The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-11-01


these things for her.
So to the apartments of Coun
Seckendorff | went. Der Herr
Graf ist NIGHT zu Hause," was the
answer to my inquiry there. But he
was expected "augenblicklich "
Now | knew from experiences no
always agreeable the length O
time indicated by "augenblicklich'
amongst tradespeople, but | coulc
not know what it might be in {
royal household. Still, long Oh
short, as the case might be, | would
wait, and was accordingly usherec
into a large hall filled with trophle:
Of the chase.
But | had not had time to look
much about me when the count
stood beside me. Inviting me into
his sitting room, he gave a patient
and courteous ear to my story anc
my request for an audience.
Just now her Highness is mucf
absorbed in the building OF an Eng
lish church in Berlin.
So know but for that reason
she will the more probably sym.
pathize in my undertaking.
What do you wish from her?
Not money, but help for a bazar
and letter endorsing my work.
l do not believe she will give the
letter, or if she does, she will order
me to write it. Sne will not do il
herself.
But that is what l am hoping she
will do. Only try and arrange thai
| may have an audience with her.
pleaded.
| will see what | can do, and SEND
you word this evening but do moi
build upon it, for it is most uncer'
tain and with this had 20 content
myself.
Returning from drive in the
early twilight, | found letter await.
ing me, which ran as follows
NEUEs PALAIs, 18th June ISs-.
DEAR Mrs. LEwIs.-I beg to inform you that
have JUS: received her Imperial Highness tn,
Crown Ptincess's commands to say that IL. l. Fl
will graciously receive you tomorrow, Friday, al
10 a. III. Believe me,
Yours very truly,
G. SECKENDoRFF.
Nine o'clock the next morning
found me again on my way to the
New Palace, and this time l was al.
lowed to pass the guard-house un-
challenged. Taken into reception.
room, whose panelled walls and
ceilings were lavishly decorated with
Cupids and garlands of flowers,
amused myself with looking from the
windows on to the beautiful parterres,
until the Princess should have re-
turned from her morning walk.
Busy with thought, l had almost
forgotten where | was, when a noise
outside the door, as of the fall of a
heavy staff upon the floor, awakened
me to the novelty of my position. |
had not time to collect myself when
the door opened, and gorgeous
individual entered, bearing a staff OF
office, and behind him, a sweet
faced, dainty woman, her brown
hair knotted low on her neck, clad
in the plainest Of black dresses, re-
lieved only by narrow linen collar
and cuffs, and with a long circular
cloak falling from her shoulders.
She held in her hands the papers l
had lett the day before for her in
spection, and her greeting was in a
voice so musical and so gentle as to
inspire instant trust and remove all
sense of embarrassment.
After inquiries concerning my
work, my family, my relations with
the German inhabitants of c.,
she suddenly said, "What part of
England are you from?
was obliged to avow my nation
ality, expressing at the same time
the hope that it would not prejudice
my cause,
| knew you were an American I
knew it, she laughingly said. Alas,
for the pure English accent upon
which | had so often ben compli-
mented The quick and cultured
ear had caught some intonation
which betrayed me- But it did ME
no harm, for she continued, | am
very pleased to know it is possible
to get English and Americans to
work together. 1t is not generally
the case, though it ought TO be so.
Can l ever, while life lasts, forget
the gracious sweetness, the gentle
dignity and condescension, which
yet was not felt to be condescension,
the earnest, womanly interest in N.Y.
self and my work, the touching way
in which she referred to her poor
brother (the Duke OF Albany, who
had died only a few months before.
The ready assent to my request for
a letter, the firm pressure of the deli
cate yet strong hand, and the cor
dial -'good-by' with which she
parted from me'
Deep pillows OF sorrow have swept
over her head since that bright
June morning, but they have not
overwhelmed her. Bowed, but not
broken, she will ever be remembered
as the blameless wife, the virtuous
mother, a Princess who loved Justice
and worked for righteousness.
"That man has cloudy record, and
he's proud of it,
"Why, he looks like very open
and honorable sort of man."
ooh. he is: but YOU see he's an