Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-01
Continued from Page 12)

=
sophisticated men often do fasci-
nate very young girls.
Besides, knew / would have
to marry somebody. II couldn't
be an old maid. Well, he prob
ably was not much worse than
many. And. certainly. he was
richer. Anyway. 1t was all de-
cided.
So, at dinner again, in that lost
world of mine, / sat, timid, SUBJ
missive jeune file beside the
handsome prince in his hand
some court uniform. said little
-. But through all the courses,
as the silver CLEANED and the
crystal flashed back the light, 1
was puzzling
Il wonder how 1t is going to
happen. Il wonder how II is go
ing to be told, that am to marry
Vladimir. / feel like a visitor at
my own fiancailles. Well, I am
Il. Il wonder if his mother
and my grand'mere If they
have told him"
Soon, found out. For. when
the dessert arrived, Prince Vladi-
mir arose. Then / rose, too, and
after me, everybody else. Then
Prince karapoW bent, kissed my
forehead, a small, informal little
kiss. After that. he took my
hand. and slipped an enormous
sapphire upon my fourth finger.
II was sapphire of Kashmir. rich
and limpid, with small red lights
cleaning within its gorgeous
depths. IL was worth. / heard
later, 10000 francs, which then
were equal 10 about thirty thou
sand American dollars.
At the betrothal, Prince Vladi-
mir kissed me. and ! blushed and
bowed and gave my hand, timidly.
Everybody drank a toast In cham
payne. Then we sat down and
the ripple Of conversation ran
about the gorgeous board, once
more.
So / became engaged. Seven
weeks later, on the seventh of
March, / was married.
THE day before my marriage !
went 10 confession. Next
morning. my maid brought my
wedding robe into my bedroom
My wedding dress was of white
satin with all over embroidery
Of silver thread. II was heavy
and stiff and beautiful My white
silk stockings my mother sent
me from Paris. my sorrowing
mother who disapproved the we'd
ding-having heard about the
prince. And so, refused to come.
l drove behind eight white
horses 70 Our Lady of Kazan,
the Church of the Black Ma
donna). And, as / walked. tiny
figure stifny arrayed, up that red
carpeted aisle, 10 the strains of
the rich and solemn music. ad-
mired the gallant, gorgeous com
pany, marvelled that /, a little
French girl, OF a world SO diff
ferent from this barbaric Rus
STA should yet find herself there.
the center Of attention In this
Cathedral OF the North while
royalty, the Grand Dukes Alexis.
Andrew. Nicholas, Michael, and
their grand duchesses, sent 20
represent the Car, knelt and
prayed and joined in the hymns.
Then my eyes caught the bride
groom, tall. handsome, imper-
,urbable Prince Karapow. who
would 80 shortly be my husband
And what a bel homme ne was,
that high noon OF our wedding,
And how. when my eyes first
glimpsed him. my heart grew
warm with furious beating. I
told myself. he was a man of the
world; he knew everything, he
was hero from a high romance.
And. If l did not want him as
l had wanted my first love. ]
would. at least, find him a chal-
longing, stimulating husband.
Cruel, perhaps But different.
Mysterious and grand.
Then the incense waited up e..
the hot air grew heavy and sweet
and deadening. And my tight
bodice pinched me frightfully
And all the jewels of my adorn-
ment weighed down upon me
cruelty, till / thought no more OF
EG9fc39n3 3I2IT2N