The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-04-16
.MyAffair a
Grand Duchess
BY f. A. Mitchell

years OF age | spoke four languages.
At the university captured most OF
the prizes and when | 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 universe
ty. who told me that the car had sent
for me to become tutor for the i'm
perial children and that | was to re-
port at the palace at once.
On arriving was received by the
czarina. who said to me:
IL 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 warming You will
/ be thrown in with the imperial family
on IA 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 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 au 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 l 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 Processes between fourteen and
twenty suppose they knew as well
as | the danger of falling into an at
fair with 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 mt our first meeting.
The Grand Duchess Olga was a
daughter of brother of the car, con-
sequently his niece. She came fire.
quently to the palace and sometimes
remained there for days at Il 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 10y 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
| "a. in.
love that all the ice in Siberia could
not freeze it. | was unable to with
draw my hand, and so was the grand
duchess.
That was the beginning. Not word
was spoken There was not even then
glance between us. AS for me.
= dared not look at her. We were moi
alone and could be observed by others
but no one could see that touch be
meath the cover of the open book Oh
D know of the strong current that pass
ed between us. AS soon as ! hat
D stammered through the reading of tn,
passage and | had no further excuse
: to remain in that position | turned th'
\ book over TO her.
z II was only when | went to bed tina
n night that realized the frightfu
t ABYSS ON which stood. What SHOULD
| do? | could not fly from my charm
: er. TO leave the cars service withou
being dismissed would be revolt l.
remain would be to leave hopeless
love for the mines. slept little ina
night but when morning came mad
p resolutions for the future which cor
sidered a solution of the problem. Bu
il was not three days before one o
the little princes. aged eight. hndin
the Grand Duchess Olga and mysel
in the same room together. for spor
locked us in.
This came upon me too suddenly fo
resolution.
lone kiss" said-"the first and tn
last"
| put my arms about her. drew he
to me and kissed her, she looking o
the floor. frightened. but not resistinj
Then | darted to the door and rappe
loudly. An attendant unlocked it, an
il 50 happened that when we left tt
room the czarina passed by She loo
ed searchingly at us. The grand due
ess complained of the little prince. WI
had locked us in. and his mother r
) proved him Then, with few XII
\. words to the grand duchess and N
es self that assured us we were not
be the least to blame. her majesty pas
ed on
he That night was awakened fro
or slumber by shake and. looking u
Id saw an official standing over me.
to Get up" he said
al | arose and dressed myself. askil
10 no questions. | was quite sure
N kiss had been seen and ! was to
sent to Siberia. But no. | was TAX
or to IA railway station. given a ticket
"A the border passport and 5000 rubi'
he Leave on the first train" said
ID conductor "And never show yours
ny in Russia again"
ar have never learned how much
Oh what passed between me and t
III Grand Duchess Olga had becor