Morris tribune., 1914-02-20
MyAffair Witha
Grand Duchess
By F. A. MTcE4EL

was UOEA III CuS UCpdA IASAI "
Tula, in Russia, and from a very ear
" age showed a remarkable faculty
for acquiring knowledge. At twelve
years Of age spoke four languages,
At the university captured most Of
the prizes and when l finished my
course at the age Of twenty was re-
tanned as a professor.
One day | was called into the pri-
vate room OF the head OF the universi-
ty, who told me that the car had sent
for me to become a tutor for the i'm
perial children and that was to re-
port at the palace at once.
On arriving l was received by the
czarina, who said to me:
.s"I 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 warning. You will
be thrown in with the imperial family
on familiar footing. You will meet
a number of young girls of royal blood.
If you are known to speak Of love to
any one Of them you will be severely
punished"
knew very well what that punish
ment would be. | would be sent to
Siberia to work in the mines. In Rus
STA there is no law governing such
cases. the emperor being an autOcrat
with power over life and death.
i entered upon my duties with no
great fear in this respect, for. having
been devoted to study. the softer sex
bad not interested me. | should not
have been so confident had ! known
that one not given to appreciate girls
in general is the most liable to sue
cumb when thrown in with one espe=
cial girl. was thrown in with sew
eral princesses between fourteen and
twenty. suppose they knew as well
as | 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
daughter Of a brother of the czar, con-
sequently his niece She came fire.
quently to the palace and sometimes
remained there for days at 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
/ 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,
felt her hand touch mine. So much
vitality was there in this touch of
love that all the ice in Siberia could
not freeze it. l was unable to with
draw my hand, and so was the grand
duchess.
That was the beginning. Not a word
was spoken. There was not even then
a glance between us. As for me.
dared not look at her. We were not
alone and could be observed by others.
but no one could see that touch be-
meath the cover OF the open book Q"
know of the strong current that pass
ed between us. AS soon as | had
stammered through the reading Of the
passage and | had no further excuse
to remain in that position | turned the
book over to her.
1t was only when | went to bed that
night that | realized the frlghtful
abyss on which | stood What should
| do? could not dy from my charm
er. To leave the cars service without
being dismissed would be revolt. To
remain would be to leave a hopeless
love for the mines. slept little that
night. but when morning came made
resolutions for the future which | con-
sidered a solution of the problem. But
it was not three days before one Of
the little princes. aged eight, finding
the Grand Duchess Olga and myself
in the same room together. for sport
locked us in
This came upon me too suddenly for
resolution