New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-13
ROMANCE OF A WINDOW PANE
AN OLD GERMAN'O OFFICER TELLS A LOVE
STORY OF EMPEROR WILLIAM l.

AN OLD GERMANsOFFICER TELLS A LOVE
STORY OF EMPEROR WILLIAM !.
There is a cosey corner in Of the East Side
Vienna cafes which has been reserved for years
every evening for eight ex-oiicers OF the German
army now living IN this city. They st about
round table-thcr "stammtisch." rs It is called. n
name given In all German restaurants and
''kneipcs" to a table occupied regularly by one set
OF mcn-play whist or "skat'-thc German rival
OF the former gnme-tell stories. read their home
papers recall memories of their fighting days and
drink to the welfare of the Fatherland. They
patriotic follows Of the old school, and have little
faith In the modern order Of things beyond the
blue mountains Of the Rhine" and swear by Bis
marck. Moltke and old Kaiser William l. The
name Bismarck IS never mentioned without their
glasses going to their lips with wishes for his
health and ha2pIneas-and the name Is mentioned
often. About them is peculiar lIfe-but a life
with which they have little to do In the room
OF al nationalites. bending their
papers slipping their coffee. talking. drinking
their beer Some Of them have anxious looks and
start UP nervously every time the door opens and
II newcomer enters to take his place. frequcnter
OF the coffee house gets know this latter class
they are fusithes from justice the other side
~ the Atlantic. And jus; IN the very cafe. and In
tho presence OF the eight oflc RS foreign
criminals have been caught and started on their
way to German. Danish. Austrian. Hungarian.
Croatlan and Russian prisons than any place in
Ncw-York. II 'is place In which To study char
ocicr. nut the eight officers have become 80 used
to seeing "A detective enter. look about the room
and :ap some occupant on the SHOULDER. that they
hardly stop their stories to the poor fellow
ieav" the plat' captive.
Seven Of the officers about tho "stammtisch"
a few evenings ago Tho eighth. the Colonel Won
H.. absent. suffering from Of his wounds
received NJ Gravclottc But the others were listen
Ing TO tn" tale o. Major Won r., handsome.
heavily bearded. Gray-nealed man on whom the
marks OF the soldier were plainly visible. His
stories usunlly fnil Of sentiment. AMI that OF
this particular evening exception TO the
rule
ION August o. 1870 said the Tor. in his deep
bass voice. twrllng his glass about by It's stem.
there great excitement IN the French city
OF pizler. Numerous German soldiers had entered
it to demand quarters for few days. preparatory
10 continuing their march. Among those who
found rooms in tho house ot Madame WARMER,
wealthy old lady whose parents before her had
lived In Dlzlcr 81 my friends. Lieutenant
Won r.. officer Of one Of the Irussan rcgi-
monts. Tho men were received and treated az
though they had been long-expcctcd friends. come
from afar. Dinner. which was served in the great
hall was excellent and ono palatabc dish followed
the other There was no sign OF war times.
The officers remained long after the meal before
going 10 their rooms 10 rest from the fatigue ~
tho last few days. and 10 prepare for that to come
on IN" following morning. as the Lieutenant was
dressing he saw scratched OF the window
panes the following words In French: Je taime
Pr O. Il love thee Prince William. lie won
dercd what II meant. and went 10 breakfast In
tending Ind out IT'S history II possible And that
easy enough. when the coffee was served.
Madame WARMER turned % my friend.
Monsieur she said. DO YOU know that In the
room IN which you slept. many. many years ago.
now ' more than nfy,si% years since Your King
william. as Young prince. was mf SH''t-
The officers wrr" naturally interested ana
OF me visit Ny friend WHO remembered the
strange scratches on the window-panc. WAS all at
ut was in the war times in lNi' continued
Madame WARMER. 1 was then seventeen years old.
~ his suiir cane To- my fathers housc-in which
We are now sitting-nnd made II his headquarters.
hani,,rn~ v@unr man \ rev ycars older than |.
whose good heart shone in his honest blue eyes We
hiW tn. room iu which Nou sl"pi ii'Nt'laN'f
because FOR some reason II seemed 10 please nun.
The Prince maze Dep imp.'S s "",, yrn,n
a week TWO later oar guests l"ft as Prince WIZ
tam CAV" me- poem composed IN my hohot' "hch
"'Iie had been absent a number Of days. when on,
morning my "Fon'crnanir cam r'r , = hurry
I, The room and see what the prince had done.
ran az fast as possible. and found on me window.
c." which YOU Lieutenant probably saw; Incn
had been amswercd was happier than | can tell AZ
the proof on the window pane
AN the officers naturally went 10 look az the MS
toricll window. md ;hc story told by Mne. VAR
n~r soon spread ahnHd among N" Germans IN
Dlzcr and MANI visited the h1ns" - So" inc
writing Soon other troops came 70 Dizicr. and aN
had heard Of the. WARMER window. To one Of no
visitors one day Nine Niiuirr admitted that IL vs.
her dearest wish to sc" ana entertain once n"re
King william. Tho message was carried 10 head
qu. r;ors and some tin - later King William himself
came 10 piLier. ana few hours after his arrival
made his way 70 the Avenue Nancy un1ccompaned
ana turned into the house ~ Nine. WARMER. The old
LADY herself hurried 70 the door
''Mm~ Varner.' said the King. this Is a meet
ing after many years.
. sir was the reply Il have not forgotten YOU
"Lauchlngy His Majesty raised his finger, and
add-l: 'ISui. Angc.lduc you have told tal's ont OF
school MY name is In the mouth Of al! my
officers
Pardon mo. Sire she answered. but my heart
was full
The old gentleman took her hand. pressed It. and
added. None Of that. Angcque. My officers VIII
not wonder Mt the love Of my youth | have not
forgotten YOU yet
That" added the Major ''ls true incident in
the NE Of Emperor william Speculation. Of course"
q lille hut how different might the man Of En-
rome bn today comrades had Emperor William mar
ricl his French Ancc.que! And you. Won y.
might have had your arm