New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-31

ing reached me. 1t also was addressed, not to
will the Herr Lieutenant Won DonnesmaIck. an d it
startled me by being almost exact reproduction
of Linas lettoi The signature stood Julie Muller
and Hamburg was at the top of the page
quest for tidngs of my late comrade since the be-
ginning OF the war was followed 9y petition for
daily use; and question as to whether Won Don
nersmarck had not left with message for the
writer. She entreated me TO pardon her Tor troub
ling me- saying that, as the afianced bride of the
Lieutenant it was natural she should long mex
two letters was. as l have said almost identical;
but there w4 Re points of difference in the manner
i at once perceived that jules rather senti-
mental she indulged in some rather theatrical ex-
presons OF grief; still It was refined aud touch,
that since he bad left Ha%burg t ten months before
to go to his fathers country house Cologne
she had not heard from him but that this was by
her own desire; and that the silence was to have
been broken in two months time by his claiming the
fuldlment of her engagement
The name Of Won Donnersmarck is borne by
many, so that doubted for moment as to the
identity of her betrothcd; but Them in one place
the allusion to the Schloss Donnersmarck made me
think that this girl meant no other than my dear
comrade. But that he. so scrupulously honorable
should have been engaged to two young ladies at
once. was simply Incredible; and even if one
imagined number of extenuating circumstances to
reduce to minimum the guilt of such a situation,
and that one accepted the existence of the two
gagements for fact, then second difficulty as
marck was candor itself. How then, could it be
that he had never, in his many frank outpourings
did it happen that he had never mentions Ham
burgf u certainly thought knew the name of
every important place where he had ever been.) Or
why, at the very least, had he not betrayed that
he had something to eonceala | could not bear the
Thought, men tiebng. Of this stain upon his
reverted again and again to the notion of this i'm.
possible double engagement. had been so fond of
toward him; for he was my junior by several
years. besides having that youthfulness of the heart
which does not often belong to men, like me, who
have had to struggle for self and others from boy
hood onward. There was bitter taste, even in our
me to rejoice in them But think, sad as it was to
have lost him. it panied me still more to have to
doubt his good faith. 1t had been JOY in itselfit
made me richer-tO know there existed SO splendid
mingled. with the thought of his possible want Of
mistaken in character of which believed myself
| to have such complete knowledge, then must be
Won Donnersmarck were false at heart, that no APP
parent beauty or truthfulness of disposition ought
able nature, and must believe him to be base
and treacherousi Impossible! And yet -.
stdr nave told ySa dozen times meln LeibIng the
what | was living through, but briefly may say
that I actually took into action the perplexng
thought OF my dear conrade and his two promised
brides. remember that at Sedan, when with the
body of infantry that blocked the passage of the
French cavalry III its mad rush for the Belgian
frontier. five minutes before opened fire the
galloping ssquadrons, caught myself dreamily
gazing at that soft hazy. pale green blue sky with
the many rose-yellow cloud-tuts dotted over it
they were Just the same shapes the little clouds
that rising above exploding shells all over the
withdrawing, and bordering Won Donners-
marck and the questions: Faithess or faithful IL
not falthless, how account for appearancesl And
more than once, in laler days, as the shot whizzed
IN the air above us or ratified the stones behind
found was still revolving the same matter in my
mind. 1t haunted me! Set it at rest j vowed |
would. sometimes tried to hope poor Julie Iuller
was an impostor but it was hard to do this, seeing
the betrothed of the dead soldier. Being thrown
with some officers who had lately ONE from North
them. One of them said
The belle of Hamburg is Fraulein Julie Muller,
a doctors daughter
Was she engaged began, but could not 90 on
.Oh. you mean that romantic episode put in
communicative young captain. We'll, people said
IT was an engagement last year. but, as nothing
came OF 1t, we begin to hope the fair lady is still
free There was some mistake, doubtless; but the
story went at first that the sentimental Julie bound
her knight To years absence, and that she even
forbade HIM to write to her--juss to try hi, faith,
posed to her. and she rather doubted the reality Of
his passion, and wanted to put his fidelity to proof
So at least, everyone said. All, bah Schwar-
mereiv he exclaimed in comment.
And his name 4 managed 10 ask. though my
tongue would hardly move, great was my aglta-
ton.
Won Lahnsteip, was it not replied the captain.
No, no, said one of the subaltcrns; that Won
| knew my comrade had no uncle of that name
so accepted this piece of information with thank
fitness, until another officer said,
You mistake: Won Lahnsten was Won Giersein's
uncle. The other man Z, had a name beginning with
Do what l would, could not ask them if it were
not Von Donnersmarck. | reflected They were
at n loss for a name they would accept Won Don
ing for one. should thus only add one unreliable
circumstance to the case against my friend and
should not be able to help its torturing me even
while recognized it's unreableness.
1t was days before l made up my mind how to
answer Fraulein Muler's letter, and days again
elapsed before had leisure writing. When at
last found time / used it to pen letter of some
what the same kind as that which had sent to
Lima Hllebrand. She might not be an impostor. |
admitted and in any case it could do no harm TO
tell her briefly how he died, and TO give her tidings
Of his life in camp and in The field. OF messages
there were none, told her; and his effects had all
been sent long ago to Schoss Donnersmarck.
added that he was loved and admired by all who
knew Inn; and l expressed hope of presenting
questions she might like to ask | saw chance
in this possible interview, of clearing up the mys-
terry and after the war was over, and when had
recovered from my bad fever, came, at great in
convenience, to Hamburg, but only to be dsap-
were absent on their annual Swiss tour. The doc
tor had a huge Kllnik.' Local rumor had it that
he was unrivalled in his treatment of the insane
These things did not concern me- thought and
left the pace, deeply chagrned Mt the fruitessness
of my journey. The Muers might still be away
three weeks, the porter said but must be back at
Well, my Marechen, can you forgive me for being
some what sombrc at timesf Can you realize that
the doubt on my friends fair fame lay like weight
at my hearty i believe it would have done so to
this day, even II my interest in the matter had
name; but had now new motive TO stimulate my
loyalty to his dear memory. had met Lima lille
brand during my conyaescence; We had spoken
long and often of Won Donnersmarck, and it
seemed to me that loved him better than ever
now that ! found him again in her heart. She lad
| ment; our sympathy in a common loss and n com.
mon object of admirng love had made us fast
| friends, and she had asked me to make such in
garded from the first, and always, as a calumny
.; one once asked me II Heinrich had ever men