Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-08

y
bad. And daring.
i also felt curiously grateful
to him. II / was milk TO my hus-
band. as he had accused me Of
being, this charming Prince
wasn't elamoring for vodka. He
was very pleased with milk.
That opera party was the first
of many meetings with the dash
ing Prince.
One day, some weeks later. /
looked out of my boudoir win
dow TO see two incompatible sad
die horses at the door with a
groom. a note came TO me up
stairs. The horses were two
Orloffs, spirited yet gentle, and
they were sent to "the most
beautiful lady in Holy Russia,
hoping she will condescend TO
accept them"
| did. with warm pleasure. For
in those days cosmopolitan, ten
der yet cynical Prince Wittgen-
stein was giving me back my
courage. He was helping me to
have confidence in myself - as
a woman. No longer did / feel
inferior. a scorned. rejected wife.
But the advent of the horses
was the prelude TO an invitation.
Often Prince Wittgenstein had in
vited me TO his palace. Yet
always / had hesitated. But
after this, when a note arrived
bidding me TO afternoon tea, i
accepted, with pleasure. So /
dressed in my prcttiest afternoon
frock. and following a rather
long droshky ride. i arrived at
his castle. in the deep woods
A majestic entrance hall rather
like my own, received me. From
its marble luxury. / could look
beyond. down a series of mag
nificent salons, quite empty. /
turned to the butler:
Am i early" | asked for
l could not see another guest
Eyes. madame, this way,
please"
In the first drawing /
turned as the door which opened
onto the hall closed behind me.
/ walked on, into the next salon
l looked about And, as
looked. l saw that door close,
too. Without any visible hands
TO close it. it Just shut itself.
mrs, felt WIS SOT7U- prank OF
my host. who loved 10 tease nae.
Well / thought. would not let
his tricks annoy me SO | stepped
on, through many salons leading
into each other. to have a look
at everything, before the guests
arrived. And each door closed,
by magic hands. as ! passed on
TIL. finally, / turned TO the but
Ter abruptly
III 20 back. now" ! said. the
other guests must have arrived"
TO my amazement, he had van
ished. There was standing in
an empty salon. before a Raphael
madonna, with nothing but rich
walls 20 listen TO my words
then went TO the door, tried TO
open it. II wouldn't bulge
looked for the lock That was
strange There was no knob on
my side Of the door yet, plainly
there was a lock.
Then ! guessed. l had heard
about doors locking with an cleo
trio arrangement. on one side
only | wondered if this was that
sort OF door, now so firmly
closed. / started on. the other
way, TO the last salon of all.
Then i was really angry when,
suddenly appearing in the next
and last salon, ! met Prince
Wittgenstein, his big, tall, smiling
self / breathed with relief
you have had your fun" /
said now let us join the guests
for the tea partyS
But" he said, there are no
other guests. You. bright lady.
are, the tea party" -
No" ne laughed at nie,)s,
my DAZZLING l will not open the.
door. -"
Il will scream. I will tear 1t
down, l will make a great scam
dial"
Before whom? Before my
faithful Tscherkess? Before the
men OF my regiment"
You are a brute, a swine,
wretch, TO play this contemplate
trick on me. And, of course,
hate you. Any woman hAes a
man who tries with his superior
strength. 80"
Then he did seize me in his
arms, so strong, so tender, so be-
seeching.
"Oh my bright small lady" he
said. "all the world knows and
/ suspect the life you lead at
homo rappcf h,ar a. COO 1r,,,