The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-01-23
ROMANCE or AN Ex.EMPREss.
The Story of an Affair Remembered by
Only Few People.

Ahe STORY OF an Ana1r Remembered ny
Only a Few People.
A Berlin letter has the following ro-
nance about the recently deceased
Empress Augusta of Germany:
A member of the suite of one of the
best known among our Princes tells
romantic story concerning the dead
Empress Augusta, and it is believed
that it 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 strait
laced etiquette the small German prin-
CAPABILITIES affected. When she was sew
enteen she was romantic grl and had
learned by heart the stories of the
previous half century's gallantries at
the court of Louis XIV, and so we'll
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 ia
Their and mother made male acquaint-
ances almost impossible.
Before this romantic spirit had lived
long enough to die young French no.
BILE scion of more or less long lineage
stopped at the Court Weimar IL the
progress Of a pleasure jaunt from
Auvergne. He remained for some
weeks at this place and became ia
vorite of the Duke. He was accomp-
lished handsome, and a dare devil. At
a court ball shortly following his ar
rival the Frenchman met the princess.
They were permitted to become part
ners and INDUCED in mutual love at
first sight
This love soon developed into indis-
erection, 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 impassionate and elo-
quent, burning with the love song of
the smitten Partisan, and filled with all
those pretty words that came in with
the Grand Monarch. This was all very
we'll for the two were young, but it
led up to the suggestion of an elope-
ment. 1t implored flight, and pic
tured the ideal life of love on the pas
toral lands of the new America.
The Duke and Duchess were con-
sumed with rage at this discovery, and
poured their indignation in unstinted
volume. SO high did feeling run in
court that the Ducal Chamberlain chal-
lengcd the Frenchman to a duel, and
the lover fell, mortally wounded. AS
he fell the Frenchman tore open his
tunic, and there, pressed against his
heart, was a handkerchief belonging to
the Princess. Toward it his hand fee
bly, 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 the
handkerchief on the breast of the young
man as he lay in the coffin, and it was
buried with him. His body was COW
cred with roses, strewn upon him by
the devoted Augusta, and she, from
sWoons and sobs, became hysterical
and almost crazed. For weeks the
Princess sobbed about the palace, I'M
til her parents were convinced that
her sorrow must have some relief or
she would become insane.
They suggested Il marriage with
Prince William of Prussia and the
Princess gave her Indifferent consent,
careless and thoughtless what might
become OF her. With William it was II
matter Of equal unimportance, for he
had first been crossed in love affair,
and he was heart broken as we'll.
ri oTct an n no
ween them on the subject of their mar
rage. 1t was an affair exclusively of
the parents and of an obedient but dis
consulate youth and maiden. During
their lifetime The Emperor William
and the Empress Augusta maintained
toward each other the most perfect
and severe polteness. 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 preferred French
books, ideas. dress, and sentiment and
it was her favorite language. The in
fuence of that unhappy loss remained
with her until the last moment, and
she doubtless carried the sweet regrets
to the grave. Years have effaced re-
membrance of the affair, and it is safe
to say that less than a dozen great per-
SOnages know of it to-day.
French Military Forces.