Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-07
DAILY. STORY,
A ROYAL ROMANCE.
IOriginal.1

| sian prime minister to Margaret, q
| German princess, who was ordered by
her father and sovereign to accept a
husband who brought with him a prob
| able crown. The princess was a spir-
tied girl and not amenable to an or
der even from such source, without
her own consent. However, she ac-
cepted the czarowitZ, whom she had
| never seen, on condition that she
should be invited to spend a winter in
| St Petersburg The invitation was
| given, and the princess was the most
| admired of all the women that winter
| ut the court of Russia. The cZarowitz
| who was destined soon to rule the en-
| pire, took Il deep interest in the prob
| lens confronting the state and seem
| ed to have no time to devote to his
| fiancee. Margaret apparently accept
| ed the situation as well as the atten-
| tons of such men of the court as
| dared risk offending the heir apparent.
| One of these, Count Demidorf, seemed
| to be the favOrite.
One afternoon in December there
was skating party on the Neva. Nei-
| Their the czarowitz nor the count was
| the one the imperial betrothed and the
other the supposed lOver-gave other
| men opportunity, and the princess was
| much sought. The days are short In
winter in st. Petersburg. and the sport
was kept up after twilight. At dusk
n man in the uniform of Il captain of
artillery came upon the ground-Or
rather the Iceland skated by him
self for no one seemed to know him.
He was generally to he found some
where near the Princess Margaret and
as the gloom deepened kept continual
ly in her wake. While she was skat-
ing with prominent court official n
bit of something white fluttered from
her muff The officer, who was but
few yards behind her stopped and
picked it up. Immediately after this
he left the ice.
That night at IL o'clock n carriage
emerged from the court of the palace.
1t was driven to a railway station,
and Il lady closely yelled stepped out
and entered the station. She had been
there but few minutes. pacing impa
tiently back and forth. when the Off
Ger of artillery who had skated that
afternoon on the Neva entered. APP
preaching the lady, he cOurteously lift
ed his hat and handed her note.
Pardon me. madame. L should have
returned sooner this which you drop
ped while skating today"
You must have read it or you would
not have known where to find me at
this hour
"I-I-knew you to be the betrothed
of my imperiaf'-
Are YOU one of the czarowitzs
spies?"
by no means, but 1 consider it my
duty to-
"To what?"
Il would confront your lover, Count
Demidorf"
And what interest have you in
Count Demidorf?'
II wish to insult him and settle this
affair by the code"
Il do not see how it can concern
you.
1T concerns my imperial master
deeply"
THE czarowitz?"
Yes In his name I demand to
know if it is Count Demidorf you are
to meet here tonight?"
Il do not care to tell you whom l ex-
pect to meet here"
Nevertheless 1 shall learn, for l
shall wait for him"
For what purpose"
1.-The count is a gentleman. 1 shall
challenge him to fight under the code.
He will meet me-"
"And kill the cZarowitZ?
"YOu know mcT
81 knew you from the moment you
entered"
Il shall assume all responsibility.
The count will meet me as my peer"
And why should your imperial high
ness take this trouble, thus risk your
lifeT'
For revenge upon the man who has
supplanted me with the woman love"
The princess bent her head and rs
silent. When she looked up she saw a
figure approaching.
IF your imperial highness will turn
you will sec the person am to meet"
"a woman:"
"A woman. l had concluded to go
with her to my own country"
And now"
Again she bent her head. 81 never
intended to marry without love-" she
said NO sovereign is powerful enough
to compel me to do that
There was Il brief silence, at the end
of which the czarowitz asked in voice
full of suppressed emotion, Then you
will not marry"
only the man 1 love-
And he is?'' He bent toward her
eagerly.
The man who would fight for me-"
The princess turned aside as she
spoke the words in low voice, and
the czarowitz started. In another
moment be beckoned to the woman
standing aloof. who advanced and join
ed them. The princess introduced her
aunt the Duchess of N, to his imperial