Year: 1859

one century has gone by, and nearly
half of another has followed upon its track,
since the now rich and populaus city of
Mobile was aroused to eager and intense
curiosity by the advent of an ilustrious
stranger, whose story created universal
sympathy.


This stranger represented herself as no
less parsonage than the daughter of the
Duke OF Wotenbutted and wife of Czaro-
WITT Alexis Peter, son of Peter the Great
! OF Russia; and the reason given for claim
| ing the protection and attention of the
American citizens, was the i'll treatment of
her illustrious husband from whom she
had fled, at the risk Of unheard of calami.
ties, and with innumerable har-breadth
escapes.


Such tale Of foreign tyranny, exemri-
he'd on the very hearthstone Of a Russian
home, and in the midst of imperial dignity
was one of wonder and astonishment.
Every honor and attention that could be
bestowed upon the distinguished and un-
fortunate lady, were freely given-not on
y to her rank, but to her beauty, elegance
and attractive manners.


1t was evident that however hastily her
flight might have been at last accomplish
ed, she had had sufficient time to make
abundant plans for her escape before she
attempted it. The richness and splendor
of her dress, the immense value of her
jewels, and the style with which she soon
established herself in one of the finest man
slons IN Mobile, were evidences that how
ever terribly her illustrious spouse might
have treated her personally, he had not
touched her in that tenderest point with
some women, viz, that of deprlying them
OF the means Of adornment.


If any doubts of the lady's story some.
times arose in the minds of the cynical and
prejudiced, they were speedily combated
by the superior force of the believers
The prevailing feeling in regard to her was
that she was much abused wife, to whom
all gallant and chivalric souls should and
would extend the largest sympathy. The
doubters were therefore obliged to be more
| Gniet-muttering little, however, at the
facility which rich people possessed of
spreading " g amour' over the eyes of the
multitude.


Among the most ardent sympathizers of
the cruelty treated princess, was the Chew
alier d Aubant, a young Frenchman, who
had travelled, and who distinctly remem-
bered having seen the lady at the court of
St. Petersburgh. Not that he recollected
her as in connection with the czarowitz, in
particular; but her face had left an impress
sion on his mind, which always came up
wildly when recalling any remembrance
of the imperial family.


10 him, the wrongs and i'll treatment of
the son of Peter the Great, towards his in
nocent and beautiful wife, were as real as
any incident in his own life; and with the
generous faith and high toned sympathy
of unsophsticated youth, before the world
has left It's blighting brand of suspicion
and unbelief on the page Of life, he deyot
ed himself, like true cavalier to the SER
vice ofthe unhappy victim Of Russian tyr.
army.


Not indeed that the lady showed any
signs of a broken heart In D'Aubant's
views of the case, she was one who kept all
her sorrows within her own bosom, never
allowing any trace of them to appear in
her countenance, which was as blooming
as if no breadth of wrong or injury had
ever paled the rich glow. She entered
freely into every plan of amusement, en-
Joyed the freest exercise, the largest liber-
ty of outdoor sports, and carried them all
off with winning sweetness of manner,
and an innocent gaiety of spirits, that were
perfectly bewitching.


Two or three years of residence in Mo-
bile had rivetted the affection and rever-
ence Of the citizens to their adopted daugh-
ter, as they loved to term the distinguish
ed lady. Nothing could draw the young
ChevaIler d Aubant from bis allegiance to
one so lovely and charming; and. one day
when all circumstances of time and place
were favorable, and the lady's confidence
in him had been expressed in most un-
equivocar terms, he made her an offer of
his hand and heart and the somewhat en-
numbered estates of which he WAS heir, and
was accepted with undisguised satisfac-
ton.


"A most proper union was echoed
from one corner of Mobile to another--the
appreciation rising far above the significant
"humphs." of the cynics, who always de-
preciate everything to their own level.
Madame was certainly free to marry. Her
treatment and escape from tyrant was
surely a sufficient ground for a divorce,
and the absence of any stringent law in the
State, afforded abundant privilege for a
step of the nature 1nelita'ed by the lovers.


a wedding, the magnificence Of which
had never been equalled in America, and
to which SO many were invited threw ad
ditional glamour" over them all; and the
pair left Mobile for Paris, followed by the
regrets Of almost the entire community.


At the French court, they resided in
great style. No one knew or cared fOl
the antecedents of the charming princess
whose bewitching manners and rare per
sonal beauty were indisputabe recommen
dations in that atmosphere. 1twas enough
that she was recognizable as the ton; anc
for the rest-why, "glamour" was no
needle at the French court. Nobody ask
) ed for credentials of good character.


The fair Russian made decided .ensa
ton among a people who required an end
less variety Of eAc!.ements; and tus eAey