Willmar tribune., 1909-07-07
DRIMFUL OF
ROMANCE.


am happy to say that il
is not Que Of those practical affairs &C
common among people Of our degree,
but real. genuine romance.
You may remember, one winter -four
years ago at st. Petersburg. how the
American minister took pains to intro
duce us everywhere and how we were
received even at the Winter palace.
This much you know; but, though you
are my bosom friend. it is all you
know, and there is great deal more
to come At the Winter palace, Of
course, saw many Of the young bloode
of the empire and danced with them
too. They were all very polite, and
found myself, an American without 9
title, receiving as much attention as
any Of the countesses or baronesses.
We became very intimate ut the
American minister's. and one evening
while l was at the 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 cotillon at the
Winter palace. He did not appear to
recognize me-indeed. he seemed very
distrait and was hurrying into the min.
ister's private Office. The same even.
ing the minister told us that a young
nobleman had called on him with a
very singular request. He was impli.
Gated in a political affair that would
send him to Siberia if it was discov.
cred and was sure to be known within
a few days. He asked the minister tc
give him a passport to America. This
was impossible. the minister said,
though l didn't understand why. Lat.
er I was told that the young man had
been sent to Siberia for life Think
how mean it was of the minister not
to have given him the passport! II
would have saved him from a fate
worse than death.
The scene changes. am in Amer
lea. I have forgotten much Of my
winters experiences In Russia. for
three years have passed since then.
But I have not forgotten the young
man who was sent to Siberia because
our minister wouldn't give him a pass.
I am in our touring car. taking a
morning sixty mile spin. and am think.
ing of the poor prisoner at the time.
Turning sharp bend in the road. the
chauffeur reduced the speed. going
very slowly. when suddenly l saw o
man standing in front Of the car point
ing a revolver at us. He ordered the
chauffeur to stop. which he was obliged
to do or be killed. and, coming to the
side of the car he said to me:
"You are rich. l want $4,000. Give
it to me or you are dead woman
What did l do? l tainted. When
revived the robber was sitting beside
the chauffeur. holding his revolver
where he could use it at moments s
notice. AS soon as he saw that had
opened my eyes he said to me:
"Your man told me that you hadn't
much with you. He has promised to
take us all to your home. which he
says is few miles up the road. and
you are to get me the money. If he
doesn't III kill both Of you" s@
'It's the only way to save our lives, "
said the chauffeur.
The chauffeur was man Of great
strength, but what could he do with
an armed man? l noticed that he was
increasing the speed, and we were
soon going at the machines full capac-
ity. Presently the road veered slight
ly. but enough to sway the robber. All
of sudden the chauffeur partly turn
ed, caught the robbers hand with
which he was holding himself in his
seat. disengaged it. then threw his
whole weight against the robber. who
went head downward on to the road.
l thought the machine was going over,
but the chauffeur held the steering
gear with his right hand and kept
control.
I looked back and saw a horrid mass
In the road. 1t was immovable, and
I knew the creature was either dead
or badly hurt. for we must have been
going at frightful rate.
|" had been saved first by the pres
ence Of mind and afterward by the in
genuity and daring" of the chauffeur
Leaving the robber to his fate. we
pressed on. turned at the first road
leading backward and in an hour drew
up under the porte-cochere 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 he called the chauf
feur into the library. was there
and father said to me:
'How shall we reward him, pet?"
What was fathers astonishment
when said. with your permission
papa, l will reward him myself
Then, seeing the pain father felt witt
his surprise-for it was~evident the
case was one Of those where a gir
loves far beneath her-I continued
"He may be chauffeur, papa, dear
but he Is a nObleman. I once danced
in the cotillon with him in the Winter
palace at St. Petersburg. He became
involved in a political conspiracy, was
sent to Siberia. escaped and made his
way to America. The day your hired
him for chauffeur I recognized him
though he did rot remember me
There has been lovemaking, papa,
, admit, but it is your daughter who haf
done 1t. not your chauffeur. But lei
me introduce him under his own name
and title, Count Alexis Ivan Alex
androvitch. formerly Of the Emperor
Nicholas household guard"