Year: 1872

the beauty aud intellect Of his guest, and
BY the hope Of uniting the sovereign
house of Prussia and Russin by the close
ties Of family union, greeted the pros
pect Of a marriage between the Grand
Duke and his daughter with enthusiasm,
especially when he discovered that the
young folks themselves we're very fond
Of each other. The king then delicately
iusinuated to his daughter that If she
had taken liking to tho Grand Duke,
and had reason to believe that the prince
entertained similar feelings toward her,
their marriage would meet with no objec
ton on his part. But tho young princess,
although secretly delighted in q hope
which so freely responded to the hidden
wishes of her heart, was either too proud
or too bashful to confess to her father
her love for the Grand Duke, who had
not yet made any declaration to her. 10
this manner the day approached on which
the Grand Duke was to leave Berlin.


On the eve of his departure, . grand
gala supper was given in his honor at the
royal palace, and by way Of accident or
policy, tho young princess Chorlotte was
seated by the side of her distinguished
admirer. The Duke was uncommonly
taciturn during the evening. His high
forehead was clouded and his imagination
Repeatedly he neglected to answer ques.
tions addressed to him, and when he was
asked to respond to toast which one Of
the royal princes had proposed in his
honor, he seemed to awake from the pro-
found dream, which had entirely with.
drawn him from his surroundings.


Suddenly, as if by mighty effort Of
his will, he turned to his fair neighbor
and whispered so az only to be under
stood by her.


80 I shall leave Berlin 10. morrow ~


He paused abruptly and looked at the
Princess as if he was awaiting an answer,
which expressed sorrow and grief on her
part. But the Princess was fully as
proud as the Grand Duke, and overcom-
ing the violent throbbing of her heart,
she said politely to him: 1--WE are all
sorry to see your Imperial Highness
leave us so soon. Would it not have
been possible for you to defer your de
parture ?"


"You all will be very sorry" muttered
the Gran1 Duke, not entirely satisfied
with the vagueness of sorrow which
these words of the Princess implied.
"But you in particular, madame !" he
added, after some hesitancy, for it will
depend upon you whether l stay or
depart"


"Ah," replied Charlotte, with her
sweet smile, land what have l to do to
keep your Imperial Highness here ?"


"You must permit me to address you
my admiration and homage"


"Is that all ?"


"And you must encourage mo to please
you"


"That is much more difficult" said the
Princess with deep blush, but at the
same time her eyes beamed forth SO much
affection and delight that the Prince
could see at q glance that his fondest
hopes had been realized beforehand.


"During my short stay in Berlin" the
Grand Duke continued, in the same tone
Of voice. II have taken pains to study
your character and your affections. and
this study has satisfied me that you would
render me very happy, while on the other
hand, think I have some qualities which
would secure your own happiness"


The Princess was overcome by emotion
and in her confusion did not know wh al
to answer. At last she said:


"But here, your Imperial Highness, in
the presence of the whole Court, at the
public table, you put such question to
me?"


The Grand Duke replied, "Oh, you
need not make any verbal reply. 1t will
be sufficient for you to give me some
pledge of your affection. l see there on
your finger small ring whose possession
would make me infinitely happy. Give
it to me-"


"What do you think OFF Here in the
presence Of hundreds of spectator.?'


"Ah, it can be easily done without be-
ing seen by anybody. Now, We are
chatting so quietly with each other that
there is not one among the guests who
suspects what We are speaking about
Press the ring into morsel Of dread and
leave it on the table; l will take the tai
isman, and no one will notice it."
"This ring is really talisman II


II expect 80. May hope to hear Its
history 2"


"Why not1 Ny first govsrnsss was q
Swiss lady by the name Of Wildermutt.
Once she went to Switzerland in order to
enter upon the inheritance bsqueathed to
her by q distant relative. When she
came back to Berlin few weeks after
wards she showed me quite oollsction
Of pretty and costly jswslry, which formed
part of the inheritance. This is o curl
Gus old rins,' said to her, as l put this
old. fashioned ring on my little finger
Does it not look queer and cunning ?
Perhaps It'll an old sslic or talisman, and
may have been worn for centuries ago by
q pious lady who received it from her
knight, starting for the Holy Land l
tried to take the ring from my finger
but could not get it of, for was little
feshier than now" said Charlotte smil