Amador ledger., 1907-07-05
HIS FIANCEE'S
RELATIVE.

Icy, NoOnldA. Ou.
Give got fare, sir,' pulling up.
what is it?" asked gentleman
from inside the cab.
"The rain is spelling my uniform"
said the man who had called the cab
from the curb of street in Berlin. 81
can't hire conveyance for love or
money"
Where do you go?" asked the gen.
tleman.
Anywhere till you alight."
Every well; step i'm
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 lieutenants uniform and self con-
fident 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.
"Well, well, my venerable friend"
lie said gayly, "I'm in luck, and you
are very good to let me in your cab
have an engagement to meet young
! lady. l don't mind telling you-you
who have been so good to me-that she
is my fiancee. How would look 60
ing into her presence all bedra ggled?
And she a relative of one of the first
men in the empire" ne $50
"Whom would you call one of the
first men in the empire!" asked the
old gentleman.
THAT would be telling stranger
the name Of the lady to whom I 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 man than q
colonel, but 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"
Il thought you said he was one of
the first men in the empire"
Il should call Field Marshal Won
Moltke pretty big man. He is great
man, one of the greatest who have
ever lived"
Eyes, very great man in the esti-
nation of the people. But If he should
| lose battle those who hurrah for him
| loudest would decry him loudest. It's
hero worship"
"My friend, if the law of leze majes-
| ty were applicable to him l would re-
port you. / 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
l am"
"a merchant?"
mo"
"a lawyer?"
mo"
Better than those"
81 suppose So"
ment?'
Eyes"
'In what department"
1.-THE army"
This sobered the lieutenant, but not
enough to prevent his guessing fur
| Their.
"a retired colonely'
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 Won Moltke."
At that moment the cab drew up at
house, and the gentleman got out, ex-
pressing himself pleased at having saw
ed the young mans uniform and be-
draggled appearance before his fiancee.
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 q nap.
| Presently he was awakened by stop
ping before his fiancee'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 in the prov
inces, returned to his post.
When he again visited Berlin it 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
! is it?' exclaimed the frightened bride
| Get up 1t is the field marshal, my
sousin's uncle"
''Gott i'm hlmmel!" gasped the groom.
1T is the old man in the cabr'
The marshal advanced straight to the
bride kissed her and offered his hand
to her husband, who by this time was
standing straight as ramrod and look
irg as if he expected to have his epau-
lets torn OFF and himself confined in a
fortress for the rest of his natural life.
But the old man pressed his hand, look
ing at him kindly, and said: