The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-14


at Petersburg was the scene of our in
reduction. There had been a levee at
the winter palace, and I remember that
inns young guardSman, a model of the
WHITE and gold symmetry from the sill
yer eagle on his helmet to the soles OF
ms jack boots, impressed me, at the
time, as being the handsomest man 1
mad ever known. Sourikoff was by birth
Bulgarian, although a faXen mus
tache and laughing blue eyes gave the
lie TO his eastern nationality while his
well groomed appearance savored more
OF taris than Of Sofia. He was then at
the zenith of his popularity notwfth-
standing that brief career in a motor
1ouSly fast regiment, had played havoc
with princely fortune Proficient in
a dozen languages, an accomplished
musician, a daring horseman and a
crack shot, Sourikoff was as popular in
barracks as in the salons of the capital
For. although he could drink like a cos
sack and fight like a fiend, he could
also with women, assume a diffidence
more suggestive of a schoolgirl than a
beau sabreur" who had won his spurs
IN Central Asia. In domestic circles
Alexis was not always welcome. For a
scar received in a duel with German
Othello carried it's own warning,
although it only enhanced the wearer's
popularity among the famous DANES of
Petersburg. 1t is only fair to add that
this Russian Crichton dispensed his ia
vors with charming impartlality ana a
reticence unusual IN one so young. The
discretion was rewarded-so much SO that
an ambassadress more famous for wit
than morality, one dav christened him
the king of Hearts," a nickname which
is still unpleasantly recalled by many of
his victims.
st. Petersburg was very gay that
winter, and I saw a good deal OF the
prince, so much so that by the end Of
the season We were fast friends. I re-
mOnstrated with him more than once
upon his extravaganza for queer rumors
were rife as to my friends financial diff
culties. Indeed, he frankly owned that
the crash was not far off
when it comes l shall go!' was his
1nVartable answer, with a careless laugh,
for this open-handed, reckless rake
could never be serious for long Money
was made to spend. my dear IuttreH,'
ne said one day when I tried to disSuade
him from sending a diamond tiara that
an empress might have worn on a
hfth-rate little dancer from France.
And everything was done en- the same
scale; horses from England. carriages
from Paris, the best of everything from
q French chef down to cigars at live
shillings apiece. The man lived at a
rate that would have ruined q Roths-
child. To this day I do not believe that
there was any actual harm i'll him. for
had the money lasted SOuril1off would
probably have remained a respectable
member of society. AS 1t was, a man of
fewer brains would have gone to the
dogs quietly and comfortably as many Of
the 'chevaliers grandes' have already
done, trusting to abSinthe and charity
TO smooth the downward path. In the
first place he had supreme faith in him
self; in the second, he was blessed Cor
curSed) with mental powers that O
prime minister might have envied, and.
in the third was endowed with charm
of manner irresistible to ALL Even the
male friends praised him, and that IS
saying a great deal
1t was late in March that a scandal
took place which entaied my friends
exchange into a line regiment stationed
in the Caucasus. I was present during
the unfortunate affair which. for some
time, was the talk of Petersburg. There
were over a dozen of US seated at ''bac-
carat" among others Florian, a young
"attache" to the French embassy. Souri,
koff, who had won large sum Of money,
$ toward midnight proposed an adjourn
ment for supper. F1Orian, who had been
standing. silently watching his host, now
approached him, and q shell bursting
in the room would have scared us L SIS
than what followed 81 don't sup with
swindlers!" he said, striking Sourikoff
lightly in the face with his glove. You
shall pay for this was all that Souri,
kof said. 'I will meet you but it's
more than you Deserve" rejoined Florian
as he bowed to US and left the room.
Next morning the Frenchman lay dead
in the riding school with bullet through
his brair, and was universally execrated
throughout the capital. Sourikoff a
cheat? The idea was preposterous!
Several months elapsed. 1t was dur
Ing the height of the London season
that I again met my friend on a sunny
June day, just before Ascot. He was
sauntering down Piccadilly, as cool and
well-dressed as ever, a model to the
smartest ever In that Mecca of the dandy
London. Alexis had left the army, he
told me, having inherited a fortune from
an unexpected source. Come and lunch
and I'll tell you all about It," and link
ing arms we strolled to the Carlton hotel.
where my companion had Installed him
self in palatial apartments. The prince
had only been in London three days but
his rooms were Uttered with invitation
cards. A wealth of flowers surrounded
us, and the chimney piece was strewn
with notes from women, from the square,
white envelopes of Mayfair to the flimsy
pink stationery of frail Suburbia. RELAYS
of tradesmen interrupted the meal and
! still possess q jeweled matchbox Sc
lected from a tray of glittering gems for
my acceptance We sat long over lunch
con, for my most was full of plans for
the future. He was going to buy a house
in town, hunting box at Melton.
yacht-and the Lord knows what beside,
and / must help him. YES my dear
1uttrell," said my host, finishing his
Chartereuse and lighting a cigarette.
fortune has at last smiled upon ne
and l mean to enjoy myself. BY the way
where are you going for Ascot?" Oddly
enough Lord Varnley, a mutual friend,
was to entertain us BOTH and 1 left the
eX-chevalier garde to array himself for a
garden party at Marlborough house,
having arranged to travel down with
him to the Ferns on the following
Monday.
l found Alexis awaiting me at Water
loo and with him a pretty fair-haired
woman whose name had already been
bracketed somewhat freely with that
tickle but fascinating Russian Mrs.
CrOXley was the wife of South African
Jew Of colossal wealth, who preferred
the bars Of Johannesburg to the drawing
rooms Of Belgravia. Lena Croxley, how
ever, was well-bOrn and had married the
millions, not the man. She, therefore
gladly assented to an arrangement that
left her practically widow with a limit
less check book and the finest diamonds
in London. That my friend was over
head and ears in love was evident for
the lady ordered him about with an air
of proprletorShip amazing to one who
had hitherto only known him as a CAV
end careless Lothario. The heat was
sitting, but everything that fnpenrit1,