The Washington herald., 1911-09-10
LEAVES BRIDE WHEN
SHE LOSES BEAUTY
Grand Duke Michael Sees
, Wife Disfigured.
CAR ORDERS PUNISHMENT
Russian Emperor Hopelessly Mars
Most Beautiful Face in His Do
main in Order that Brother
Might Regain HOnOrS He Lost
for It-FinaIIy Gets Married.
.ci,, c.,,. 20 ~. Washington Her.id.

Special Cable to The Washington Herald.
ST. Petersburg, Sept. 9.-The most beau
tiful face in all Russia has been hope
lessly marred by order OF the Gear, in
order that the Grand Duke Michael, the
Cars only brother, might be restored
to the honors which he forfeited through
his infatuation for it. The full story Is
rsplete with romance, and statecraft, In
which the Gear, the grand duke, and
beautiful Ekatarina, a girl of high social
standing, but not Of the royal blood
play the principal roles. When the grand
dukes infatuation with Ekatarina first
became known to the Gar, he was very
much incensed.
But soon afterward Ekatarina married
the rich Moscow banker. Mamontoff, and
the affair with Michael passed from the
indulgent brother to the province Of the
Holy Synod, chief authority Of the Or
thodox Church.
L.eve making between Michael and
Ekatarina was reduced to the exchange
Of burning letters, and even that poor
consolation was denied them after a
fortnight, for Hamontoff's spies delivered
one OF the grand dukes missives to the
banker, and the banker obtained a di-
vorce.
Finally Gets Married.
After many tribulations, Michael at last
succeeded in getting an Orthodox priest
to marry him TO his lady love, with
whom he settled down to enjoy married
called to 81 Petersburg and a day or
two after his arrival he was called before
the Car and his mother, who said to
him in the most matter of fact style:
"Of course you intend to take leave of
Ekatarina, who is in the cloister of Holy
Trinity, in Oren. Go see her and have
a talk with her.
The young husband rushed to OreI the
same night. Twelve hours later he as
cended the steps Of Trinity cloister, his
heart leaping. A representative Of the
Holy Synod received him. The great
sinner Ekatarina,' said the person, will
have to prny till midnight. Afterward
she will be allowed to see you
My wife a great sinner and you dis
posing of her time and mine!" cried the
grand duke.
"Ekatarina is not and never was your
imperial highness's wife" replied the
prelate. Read ber confession and her
submission to the DEGREES Of the Holy
Synod
Denounces Cruel Treatment.
Infamous cried Michael, crumpling
the confession in his hand. "YLI have
browbeaten and deceived this poor wo-
man; but her confession and submission
aren't worth the paper they are written
on" The prelate merely smiled and said
the lady would speak for herself when
his imperial highness came back.
At the appointed time Grand Duke
Michael was fully resolved to take his
wife from the cloister by force If nee
essary; but he changed his mind when
he beheld the wreck of her beauty, for
discipline had caused Ekatarina to be
denuded of her lovely hair, and indeed of
her very eyebrows.
When she was brought from her cell,
clad in a coarse one-piece garment tied
by a string, her head was shaven bald,
her brows cut OFF by the razor, and her
eyes red by weeping, he. turned abruptly
and fed.