The age-herald., 1901-04-14

Never shall you forget mel I shall be vdth you always, until your last day! Always and evermore, until your last dayl"
 When these words went wailing through the corridor of the palace of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, former heir-apparent to the imperial throne of Austria Hungary, there began the development of human mystery that has held this city in eager interest ever since-an interest that was shared equal iy by plain citizens and by the members of the imperial court. It divided Vienna into two camps-those who believed 1t to be supernatural and those who tried to explain 1t on scientific grounds. By far the larger class believed, and still does many of the men and women of Haps- burg blood also inclined to this belief does not surprise those who, knowing the inti- mate relations of the Hapsburg house with that of the Bavarian Wittelsbachs, recall the terrible epidemic of witchcraft superstition that once filled Bavaria with horror and held the most learned men of the Kingdom under it's spell, until almost every cross-road held the corpse of reputed demoniac or vampire or Satan's bride.
 The beginning of the story, according to the Vienna correspondent of the Wash ington Post, was in August. In the first week of that month there appeared on the fashionable Prater woman strange enough to attract the attention of all, even In Vienna, where on may see the garbs and features of all the world. But this woman aroused curiosity. The vien- nese who are so habituated to seeing Czechs and Huns in their gorgeous na- tional costumes, Turks elbowfng Albani- ans, Kurds and Armenians rubbing shoul- ders with Parisians and Londoners, turn ed to look at her.. It was not only that she was dressed most wonderfully in strange, rich Oriental stuffs that hinted at gypsy dress, yet were far too costly to be worn by one of that class; that had a subtle reminder of the ancient Egyptian, and yet were not Egyptian; that were colored Enthusiastically enough for a thea ter, and yet were worn with a dignity and an indifference that took away all ten after a look at her face. It.was beau tiful.
 Mystery in Vanishing Woman.
 On the evening of the day on which she first appeared every youngblood (and Vi-
  about her. Her eyes, her mouth, her form were described enthusiastically by those who had seen her. Vienna worshps beau tiful women. Here was one who was sur passingly beautiful-"royal," divine" :" glorious said the clubmen. On the next afternoon every light blue and sil- yer hussar every green and gold Jaeger, eveery laced and plumed dragoon. every officer afoot, every rich and gay civilian who coould possibly manage it, was on the promenade to see the stranger As she had done the day before. she appeared suddenly in the crowd-whence, no man coould tell or can tell to this day. But there she was. With head held high, with eyes unshrinking, yet unquestipning, and apparently unseeing any of those who tried to fix her gaze with theirs. she swept across the promenade, stepping as proudly as queen, as gracefully and ithely as a panther. She turned neither to the right nor to the left. And as sud denly as she had appeared so suddenly she was gone. He who knows the Viep- nese motto i' 'Sgibit nur a Kaiserstae 'sgibit~nur a. Wien.'' will not need to | assured by affidavit that she did not ,es- cape for lack of watching. But escape and vanish utterly she did, and she dupli- cated her victory on the next day, for she appeared again and disappeared again just as suddenly. That was the last time but one that she was seen in Vienna by Inortal's eye--and that once was dramat- fc enough to make the gay city on the Danube ring.
 The morning following her disappear ance was the hottest of the summer. Be- fore the sun had reached the monday point the city streets were baking. The board avenues were deserted. Every where was silence, as if the population had fallen asleep.
 Curses the Archduke's Porter.
 When the monday hush was most pro- found the dozing servants in the palace of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand were startled into broad wakefulness by the changing of the bell. Pulled by no uncer- tain or timid hand, it rang out again and again, proclaiming the impatience of the one at the door. Herr Johann Markowics porter to his imperial and royal highness, arose majestically' and strode as swiftly as his dignity would allow to still the clamor. He threw the great doors open wide. Instantly, before he could utter a word, a woman pressed past him and en- tered the great hall. She turned and faced him, and there was something in her appearance that awed him.
 Give me-" said she, "the key to the blue room"
 He stared at her. too much overcome with amazement to reply. t..
 Give me the key at once?" she repeat ed. Do you hear?"
 Porters of archducal palaces are not ac- customed to tones of authority from wis itors in fantastic garb. Herr Markowics had he acted as usually he would have acted, would have called servants to put her out But he did not. He bowed low and said mildly that he could not. Agair