The Broach

   The Missing Broach

Suzanne Marsh

“Elina, hurry, before the guard's return. I wish to give you something to remember me by. I know that you are leaving here because of the Bolsheviks, ten servants including are to be dismissed today.” Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, hair long brown hair hanging down her back in cascade; she had an object in her hand. Elina, knew there was more that Maria wished to say, she waited patiently. Maria, with tears in her eyes told Elina:

“I, we, my family and I are being sent to Yekaterinburg, they say it is for our safety, Father says

there is more to it. I have heard he and mother talking. I don’t know how much longer

our family will survive. I am giving you a sapphire and diamond broach and matching

ear rings. I give these as gift to you, for being my friend. Could I make a sketch of you

to remember you?”

Elina, paused, she was a simple servant. She was puzzled by such a gift. Maria continued:

“I wish you to have this, don’t be afraid to take it. Hide it somewhere safe on your

person. Do not let this fall into the hands of the Bolsheviks, they have taken enough

already.”

Elina, could feel the tears beginning to flow down her cheeks:

“I will do as you ask and I will tell my children and grandchildren about a beautiful princess

I once knew. Maria, I could help you escape. I can’t just leave you here to fate.”

“Elina, do as I ask of you. If I live, I live; only God knows that. If I do survive, I

will find you and if you wish I will accept my gifts back, but I don’t want you to have

to give my gift back. This comes from my heart Elina.”

Both young women cried knowing the chance of their seeing each other was not good at all.

Elina, her brown eyes flowing fled the room. Maria, turned on her heels as the Bolshevik guard returned and let her out of Maria’s room. Elina had hidden Maria’s beautiful gift in her coarse woolen dress pocket. She clutched in her hand as she strode away. Elina, left Maria that fateful day; she had saved enough rubles to emigrate to the United States. Elina, once she arrived in the United States, searched for a job. She worked as a laundress until she became a governess. She met and married Hans Schmidt. However Elina, kept one thing from Hans, the diamond and sapphire broach and earrings that Maria Nikolaeva had given her. It was secret she would keep her entire life. She put the items in a secure wooden box with a small silver lock. She placed it in a hidden drawer in her dressing table, although she knew that Hans would not snoop.

January, 1965

Elina Schmidt lay gasping for breath as she motioned her daughter to her side:

“Anna, I am going to entrust to you something very valuable. You have studied the

Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, so you will understand what I speak about. Many

years ago in Russia, I was a servant to the Czar’s family. I became friends with

Maria Nikolaevna, the Grand Duchess, she was third daughter of Czar Nicholas

and Czarina Alexandra. I remember the day, I read in a newspaper that the family

had been murdered in Yekaterinburg shortly after I came to America. Please Anna,

go to my dressing table, there is a small lever over top of drawer. Pull it and bring

the wooden box to me.”

Anna did as she was instructed, it gave her pause to think that her mother actually had worked for the Romanov family. She carefully removed the small wooden box with the silver lock. She strode back to where her mother lay in bed. Elina smiled, as she took the box from her daughter:

“Anna, many memories here but this box is very special. The key to the lock, is located…

she gasped: in the pocket of the dress, I wore when I arrived in America.”

Anna, climbed up into the attic, went to the dress her mother had showed her all those years ago. She felt inside the pocket; there was a small silver key. She flew back down the stairs of the attic, once again bringing the sort after item to her mother:

“Anna, this is my legacy to you, you must give it to Diana, when she comes of age. Promise me

you will do this Anna. Take the key and open the box darling.

Anna, knew the end was close for Elina, but did as she requested. She beheld the sapphire and diamond broach and ear rings. Her eyes danced at seeing such an expensive item among her mother’s things:

“Maria Nikolaeva gave this to me; I think perhaps she hoped to come to America, instead

her whole family was murdered.”

Elina began to sob and gasped:

“Anna, I am going to see Maria very soon. I love you, remember that.”

Five minutes later Elina took her last breath.

October 2022

“Diana?” Diana recognized the voice as belonging to her Aunt Ellen:

“Diana, your mother fell this morning, I think it would be wise for you to come home

immediately. She has been asking for you ever since this morning.” Diana feared the worse.

“I will be there as soon as possible Aunt Ellen; I am leaving work now.”

Diana sped home to her mother’s home. The very same home her mother, and grandmother grew up in. She was also puzzled by how her mother had fallen and how badly she was hurt. Diana, walked through the door of the converted brownstone:

She called up the stairs:

“Aunt Ellen, mom where are you to?

Dr. James Lupton appeared:

“Diana? Wait, I will be right down.” Lupton, hated thought of telling Diana her mother was not going to make it through the night.

“Diana, your mother fell this morning, she has a brain bleed. I don’t think she is going to make

it through the night.”

Diana, stood still, she could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She began walking slowly up the steps. Anna, opened her eyes as she Diana’s familiar tread on the stairs. Diana, walked into her mother’s bedroom. Her mother looked so fragile laying there on the pristine white sheets. Diana, walked over and took her hand. Anna opened her eyes:

“Diana, go over to my dressing table, there is a small knob in the third drawer, pull it out.

There is a small wooden box, with a silver lock. The silver key is on the bottom of the box.

Please bring it here, there is something I have to give you.”

Diana did as she was asked, she opened the drawer, pulling the knob to reveal, a small wooden box, with a very delicate design. She brought the key and the box to her mother.

“Diana, open the box, please.” Once again Diana did as she was requested. Inside

the box was the most beautiful sapphire and diamond broach and earrings.

“Mom, where did these come from, they look like the real thing.”

“Diana, they are the real thing. I panicked, when I lost the key, remember you helped me look

for it?”

“Yes, mom, I remember. What you see in there is the gift of Grand Duchess Maria, the third

daughter of Czar Nicholas and Czarina Alexandra. You see, you great grandmother Elina,

worked for the Romanov’s as a servant. Maria, knew that her family were going to be

murdered so, she gave Elina, a gift to remember her, that gift is the broach and earrings. I

almost forgot, Maria loved to sketch, she drew a picture of her and Elina. Before she was

murdered, she convinced a young guard to send this to Elina.”

Her mother, removed the carefully folded picture, her eyes teared, as she remembers Elina

telling her the story. She had give the box to Anna, who now gave it to her daughter Diana. Diana, eyed the beautiful sapphire and diamond broach, then asked:

“Mother, why have you never worn this piece?”

Anna, took Diana’s hand:

“Diana, that was a gift to be treasured, you have a true treasure not just jewelry, but history.

You must promise me to care for it just as Grandmother Elina, and I have. Maria will rest now.

Her treasure is safe without family forever.