The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-02-28
A Royal Romance
Iorlginal.l

Russia was offered through the RUS
Sian prime minister to Margaret, a
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 splr-
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 winter in
ST. Petersburg. The invitation was
given, and the princess was the most
admired Of all the women that winter
at the court or Russia. The czs.row.tz,
who was destined soon to rule the EN-
pire, took deep interest in the prob
lens confronting the state and seem
ed to have no time to devote to his
dancee Margaret apparently accept
ed the situation rs well as the atten.
lions 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 Neya. Nei-
ther the czarowitz nor the count was
present. and the absence Of these
the one the imperial betrothed and the
other the supposed iover-gaYe other
men opportunity, and the princess was
much sought The days are short III
winter In ST. Petersburg. and the sport
was kept up after twilight. AT dusk
man in the uniform Of a captain Of
artillery came upon the ground--or
rather the ice--Hnd skated by him
self, for no one seemed TO know him.
He was generally 10 be found some
where near the Princess Margaret and
as the gloom deepened kept continual
" In her wake. While she was skat-
ing with prominent court off1cial a
bit of something white futtered from
her muT. The officer. who was but
few yards behind her stopped and
picked 1t up Immediately after this
he left the ice.
That night al II o'clock a carriage
emerged from the court of the palace
II was driven to railway station,
and lady closely yelled stepped out
and entered the station. She had been
there but few minutes, pacing lmpa-
tlently back and forth, when the OH
Ger OF artillery who had skated that
afternoon on the Neva entered Ap.
preaching the lady, be courteously lift
ed his hat and handed her note.
Pardon me, madame. should have
returned sooner this which you drop
ped while skating today
4'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 betrotled
Of my imperial
Are you one OF the czarowitz's
gpiess"
"By no means, but consider It my
duty to-
"To whatT'
II would confront your lover, Count
Demidorf." s.
"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 czarowitzT'
"Yes. In his name I demand to
know If 1t Is Count Demidorf you are
to meet here tonightf'
81 do not care to tell you whom ex-
pect TO meet here"
Nevertheless | shall learn, for !
shall wait for him"
"For what purpose7'
"The count is a gentleman. shall
challenge him TO fight under the code.
He will meet me"
"And Kill the czarowitzT
"You know me7'
II 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 was
silent. when she looked up she saw a
figure approaching.
"1f your imperial highness win turn
you Will sec the person am to meet"
"a woman7"
"a woman. had concluded to go
with her to my own country"
"And nowr
Again she bent her head Il never
intended to marry without love-" she
said. mo sovereign Is powerful enough
to compel me to do that"
There was a brief silence, at the end
Of which the czarowitz asked in voice
full OF suppressed emotion, "Then you
will not marryT
"Only the iuAn / love"
"And he isY' He bent toward her
eagerly.
The man who would fight for me-
The princess turned aside as she
spoke the words In n low voice, and
the czarowitz started. In another
moment he beckoned to the woman
standing aloof. who advanced and join
ed them. The princess introduced her
aunt. the Duchess OF NJ, to his imperial
/ highness.
your grRce's good Offices are not
needed" said the czarowitz. "The prln-
cess has changed her mind. she will
/ en,,,a4n "