The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-02-20
|MyAfairWi
| Candidates.

was born In the department OF
Tula, in Russia, and from Z very ear
" age showed a remarkable faculty
for acquiring knowledge. At twelve
years Of age l spoke four languages.
At the university | captured most Of
the prizes and when ! finished my
course at the age Of twenty was r.
tanned as q professor.
One day ! was called into the pri-
vate room Of the head Of the universe
ty, who told me that the czar had sent
for me to become a tutor for the i'm
perial children and that l was to re-
port at the palace at once. .
On arriving | was received by the
czarina. who said to me:
~ am too much Interested In the
welfare Of my children to permit any
one but myself to give you your in
structions. The principal thing | wish
to say to you is a warning. You will
be thrown In with the imperial family
on a familiar footing. You will meet
a number Of young girls Of royal blood.
II you are known to speak Of love to
any one of them you will be severely
punished"
knew very we'll what that punish
ment would be. | would be sent to
Siberia to work in the mines. In Rus
sin there is no aw governing such
cases. the emperor being an autOcrat,
with power over life and death.
] entered upon my duties with no
great fear in this respect. for. having
been devoted to study. the softer sex
had not interested me. Should not
have been so confident had ! known
that one not given to appreciates GIRLS
in general is the most liable to- sue
cumb when thrown in with One espe-
cial girl. | was thrown In with sew
eral p%rincesSes between fourteen and
twenty. I suppose they knew al we'll
as l the danger Of falling into an az
fair with a cOmmoner. At any rate.
they all behaved themselves with cir
~cumspection. save one girl of seven
teen. between whom and me the spark
Of love flashed at our first meeting.
The Grand Duchess Olga was a
daughter of a brother Of the car, On
sequently his niece. She came fire.
quently to the palace and sometimes
remained there for days at a time.
After my coming these visits occurred
Oftener and lasted longer. For some
time there was nothing spoken be-
tween US that might not have been
listened to by any one. but even during
this time the Grand Duchess olga and
l knew that we loved each other.
One day she asked me to construe
for her an ode Of Horace. Standing
side by side. holding the same book.
l felt her hand touch mine. SO much
vitality was there in this touch Ut
love that all the ice In Siberia c0pta
not freeze it. l was unable to with.
draw my hand. and 80 vas the grand
duchess. -
That was the beginning. Not q word
was spoken. There was not even then
q glance between us. Az for me.
dared not look at her. W. were not
alone aud could be observed by others.
but no one could see that touch be-
meath the cover Of the open hook or
know of the strong current that pass
ed between us. As o . as | had
stammered through the reading Of the
passage and l had no further c
tO remain in that position | turned the
book over to her. 81
1t was only when | went to bed that
night that I realized the frightfu!
abyss on which I stood. What should
do? could not ty from my charm
er. To leave the ears service without
being dismissed would be revolt. To
remain would he to leave u hopeless
low for the mines. | slept little that
night. but when morning came made
resolutions for the future which I con-
sidered a solution VI the problem But
it was not three days before n Ut
the little princes. aged eight. finding
the Grand Duchess Olga and myself
l n the same room together. for sport
locked III in.
This came upon me too suddenly for
resolution.
Zone kiss" ! said-'the first and the
,ast."
l put my. arms about her. drew her
to me and kissed her. she looking On
| the door. frightened. but not resisting.
Then l darted to the door and raped
loudly. An attendant unlocked 1t. and
II 10 happened that when we left the
room the czarina passed by. She ioUk-
I'd ~searchingiy at ,s. The grand duch.
ess complained Of the little prince. who
had locked us In. and his mother re-
proved him Then. With u few kind
words to the grand duchess and my
xelf that assured us we were not In
the least tO blame. her majesty pass.
ed on.
That night was awakened from
slumber by a shake and. looking up.
saw an official standing over me.
"Get up." he said.
arOee and dressed myself. asking
no questions. was quite sure my
kiss had been e and | was to be
sent to Siberia. But. no. l was taken
to a railway station. given a ticket to
the border. Il passport and H.O0O rubles.
"Leave on the irst train" said my