The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-03
I am free h11t II is my Int 20 he de-

-
Il am free. but it is my lot to. be de-.
spised."
Goethe was somewhat embarrassed by
this frank remark, and when the fortune
teller came along persuaded Lucinda to
have her fortune told. You love- was
the verdict. and you are not loved. Be-
tween you and him see a third person,
who separates you"
A COMEDY OF ERRORS.
Although another reading of the cards
was more favorable. Lucinda was much
overcome and rushed away in tears. A
few days later, when Goethe called En-
lila told him that her sister was Ill. Then,
when he made one or two more pointed
remarks about his attachment for her
self, she told him her betrothal to anoth-
er, though suggesting that she had be-
gun to feel more interest in him than
was prudent. She advised him to come
to their home no more, but in token of
her general good feeling started to en-
brace and kiss him in farewell. At this
moment Lucinda burst into the room in
a hysterical state and scolded her sister
for having interfered between her and
Goethe.
81 know that I have lost you. I claim
You no more" she said, and then, as she
kissed him franticalIy, added: Now fear
my curse, Woe upon woe, forever and
ever, to her who for the first time after
me kisses these lips"
It was not long after this that his first
meeting with Frederick Brion took place,
and, strangely enough, her lips were
those on which the French girls curse
was to fall Frederick was the daughter
of a village pastor at Sessenhein, distant
about sixteen miles from Strasburg.
Weyand, a friend of his, took him to
visit the interesting family, in whom the
poet found strong resemblance. to the
Vicar of Wakefield and his family.
Frederick was only sixteen, and very
pretty and amiabIe. The two young peo-
pie were soon deeply in love with each
other, and Goethe became a fayorite with
the whole family. A few weeks later he
made second visit to the same neigh
borhood, and when he returned to Stras-
burg he was regarded by the Brion fam
lily as the betrothed of Frederick. The
two young people certainly loved each
other very deeply, but it is hardly proba-
BILE that the matter went so far as to
necessitate Goethe's laying it before his
| own parents. Probably they would have
objected to his engaging himself when so
young to girl so much below him in
wealth and station.
After Frederick, with her mother and
sister, had made visit in Strasburg,
the poet began to question the depth of
turesque rural dress, may have seemed
too much like peasants in the fashionable
| society of Strasburg. In spite of the
warmth of his previous protestations, he
began to perceive little change in his
feelings. There was no break between
the two. He had to admit that Fred
erika was as sweet and lovable as ever.
But when, after her return to the coun-
try, he went to Sesenheim to see her,
both realized that the end had come.
There were no reproaches on either side.
Zach still loved the other, but Goethe
had brought himself to see that from a
worldly point Of view the marriage was
impossible, and Frederick had accepted
his decision. OF the last parting lie says:
'Those were painful days of which I
remember nothing. When I held out my
hand to her from my horse the tears were
in her eyes, and I left sad at heart"
IN LOVE WITH CHARLOTTE BUPP.
The next occupant of Goethe's heart
was Charlotte Bupp. She, too, was only
sixteeR when he first met her In Wetzlar,
in 1772. She was the eldest daughter in a
motherless family, and her devotion to
her little brothers and sisters was one of
her greatest charms in the poets eyes,
She was already betrothed to DT.Kestner,
secretary Of the Hanoverian legation, and
Goethe's feeling for her was affection,
rather than love-. He saw a great deal
of her, visited her home constantly, was
a great favorite with the children, and
he aDHeKestner became great friends
STA ft6r daking his doctors degree at
StFasburg Goethe had come to Wetzlar to
trEtudy law. When his time for departure
came he felt that he could not stand the
strain q formal ssaYs.taktng Hs loft &