The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-24

IL was IrlnCe Leopold, WuOSe ursI
thought upon reaching home was for
his Anna Liese.
81 have seen no one to prefer to
thee" he whispered. "Tell me, Wies-
gen, dost thou still love me best Of all?"
And Anna Liese's sweet blue eyes
answered for her, as she raised them q
moment to his.
When the princess heard the reason
of her sons tardy arrival she was in
despair. If nearly two years of absence
among novel and brilliant scenes could
not cure her son, the case was hope
less. Bitterly she rued her blindness
in having allowed the old childish
friendship to continue so long. But
she was woman of resources. She
did not give up the battle; she only
changed her tactics. Previously she
had been 10th to mention Anna Liese
if she could help it; now, of her own
accord, she often spoke of her and
Leopold had long accounts Of his loved
one. The princess, rendered desperate
by the state of affairs, resorted to
means she would otherwise have de-
spised. She collected what gossip she
could concerning Anna Liese and re-
tailed it in a very garbled form to her
son. Thus the girl, according to these
accounts, had become a practised CO.
quette; she was beset with admirers
and lavished smiles on them one and
all. Latterly there was one whom she
had seemed to favor more than the
others,--a cousin, young doctor, who
had just returned from lengthy travels.
To him, every one said, Anna Liese
was sure to be betrothed before very
long.
The lady's tactics succeeded in their
primary object; Leopold became furi-
ously jealous. He did not believe the
part about Anna Liese's coquetries
(Which was, indeed, an utter fabrica-
tion), but the idea of any man daring
to look with covetous eyes upon his
treasure made him wild with anger.
Pretty Anna Liese, the innocent
cause Of all these heartburnings, was
sitting one day at work beside one Of
the quaint old windows of her fathers
house. 1t was in the front of the
dwelling and looked out into the street,
for which reason it was favorite place
with the girl, who liked to watch the
passers by.
To her entered her cousin, DR.. Will
helm, with some curious old coins and
other articles amassed on his foreign
travels.
"See, cousin" he said, ~ have
brought the things promised to show
you"
Anna Liese put down her work and
drew near the young man. Their heads
were bent very close together over the
curiosities, and to anyone passing in
the street and CHANGING to look up,
their attitude might very we'll pass for
that of lovers.
As misfortune would have it, it 30
happened that the princess and her son
rode past on their way to the castle.
Leopold's eye, of course, sought his
loved ones dwelling, and his mothers
gaze followed his. As her glance fell
upon the scene in the window her eyes
lit up, and, touching her sons arm she
said:
"Look there, my son, and see for
yourself the truth of what have told
you. Your Anna Liese loves not you
but anotherl"
The effect on the passionate young
man was tremendous and the result
very different from what the short
sighted mother had foreseen.
Uttering cry Of rage, he spran 6
from his horse and dashed into the
house. With drawn sword he flew up
the stairs into the apartment where the
cousins were.
AS Anna Liese saw her lover enter,
sword in hand, and with face dis.
torted with passion, she uttered terri
fed shrek, and the young doctor eyed
the intruder with amazement.
| Leopold, for the nonce quite mad,
rushed straight at him, and the torrent
OF abuse which he poured forth, to-
gether with his wild demeanor, left no
| doubt as against whom his hostility was
directed.
The doctor was man of peace and
timid. He turned and fed into an
other room. The prince followed him
and before Anna Liese - who had
rushed after them-could stay his arm
he had stabbed the unfortunate viii
helm through the heart. The young
man fell, bathed in blood, and Leopold,
all his fury suddenly abating before the
dread sight, looked down horror
| atrickan upnn tho victim Of his M