The diamond drill., 1908-10-24
MARaE's cHoIcL

and the man who VIII render you
happy"
'.The man who will render me hap
py." stammered the blushing princess.
with a sigh. which was the only OBJ
lection TO which her heart gave utter
ance. speak. father" she said as she
saw n frown gathering on ths brow OF
the czar. ''speak. and your majesty
shall be obeyed.-
.Obeyed" exclaimed the emperor.
trembling for the first time In his life.
.'Is II. then. only as an act OF obedi-
ence that you will receive a husband
from my handsr
The young girl was silent and con-
cealed a tear.
'ls your faith already plightedr'
"Yes, father--lf must tell you-my
heart is no longer my own. 1t is be-
slowed upon young man who knows
II not and who shall never know IL II
such be your wish. He has seen me
but two or three times at distance.
and we will never speak 20 each other
II your majesty forbids f."
The emperor was silent In his turn.
He grew pale. Three times he made
the circuit OF the salon. He durst not
ask the name OF the young man.
"a stranger?"
''Yes. father"
The emperor fell back into an arm
chair and hid his face In his hands.
like Agamemnon at the sacrifice or
Iphigenia.
where shall see him?" said the
czar. rising, with n threatening as
pect
Tomorrow at the review"
"How shall recognize himT de
manded the czar. with stamp OF his
foot.
by his green plume and black
steed."
"'Tis well Go. my daughter. and
pray God have pity upon the manr'
The princess withdrew in a fainting
condition. and the emperor was soon
lost In thought
"a childish caprice" he said at
length. Il am foolish to be disturbed
at 1t. She viii forget IT," And his lips
dared not utter what his heart added:
'Tt must be, for all my power would
be weaker than her tears"
On the following day at the review
the car, whose eagle eye embraced all
at a glance. sought and saw In his bat
talions naught else than green plume
and n black charger.
He recognized In him who wore the
one and rode the other a simple colonel
OF the Bavarian light horse -Maxlmil-
ian Joseph Eugene Auguste Beauhar-
nais. the duke OF Leuchtenberg, young
est child OF the son of Josephine, who
was for brief time empress OF
France, aud OF Auguste Amelia, daugh.
ter OF Macmillan Joseph OF Bavaria.
an admirable cavalier In truth, but as
far inferior then TO Marie Nicolaewna
as Is common soldier TO an en-
peror.
"Is II possibley said the car 10 him
self as he sent for the colonel with the
design OF sending him 20 Munich. But
at the moment when he was about 20
crush him with a word he stopped nj
the sight of his daughter faintlng In
her calash There Is no longer
doubt" thought the car: "'tIs indeed
he"
And. turning his back upon the stu.
pefled stranger he returned with Ma
rife TO the imperial palace.
For six weeks all that prudence.
tempered with love aud severity, could
inspire was essaycd TO destroy the
- Ia. A. arf ~
the princess. At the end OF the first
week she was resigned; at the end OF
the second she wept: at the end OF the
third she wept In public; Mt the end Of
the fourth she wished TO sacrifice her
self TO her father: at the end OF the
ffth she was dying. Meanwhile the
colonel. seeing himself In disgrace at
the court OF his host without daring
10 confess TO himself the cause. die
not wait for his dismissal 20 return to
his regiment. He was on the point
OF setting out for Munich when al,
aid-de-camp OF the czar came for
him.
II should have set out yesterday"
he said 10 himself. II might have
avoided what awaits me. AZ the first
fash save yourself from the thunder
bolt"
He was ushered into the cabinet
where kings only are allowed TO enter
The emperor was pale. and his eye
was moist. but his mir was firm and
resolute.
Colonel Duke" said he. enveloping
and penetrating him with a glance.
s'you are one Of the handsomest Off
GERS In Europe. II Is said also-and
; believe Il Is true-that you possess an
elevated mind. thorough education
a lively taste for the arts. noble
heart and loyal character Wha;
think you OF the grand duchess, my
daughter. Marie NicolaewDaT
s'The Princess Marie. slrer' exclaim
ed he. reading at last his own heart
without daring to read that Of the czar
.Your anger would crush me II told