Page 293 (1/2)

Catharine with a joyful spirit and a proud smile laid her hand in that

of Peter, and as she stepped with hiht: "I do

this that I may one day be empress! and as I can reach that position in

no other ell, then, let theed

boy! I will suffer it until the tier suffer, but

cohts did Catharine become the wife of the Grand-duke

Peter, who, as he with a loud and solemn "yes" vowed eternal truth to

his young wife, looked at the Countess Woronzow, and both exchanged a

stolen slance of love

"They ht Peter,

"but I shall never love her, asto my dear

Woronzow! But Elizabeth has decided that Catharine shall be my wife

I accommodate myself to her command, and obey now, that I may one day

command! But then woe to the wife this day forced upon me!"

And when the cere faces and radiant glances the congratulations of the court,

which in loud and ecstatic excla princely pair

On the sae was celebrated in this same imperial

palace, perhaps not so splendid, but certainly a happier one, for it

was love that united the two--love had overcoe, and decided her to raise her dear Alexis Razumovsky to the