Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-06-13
HIS fIANCEE,S
RELATIVE.

tOriginal.l
"Hey, cabman! Hold ont"
"Tve got a fare, sir" pulling up.
"What is it?" asked a gentleman
from inside the cab.
''The rain is spelling my uniform"
said the man who had called the cab
from the curb Of a street in Berlin. 81
can't hire a conveyance for love or
money"
"Where do you go?" asked the gen.
tleman.
Anywhere till you alight."
Every well; step in"
A young lieutenant of artillery got
into the cab and sat down beside the
gentleman, who was quite old and
whose civilians clothes and quiet de-
meanor were in marked contrast with
the ~lieutenant's uniform and self con
ident air. The latter had been lunch
ing with friends, and the wine he had
drunk had impaired a rosy hue to his
cheeks and stimulated his tongue.
swell, we'll, my venerable FRIEND y
be said gayly, "I'm in luck, and you
are very good to let me In your cab.
I have an engagement to meet a young
lady. l don't mind telling you-you
who have been so good to me-that she
Is my fiancee. How would 1 look go
Ing into her presence all bedraggled?
And she a relative of one Of the first
men in the empire"
"Whom would you call one of the
first men in the empire?" asked the
old gentleman.
'"That would be telling a stranger
the name Of the lady to whom 1 am
engaged. However, you may guess"
"a member of the reichstag?" was
the first guess.
"a bigger man than that"
"a colonel in the army?"
"a great deal bigger a than q
colonel, but I will admit he is a sol
der"
The gentleman guessed a number of
generals, going higher and higher with
each guess. Not having guessed Alright.
he gave it up.
"But you have not guessed high
enough. There is one still higher than
all, the commander In chief"
II thought you said he was one of
the first men in the empire"
81 should. call Field Marshal Won
Moltke a pretty big man. He Is a great
man, N of the greatest who have
ever lived"
eyes, a very great man in the esti-
nation of the people. But if he should
lose a battle those who hurrah for him
loudest would decry him loudest. It's
hero worship"
"My friend. if the law Of leze males.
ty were applicable to him 1 would re.
port you. l have a good mind to do so
any way. Who are you to speak so dis.
respectfully of the man next in impor-
lance to the EMPEROR"
81 have guessed to whom your fan
Gee is related. Suppose you guess who
lam"
ga m%erchant?" ssssasssss
"No." -
"a lawyer" u.
mo" a"-
"Better than those"
81 suppose So"
"You have a position In the govern.
ment?"
Eyes"
"In what Department."
"The army"
This sobered the lieutenant. but not
enough to prevent hts guessing fur.
Their.
"a retired colonelw
"Higher rank than that"
"a general of brigade?"
"Higher."
The lieutenant guessed successfully
all ranks except general in chief, then
said:
you're fooling me-"
mo. You have not guessed high
enough"
Nonsense. There only remains Field
Marshal o Moltke."
At that moment the cab drew I'D at
a house, and the gentleman got out, ex-
pressing himself pleased at having saw
ed the young mans uniform and a be-
draggled appearance before his fancee.
Then the cab was driven on.
The lieutenant, who believed the man
had been chatting him, thought no more
about the matter and, having told the
cabman where to take him, took a nap.
Presently he was awakened by stop
ping before his iancee's residence, got
out, paid the cabman and sent him
about other business. The next morn
ing the lieutenant, who was on leave
from his corps, stationed fl the prov
inces, returned to his post.
When he again visited Berlin 1t was
to be married. The ceremony had been
performed, and the guests were seated
at the wedding breakfast when a small,
slight old man in uniform entered the
room: Every guest rose at once ex-
cept the groom. His bride pulled at
his coat sleeve. He did not move. but
sat with his eyes starting from their
sockets and fixed on the approaching
officer.
"For heavens sake. Heinrich, what
10 ffNS n~n1o(po41 kI1 Q.k-tx--.a -