The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-04-20
my first act as ruler shall be to make you

my first act as ruler shall be to make you
my wife,"
For eleven months he remained with
Prince Eugene, fighting bravely against
the French, and obtaining among his
comrades the honorable surname, the lion
of Anhalt.
Then he was sent to Italy, and kept
there until he was of age.
During all this time he had constantly
corresponded with his girl. His letters
have all been preserved; they are those of
very illiterate man, but in other re-
spects they are quite as remarkable as
the famous love correspondence between
Abelard and HelOise.
He returned with the utmost quick
ness to Dessau and rode straightway to
the house of Mr.. Foeshe, the druggist, his
intended father-in.law.
The old druggist did not at once
recognize the young hero, for he had
changed markedly since he had gone
away from home.
"Who may you be, sirp asked the
druggist.
"Himmeldonnerwetter, Mr.. Foeshe!"
cried the Duke, "don't you know
meT
Great heavens! is that you, your
Highness"
"Where is Anna Liza 2"
The poor druggist had turned very
pale, for, believing that the Duke would
never marry his daughter, he had en-
couraged Mr.. Peter Ahlers, young
licentiate of theology, to court Anna
Liza.
The latter had turned a deaf ear to the
solicitations of her clerical suitor,
BY truly fearful coincidence,
Ahlers was at that very moment with
the girl, making last effort to win her.
"Where is Anna Liza p thundered
Leopold, as the father of his sweetheart
was vainly endeavoring to hide his con-
fusion.
81 will call her." he stammered out at
last.
"Where is she? ?' demanded the young
Duke with terrible scowl.
In the front room up stairs, but"
Without waiting for another word,
Leopold buried up stairs, and burst into
the front room.
What a spectacle burst upon him
there!
Kneeling before Anna Liza, who kept
her face averted, was the young licentiate,
who just breathed the words, in the tur
gid style of that period:
Angelic creature, Cupid has sent me
to thee on the wings of love. Plunge me
not into the abyss of despair by refusing
my hymeneal Offer"
With an unearthly yell of rage, Leo
pold tore his sword from the sheath,
and, before the eyes of the frightened
Anna Liza, he slaughtered the hapless
licentiate.
The girl tainted away. Leopold stood,
still trembling with passion, over the
quivering body of his victim. Then he
went down stairs, and told Foeshe what
he had done.
So unlimited were at that time even
the powers of petty German sovereigns
that this dreadful crime had absolutely
no unpleasant consequence for the MUIR
derer on the throne.
On the contrary, the poor licentiate
was ignominiously buried in the potters'
field, and a few days later, Leopold o
Anhalt married Anna Liza amid great
popular festivities and rejoicings.
But now arose another question for the
Duke. Anna Liza, it is true, was his
lawful wife, but having no princely blood
in her veins, she could not sit on the
throne by his side. nor claim the title eff
Duchess. This title could be conferred
upon her only by the German Emperor.
Leopold of Austria, who was then the
ruler of the Holy Roman Empire of
German Nationality, as his curious title
was, however, was decidedly averse to
comforting such distinctions and privi-
leges upon low-born people, for whom he
entertained the utmost contempt. He
was, beside, somewhat effeminate per-
son, and he had heard, with horror and
disgust of the escapades and violent
deeds of the young ruler of Anhalt.
So, when Leopold applied to him for
the elevation of his wife, Anna Liza, to
the ducal dignity, the Emperor sent back
very curt and almost impolite refusal.
Nothing could exceed Leopold's anger
upon receiving the reply. For days he
raved like mailman; with his own
hands he tore down the painted emblems
of tho Emperor's power, and he had
penned already grotesque letter to his
imperial namesake, when his wife, Anna
Liza, suggested to him to go personally
to Vienna, and see if he could not per-
suade his Imperial Majesty to grant his
wish.
Leopold said he would 60.
But you must promise me one thing,
love-" she added. "You must keep your
temper in check. If the Emperor proves
inexorable, why, then leave him without
getting angry"
Her husband promised that, too; but
the idea that he should keep his temper
ander any sort of provocation was a
ludicrous one. Anna Liza learned to
know him and his character much better
by and by.
The Duke went to Vienna, and applied
to the Emperor for an interview. At
first Leopold the First felt disposed not
to admit Leopold of Anhalt at all to his
presence. Had he adhered to it he
would have saved himself terrible
humiliation.
But he changed his mind, and said to
the chamberlain i'm waiting.
admit his Highnessp sp
Leopold was ushered in.
At first he was humble enough toward
the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
of German Nationality. But, when the
latter said to him, "My dear Duke, how
could you have been guilty of such a
misstep as to marry the daug of a low
shop-keeperp the Dukes ire was
aroused.
"Your Majesty" he replied, "would
not allow any one TO talk disrespectfully
about the Empress. In the same man
ner herewith forbid you to use such ex-
pressions about my wifep
The Emperor raised his eyebrows. He
was amazed beyond expression, for nc
one had ever ventured to address him in
that strain. But glance at the Duke,
who stood before him with terrible
scowl, convinced him that he had a
dangerous adversary TO deal with.
"This audience is at an end P' said the
Emperor, motioning toward the door
1t is not, your Majestyp cried the
| Duke no longer able to control his