The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-04

ly such pato.t OF nobility was and is
beyond price, and if the grand duke
could only bring himself TO confer it
upon Heinrich Muller no would be more
than repaid for all that was owing to
him. 1t was, however, bold and un-
usual step To take and Baron Won Dern-
field would scarcely have ventured 10
make such q suggestion 70 the grand
duke, even under the pressure of the
heaviest difficulties if he had not been
prepared TO back it up by weighty diplo-
matte arguments.
But this is how he reasoned "This
impudent tailor is secretly in love with
the Princess Gertrude. He fully under
stands that between him and her stands
the impossible gulf that yawns between
the common people and the nobility. IL
we offer to create him won, he will
think that heaven itself is favoring his
suit; that the chasm is about TO be filled
up, and that, when he Is real Won
Muller he may be able with some hope
of success to declare his passion. We
will make him won, then, in order to
get out OF his financial clutches, and
that once done leave the rest to US"
The scheme was not i'll conceived
Heinrich Muller had no inkling at all
Of what was going forward, but if he
had been diplomatist he would have
suspected that some mischief'w brew
ing from the fact that botf.-the grand
duke and the minister were SO extraor-
dinarily polite to him. They smiled at
him whenever they passed him in their
carriages, and the old baron actually
went down to the shop himself to be
measured for new court dress. Shortly
after a valet from tho schloss brought
him a command from his serene high
ness to be at the castle the next evening
after dinner. He obeyed and was clos
eted for short tune with the prime
minister and then for a short time with
the grand duke. Everything was ar
ranged without hitch. The minister
commenced by explaining that the high
character and education Of Herr Muller
had evidently raised him high above his
position, and that his serene highness
had come to the conclusion that he
could efficiently fill court Office if he
would retire from all connection with
trade. The grand duke, therefore, had
for long time contemplated asking
him to give up his present occupation,
for which there could be no further ne
cessity, seeing how great was his well
known wealth, and thereupon comforting
on him diploma of nobility and Great
ing him won" Only one difficulty
stood in the way. His serene highness
felt bound in honor to liquidate all out
standing liabilities TO him before max
ing any such proposition; but, to tell
the candid truth, he began to fear 1T
would be several years before he would
be able to do this in full. The prime
minister, therefore, anxious TO be of
service to such a superior young man
as Heinrich, took upon himself to let
him know what was designed for him,
and in the interest Of all concerned ven-
tured to suggest that it would be far bet
ter for Heinrich, in view of his future
career, which was certain to be distin-
guished, to secure the honor at once.
He could certainly do SO il he would
generously forego his pecuniary claims
and give receipt i'll full for all that
was owing to him by the court.
Heinrich listened to all this with
grave attention. There is no denying
that his heart beat fast as he heard the
unexpected good news. Willingly in
deed would he have paid thrice the
sum that was owing to him in order To
become "von," and without a mo-
ment's hesitation he accepted the offer.
4 D..s L. 81 -, 10 nay
all the courteous sayings of the old min
lister for exactly what they were worth,
and as he shook hands with him at the
conclusion of the bargain and was
shown TO the grand dukes apartments
he mentally told himself that the ''no-
BILE scruples" and 'long cherished in
tentions" Of his serene highness were
fictions Of the minister's brain, and
that, as q matter Of fact, he was buying
his vonship with certain number OF
thousands of marks. The grand duke
himself was all affability and condescen-
sion, and it was agreed that in the
course of few days the patent of nobil-
ity should be drawn up and formally
bestowed upon him, and that at the
same time he should sign receipt for
all moneys due to himself or to his fa-
ther.
And now a curious circumstance oc-
CURED. During the few days that
elapsed between the promise of the
grand duke and its performance Helm
rich Muller made journey to the city
of Strasburg, where, it may be remem'
bered, he had studied at the university.
1t was generally understood that he had
gone there ON business, and the prime
minister and his master thought il only
natural, as he would no doubt have
plenty Of matters TO arrange in connec'
tion with retiring from trade. But, as a
matter Of fact, Heinrich, as soon a:
ever he found himself in the learned
city, betook himself. not to any trades
man, but to certain snuffy old gentle
man named DR. Schlippenhammer, .
man whose name was famous through
! ont the fatherland as "A learned lurisj