The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-11-08
A Royal Romance
[Original.1


Russia was offered through the Rus
sian prime minister to Margaret, a
German princess, who was ordered by
her father and sovereign to accept o.
husband who brought with him prob
able crown. The princess was 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
at the court of Russia. The cZarOwitz,
who was destined soon to rule the en-
pire, took deep interest in the prob
ed to have no time to devote to his
fiancee. Margaret apparently accept
ed the situation as we'll 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 a skating party on the Neva. Mel
Their the czarowitz nor the count was
present, and the absence Of these
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
a man in the uniform of a 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 be found some
| where near the Princess Margaret and
as the gloom deepened kept continual
ly in her wake While she was skat-
ing with a prominent court official a
bit of something white fluttered from
her muff. The officer, who was but a
few yards behind her, stopped and
picked it up. Immediately after this
he left the ice.
That night at II o'clock a carriage
emerged from the court Of the palace
It was driven to a railway station,
and a 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 a 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"
'T-I-knew you to be the betrothed
of my imperiap'-
"Are you one of the czarowitz's
spies?''
'By no means, but consider it my
duty to-
"To what?"
81 would confront your lover, Count
Demidorf.'
"And what interest have you in
Count Demidorf?"
affair by the code"
II do not see how it can concern
you"
at concerns my imperial master
deeply"
1.-THE czarowitz?'
eyes. In his name I demand to
know if it is Count Demidorf you are
to meet here tonight"
81 do not care to tell you whom 1 ex
pect to meet here"
Nevertheless I shall learn, for 1
shall wait for him."
''FOr what purpose"
''The count is a gentleman. I shall
He will meet me-"
"And kill the cZarowitZ?
'You know me?'
81 knew you from the moment you
entered
81 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
/ lifeW
''For revenge upon the man who has
supplanted me with the woman l love-"
The princess bent her head and was
silent When she looked up she saw a
figure approaching.
IF your imperial highness will turn
you will see the person 1 am to meet"
"a woman?"
ga woman. 1 had concluded to go
with her to my own country"
"And now"'
Again she bent her head. II never
intended to marry without love-" she
said. mo sovereign is powerful enough
to compel me to do that
There was brief silence, at the end
of which the czarowitz asked in a voice
full of suppressed emotion, 'sThen you
will not marry?"
"Only the man I love-"
"And he is:'' He bent toward her
eagerly.
'Ihe man who would fight for me-"
The princ,':;% tr7rned aside as she