Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-08
AUGUSTUS ROMANCE.
Story Of Her Love for q Young French
Noble When She Was o Princess

A member Of the suite Of one Of the best.
known princes OF Germany tells romantic
story concerning the dead Empress Augusta,
and it is believed that II has never before been
given to the public. Augusta was . princess in
the petty court Of weimar, where she was
hedged about with all the straight-laced eti-
quette the small German principalities affected
When she was seventeen she was romantic
girl and had learned by heart the stories Of the
previous half century's gallantries at the court
OF Louis XIV, and so well had she read that she
was prepared to fall in love with any man who
might first appeal to her sense Of beauty; but
the rigid surveillance Of her ducal father and
mother made male acquaintance almost i'm
possible.
Before this romantic spirit had lived long
enough to die young French noble scion of q
more or less long lineage stopped at the court
OF Welmar In the progress OF a pleasure taunt
from Auvergne. He remained FOR some weeks
at this place and became a favorite Of the duke.
He was accomplished, handsome and q dare
devil At a court ball shortly following his ar
rival the Frenchman met the princess. They
were permitted to become partners and in
dulged in mutual love at first sight
This love soon developed into indiscretion,
which took the form Of secret meetings in the
palace grounds. The only people aware of
these trysts were the maid and valet of the
principals, who served as the medium through
which the correspondence was carried on and
the meetings arranged The maid, whether
through carelessness or spite, lost one Of the
letters intrusted to her and it was picked up by
the duchess. mother Of Augusta, before the
maid could recover it.
The letter was impassioned and eloquent,
burning with the love song Of the smitten
Partisan and filed with all those pretty words
that came in with the grand monarch, This
was all very well, for the two were young,
but 1t led up to the suggestion Of an elope-
ment. 1t implored fight and pictured the
ideal life IF love on the pastoral lands Of the
new America.
The duke and the duchess were consumed
with rage at this discovery and poured forth
their indignation in unstinted volume. So
high did feeling run in the court that the ducal
chamberlain challenged the Frenchman to a
duel, and the lover fell. MORALLY wounded. As
he fell the Frenchman tore open his tunic and
there, pressed against his heart, was hand
kerchief belonging to the princess. Toward II
his hand feebly moved and he died at the
moment he had seized the lace and was strug-
Cling to carry it to his lips.
The duchess was SO affected by the incident
that she silently placed her handkerchief on
the breast OF the young man as he lay in the
coffin and it was buried with him. His body
was covered with roses, strewn upon him by
the devoted Augusta and she, from swoons and
For weeks the princess sobbed about the pal
ace, until her parents were convinced that her
sorrow must have some relief or she would be-
come insane.
They suggested marriage with Prince Will
lam Of Prussia, and the princess gave her in
different consent careless and thoughtless what
might become Of her. With William it was a
matter Of equal unimportance, for he had first
been crossed in a love affair and he was heart
broken as well.
There was no misunderstanding between
them on the subject of their marriage. 1t was
an affair exclusively of the parents and of an
obedient, but disconsolate youth and maiden.
During their lifetime the Emperor William and
the Empress Augusta maintained toward each
other the most perfect and severe politeness.
They were friends, they respected each other.
but that was all. They were not lovers and
they could not tear from their hearts the
memories Of their early love and their early
disappointment The empress always pre-
ferred French books, IDEAS dress and senti-
ment, and it was her favorite language. The
influence of that unhappy loss remained with
her until the last moment and she doubtless
carried the sweet regrets to the grave. Years
have effaced remembrance Of the affair and it
Is safe to say that less than q dozen great per-
sonages knew OF it today.