Putnam patriot., 1909-04-02
DRIMFUL OF
ROMANCE.

Ny dear. ] have 10 announce ny en-
gaze nlent. am happy TO say thai n
i not one OF those practical affairs 50
eolnmon among people Of our degree.
bur a real genuine romance
You may remember one winter four
years ago at St Petersburg. h8N the
Americas minister took pains 10 intro
nuee Is exeryw here and how we weFs
received cen 1T the Winter palace.
zhfs much sou know. but. though You
are ms bosom friend. ii is al you
know AID there is great deal more
"a come. Al the Winter palace OF
course. saw many Of the young bioods
Of the empire and danced With them
TOO They were all very polite. and /
feund myself. an American without a
tifie receiving As much attention as
any of lie. runnfesses or baroHesses.
We became very intimate al the
American minister's. and one evening
while / Wa at tie embassy young
man passed me IN the hall who had
called upon the minister and whom |
recognized as one of the men who
had favored me In the cotiilon at the
Winter palace. He did not appear TO
recognize me-indeed. he seemed very
distrait and was hnrrying into the min
tster's private office. The same even
ing the minister told us that young
nobIeman had called on him With a
very singular request. He was impi-
Gated in a political affair that would
send him to Siberia II II was discov-
ered and was sure to be known within
few DAYS. He asked the minister to
give him a passport to America. This
was impossible. the minister said.
though didn't understand why. Lat
er | was told that the young man bad
been sent 10 Siberia for life. Think
how mean II was Of the minister not
10 have given him the passport 1t
vonld have saved him from a fate
verse than death.
The scene changes ] am IN Amer
lea. | haze forgotten much Of my
winters experiences in Russia. for
thrae years have passed since then
Gnt have not forgotten the young
man who was sent 10 Siberia because
orr minister wouldn't give him pass
am in eur touring ear. taking a
morning sixty mile spin. and am think
In- Of The poor prisoner at the time
Turning n sharp bend in the road. the
chauffeur reduced the speed. going
very Slowly when suddenly | saw a
man standing in front of the car point
ing n revolver nj Us He ordered the
chauffeur 10 stop. which he was Obliged
to DO or be killed and. coming 10 the
side of the car. he said to me:
You are rich. want $1,000. Give
Il to me or seu are n dead WOMAN
What did do? | tainted When
revived the robber was sitting beside
the chauffeur. holding his revolver
where he could use il at moments
notice. As soon as he saw that had
opened my eyes he said to me:
Your man told me that yen hadn't
much with you He has promised to
take US all to yeur home. which be
says is few miles up the road. and
you are to get me the money. IL he
doesn't I'll Kill both of you"
Its the only way to save our Ives
said the chauffeur.
The chauffeur was a NAN Of great
| strength. but what could be do with
| an armed man? | noticed that he was
| increasing the speed. and we were
| soon going at the machines full capac-
| ity. Presently tie road veered slight.
iy. but enough TO sway the rohber. All
| of sudden the chauffeur partly turn
ed. caught the robbers hand with
which be was holding himself in bis
| seat diseugaged It. then threw bis
whole weight against the rohber who
went head downward on TO the road.
| | thought the machine was going over.
| but the chauffeur held the steering
| gear with his right hand and kept
| control.
| looked back and sa W n borrid mass
| In the road II was immoyable, and
| | knew the creature was either dead
or badly hurt. for We must have been
going at friShtfuI rate
| had been saved first BY the pres
ence of mind and afterward by the 10.
| genuity and daring of the chauffeur.
Leaving the robber to his fate. We
| pressed on. turned at the first read
| leading backward and in an hour drew
| up under the porte-cocbere at home.
| had so far recovered from the shock
| that was able TO walk into the house
| without assistance
When father came and learned all
about our escape be called the ehaut
| feur into the library ! was there
and father said to me:
How shall We reward him. petT
What WAS fathers astonishmens
when | said. with your permission
| napa, | will reward him myself
Then, seeing the pain father felt win
his surprise-for il WAS evident the
case was one of those where siri
loves far beneath her-I continued;
He may be a chauffeur. papa. deaf
but be is nobleman. I once dances
IN the eotillon with him in the Winter
palace at St Petersburg. He beeane
involved in political conspiracy. VA
sent to Siberia. escaped and made %
way TO America. The day your hires
him for chauffeur recognized hin
though be did not remember n
| There has been lovemaking. papa.
admit. but IL is your daughter who -
| done II. not your chauffeur. But =
| me introduce him under his own nan
and title. Count Alexis Ivan ANf
sndrovitch. formerly OF the Enrer~
| Nicholas household guard
| Now, don't you think my afian
| very roma ntic and that | have cor
| sealed the deuouement very wei