The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-19
FATE BEING TEMPTED
BY MRS. HUGER PRATT

masterful porsonagc: what the
Fronch call "une maitrcsse femme
III the fall OF 1902 Arsene whose d.
vorccd wife was still alive at tho time
cntreated Zizi to marry him, and made
no secret OF tho fact that he had Offer
ed her his hand and his name. He re-
peatedly pressed this offer upon her
But she as frequently declined, pre-
ferring. as she explained. to work for
Il salary. and for large share in the
profits of the establishment. as his
manngoress. rather than have to fulfill
tho same duties without remuneration
as his wife. Iizi. who survived until
1908. declared TO tho last that she
never regretted having refused tho
hand of Prince Arsene. and that she
considered herself infinitely more re-
spectacle as n former member of tho
deni monde. and as manageress of one
OF tho most widely known all-night
dramships in Paris. than as the con-
sort of n prince who was indebted for
his rank, and for his royalty. to so
shocking and frightful tragedy as
that which brought about tho advent
of his elder brother Peter to the throne
of Servia. For the mere murder OF
King Alexander and Queen Draga. saw
age though il was, was the least of the
horrors perpetrated by the resicide Of
fcers on that fateful night II was the
nameless barbarities mid at their door.
things too vilc to be printed. but which.
related by word OF mouth, arc widely
known. and the retention OF the gull
ty parties by King Peter In his en-
tourage, that have caused tho now
reigning house of Servia to be- boy
cotted By all the courts OF Europe.
On King Peters accession to the
crown of Scrvia his brother Arsene
FASTENED to Belgrade, In order to
share in his good fortune. He de-
manded recognition ns n prince of the
1ief no
pointment of generalissimo OF the ar
my. Neither the King nor the Ser
Wan government would hear of this.
They granted him recognition as a
prince OF the blood. for the reason that
they looked upon his son Paul. brought
up wholly at st. Petersburg. as a likely
heir to the throne. In default OF tho
Kings two sons eS-Crown Prince
George. and Crown Prince Alexander
But they realized that Arsene's pres
ence at Belgrade would injuriously at
feet the prestige and the popularity OF
the dynasty. So he was granted a
small allowance by King Peter on the
condition that he remain abroad
and was denied any office or any COM
mission in the Servian army.
When tho war broke out in Man
churia in 1904, Prince Arsene applied
TO Emperor Nicholas for permission
to volunteer for service under tho Rus
sian flag against Japan. 80 as to be &C
corded an opportunity of rehabilitatinE
himself In Muscovite eyes, by recover
ing tho commission In the Russian
army which he held at the time
OF his marriage to Aurora Deml-
don. but which he had forfeited by his,
misconduct. More for the sake of
helping King Peter than anything else.
the Car allowed Arsene to be gazetted
TO licutenant-c olonelcy, and at
tached in that capacity to ono of the
of 1nf lal
sacks. The prince. however, failed
to distinguish himself in Manchuria
during the war. he received no adj
vancement. or any other distinction
worth mentioning, and the only thing
that he gained was the permission to
list OF the Russian army. as lieuten-
ant colonel OF regular cavalry He
returned to Paris.
Last fall. when the war broke out
in the Balkans. he, risking the loss
OF his allowance. hurried to BELGRADE
TO place his sword at the DISPOSAL of
King Peter The Servian War Depart
ment accorded him an unattached col
onelcy. but declined to trust him with
any command. AS such he went
through the war; and although he
managed 10 get himself into the pic
ture papers. yet here again he failed
10 win distinction, and on the cessa-
ton OF hostilities his services we're
not retained and foreign travel was
suggested TO him once more by the
Servian authorities. Financial consid-
erations caused him to proceed to
Florence rather than to Paris. Living
is so much cheaper in Italy.
at Florence he was fortunate enough
10 mako the acquaintance of the twice
divorced Mrs. Huser Pratt who was
formerly Miss Abigail Pankhurst. OF
New York, rich woman. no relation
whatsoever of the famous militant
suffra gette leader of the Same name
OF Pankhurst in England. She Is
woman OF something over sixty. and
n grandmother. whereas the prince is
about fifty years OF ago.
Her daughter is married to Alexan-
der Mercati. who was. until tho be-
ginning OF the recent war, tho comp
troller Of the household of the then
Crown Prince OF Greece. now King
Constantine. He is not count. and
does not style himself such. since there
are no titles of nobility in Greece toll
Grated by the law OF the land His
wlfe's American relatives and friends
are therefore wrong in according to
her tho title OF countess
Copyright, 1913. by tho brentwood
Company