Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-02-21
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THE SALE OF A TITLE


tOriginai.1
There are many strange customs IN
Russia. Among the strangest Is one
wherein man of noble birth for con-
sideration will marry woman ana
give her his name and her freedom at
the same time. leaving her at the mo-
ment they are pronounced man and
wife.
One winters day in st. Petersburg
the beauty and fashion OF the capitai
were skating on the Neva. Among the
throng were two ladies skating togeth-
er. A tall. handsome man of aristocrat-
ic mien was regarding one Of them
with admiring glances as they skated
by him and asked friend who she
was.
'T was told just now," replied the
friend, that one of them was Miss
Mikhailof, the daughter Of one Of the
new civil appointees, but am not sure
which one she is. l think she is the bru-
uette.
Later the man who was interested
noticed the lady he had admired-the
Misunderstanding alone. She tripped
and fell. Darling toward her, he raised
her. She was not hurt, but he was
loath to leave her.
Permit me to introduce myself" he
said. II am Count Akadyevitch."
Count Akadyeyitch, the emperor's
aid-de-camp, needs no introduction"
81 have been sufficiently interested in
you to inquire your name, Miss Mix
hailof."
The lady turned her eyes upon the
count, but said nothing.
Count Akadyevitch received permis-
sion to call on the lady that evening
She left the city next day, but not be-
fore inviting him to visit her at her
home in Kostroma. The invitation was
accepted punctually on the day it was
given for. The count found that his
new acquaintance, with whom he had
fallen desperately in love-a case Of
love at first sight-lived a sort Of
queen among her tenants. 1t was
Miss Mikhailof, will you have this?"
VI >hISS Ahlhlldl1Ols Will you nave
that?' every one being punctilious in
addressing her by name when speak
ing to her.
From the first the count received
especial encoura cement. A week pass
ed, and when he proposed to return
his intention was gently opposed. Two
more weeks he remained, and yet the
lady did not signify a wish that he
should go. Nevertheless the count was
melancholy. A secret seemed to be
gnawing at his heart. The more he
became interested in the lady the more
depressed he became. Finally she ask
ed him the cause.
81 dare not tell you," he said. "You
will despise me-"
"1ndeed!' replied the lady. 'I insist.
Have l been unwise in trusting you on
so short an acquaintance
The count was silent for time dur.
ing which it was evident his sufferings
were great. At last he said:
II was forced some years ago to do
thing 1 am greatly ashamed of and
which now stands in the way of pos
sible happiness. When 1 came into my
title and estate the latter was incum-
bered with debt. Twenty thousand
rubles were necessary to clear it.
was about to lose it when l received
through a medium an offer Of the
amount for my name by a woman
who wished to be noble. / consented
on condition that the marriage should
take place by proxy. The condition
was accepted, and 1 was married. I
am welded, but have never met nv
wife"
The count bowed his head.
"You are no more to blame than the
woman who bought your name"
Leaving blame out of the question,
/ am prevented from yielding to the
| dictates of my heart. cannot even
honorably tell you that I love you."
Notwithstanding the confession of
the sale, the confession of love evi-
IDENTITY was delight to the lady. A
rose color appeared at her throat and
spread rapidly over her face. Present
ly she spoke again:
II, too, have a confession to make,
I am not Miss Mikhailof."
| "You not Miss MikhailofT
| mo. You were mistaken in nv name
when you first met me- and permitted
you to remain mistaken. Miss Mix.
hailof was friend who skated with
me. Before your arrival here I gave
instructions that every one should ad.
dress me when you were present as
Miss Mikhailof."
And your real name ISL"
Il have more to confess. When ]
came into these estates every one told
me that should marry noble. After
waiting long while to meet one that
1 could love, having failed, 1 resolved
to buy title in the same manner as
you sold yours"
"You-you bought a title by mar
riagew
Il did. heard of man who need
ed money. gave it for his name
Strange to say, was married. as yor
were, by proxy"
The barriers that keep us apart are
DOUBLE moaned the count.
What is marriage? A ceremony