Is born in an atmosphere of romance
and as the German poet says, Para
disc is always where love dwells."
In palace or in cottage it is all thu
same nor does it vary in its uniform
nature, often hoping and believing
where reason would despair. This sen.
timent bore all of these characteristics
in the heart Of Marie Nicoloewna, the
beautiful daughter of the Emperor Of
all the Russias.
She was adored by her proud father
and was the star of his splendid court
But nineteen years of age, she was al.
ready pronounced the handsomest and
altogether most lovely princess in Eu.
rope. Born at the foot of one of the
most powerful thrones in the world,
and possessing such extraordinary at
fractions, it was not a matter of sur.
prise that a hundred mobiles sought to
win even a glance Of approval from
those beautiful eyes.
1t was a source of proud satisfaction
to the Emperor to see her sought by so
many heirs of other sovereigns, for
though she was the very light of his
eyes, and he could hardly entertain
the thought of yer parting from her,
still he knew that it was inevitable,
and that he must accept 1t as such,
only seeking so to direct the fate of
bis beloved child as to insure her hap
piness and sustain his own dignity at
the same time. So, calling the Prin-
cess Marie to his side N day, he kiss
ed her brow fondly, and said:
my child, you r approaching the
age at which the members of our house
are wont to join themselves in the
bonds of wedlock."
Marie blushed, but said nothing.
Il have selected the prince who is
to make you happy" continued the ia
ther."
ITO make me happy?" she echoed,
but with a sigh SO magnificent as to
half reveal a secret.
What am l to infer from this?" he
asked, with the first frown his brow
had ever worn to her.
Speak, my father" she replied, see
Ing his emotion, speak, and you shall
be obeyed."
"Obeyed!" said the Emperor, sis it
only from duty, Marie, that you re-
ceive a husband from my hands?"
He was answered in silence by a
teari
Marie, is your faith pledged to an
other?"
Still only tears replied.
Answer me, Marie"
"Oh, my father, yes."
Il feared So"
my heart is nc longer my own"
"Who Is he?"
"Ah, my father, 1t is given to one
who knows it not, and who shall nevar
Know 1t, IL you command me to marry
she replied.
Where have Won met him ?"
'Only a few times. and then AZ . die
,ance. we have eve snokan ~ oooh
els it possible?"
The Emperor was aro,,sod III a,noa
,ot ash ~ rono - 49, u1lo0
stolen his -. 80
Tim. After nacinp the on.rtn,oat =.
lgitation for a moment he t,,-nad -
darie. and said.
SIS he a kinep"
"No. NV father"
"A grand duke?"
~ nv eathou.
"a Russian noblemanon
"No, my father"
"a f~oreipnerqn ri
eyes,
The Emperor sat down and oovo,oa
lis face with his hands. Ha co,,1d no+
Express in words his disa nnoin+man
lad he moi loved his daughtar viii -
affection he would ~.
AVE been thus ANNOYED. His swora
vas law to seventy-fye millions ~
,eople. but what was ali ~ h;a -
ty when the heart asserted its nowsr9
he was the Emperor .f Rrc,ia
lis child was sovereign of his baart
us this man in Russian" he asIod
fter a pause.
Eyes, my father"
Where can | see him?" he contin-