Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-21
o STORY
OF THE DAY..
HIS FIRST LOVE.

1t was a beautiful spring morning toward
the end of the seventeenth century-the
scene. Germany. IN a meadow thickly car
peted with flowers a. boy and a girl We're
stroIling hand in hand. He was about Il
years old, and his dress ~betckened him OF
high birth. She was about a year younger
and wore the attire of a girl of the middle
class. He had twisted a handful of field
flowers into a wreath, and. placing 1t upon
her head. he spranS away, laughing, 10
survey the effect of his adornment.
How pretty thou art Anna Llese!. ne
where in the wide world When thou art
older thou shouldst wear a crown OF jewels
instead of one of flowers, FOR thou art born
10 be a little queen"
The little girl laughed gently and shook
her head.
An apothecary's daughter can not be-
come a great lady, much less a queen"
She said.
''Thous shalt be a great lady. little Ann
Iiese, for l mean, when I'm a man, to
marry thee. and then thourl be princess OF
this province and have as many fine jewels
ss my lady mother. Does that please
See" said Anna Liese. they come from
the castle TO look for thee. We must say
good-by for to-day"
The boy looked angrily in the direction OF
the servitor. Il shall not CO." he said. de-
hantly. Il wish to remain where l am"
IT the prince or thy mother visa to
Anna Liese. and perhaps they win not
let us be playmates any more. Go with
him, now" she added, persuasively, strok-
ing his arm and trying to smile away The
frown that darkened his face, and to-
morrow We can come here again. Go. to
please me-"
Little Anna Liese from the apothecary's
shop and Prince Leopold, from the castle,
had been playmates from early childhood.
The prince was the only surviving son of
adortng parents. whose Indulgence had
helped TO foster a disposition already by
nature wild and ungovernable. and there
was no one in the wild world who could
persuade or guide him SO well as gentle
Anna Liese. Seeing this his mother placed
no obstacle in the way Of their meeting
together, and so they grew up as one may
say, side by side, loving each other de-
Notedly.
But as the months and years passed en-
ana Leopold grew into a tall youth, and
Anna Liese into the fairest maid of all the
land. the Princess Henriette began to see
danger In this constant companionship. Ana
Aer Tears proved only too we'll founded.
Leopold displayed an open admiration Tor
Anna Liese which appalled, his mother. He
SPOKE OF marriage-marriage with an apoth-
or me province, for his father had been
Cead some years.
The princess decided that Leopold should
travel; ne should go 10 Italy, and amid the
e8citements and splendors of the courts
10 which he could have access how could
he fail TO get over this mad infatuation for
q girl SO far beneath him?
His absence lasted nearly two years. dur
ing which his mother hoped and believed
llldl HtT sptClIlc Ndu Deen SucceSSful-th1t
Leopold among the fair sex and high-born
ladies of other lands had forgotten his
simple German first love.
The road to the castle was ravIv deco-
rated with floral arches ahd waving BAN
ners. and a host of retainers and servants
were to welcome back the young
prince.
His mother stood in the great hall anx-
lousy listening for the sound of horses
feet which should tell OF her loved ones
GDDrOacl. Already the time whom hiS or
came not.
the little town below. a party of riders
had draw up, and the most brilliantly
dressed among them was leaning fIsm his
and joyous greeting to a beautiful girl
who stood with flushed face and down
cast eyes before him.
thought upon reaching home was for his
Anna Liese.
II have seen no one to prefer to thee
be whispered. Tell me. Wiesgen. dost
Shou still love me best Of alp"
And Anna Liese's sweet blue eyes an
Ewered for her, as she raised them a mo-
Snent to his.
When the princess heard the reason OF
her sons tardy arrival she was in despair.
But she was a woman of resources. She
did not give up the battle: she only chang.
Previously she had been ioath to mention
Anna Liese if she could help 1t; now. OF
Icl oWH dtcDTU, she often spoke OF her
and Leopold had long accounts of his
loved one Thus the girl, according to these
accounts. had become a practiced coquette
who was beset by admirers and lavishe6
smiles on them one and all.
Latterly there was one whom she had
seemed to favor more than the others-a
cousin, a young doctor. who had just re.
turned from lengthy travels. To him
every one said. Ann Liese was sure K
be betrothed before very long.
Pretty Anna Liese was sitting one day
at work beside one of the quaint old win,
6ows of her fathers house. 1t was tn.
front OF the dwelling and looked out into
the street. To her entered her cousin. DIR
Wilhelm. with some curious old coins anC
other articles amassed on his foreign trav
els.
Anna Liese put down her work and drew
pear to the young man. Their heads were
bent very close together over the curiosi
and CHANGING to look up their attitude
might very well pass for that of lovers.
As misfortune would have it. it SO hap
pened that the princess and her son rode
PAST on theis way to the castle. Leopold.
eye. of course, sough his loved one.
dwelling. and his mothers gaze followed
his.
self the truth of what I told you. You
Anna Liese loves not you, but ano.her,'
Uttering a cry of rage he sprang from
trawn sword he few up the stairs anc
INTO the apartment where the cousins Were
The doctor was a man OF peace AM
timid. He turned and fed into anothe
room. The prince followed him. ard be
fore Anna Liese could stay his arm ne hat
ptabbed the unfortunate Wilhelm through
the heart.
The despair of the princess at the out
rome of the jealousy which she herself ha,
aroused in her son can be imagined. Primo
pf the land. he stood in too high and unas
Tor his crime, besides which such affair