The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-20

there was no longer any doubts as to the lady who should ultimately sit on the German throne.
 More than one royal romance has oc- cured in the family of the Hapsburgs. The best of all perhaps Is that of the Archduke Johann, brother of the Em- peror Francis l. One day he was travel ing incognito when he arrived in a vil- lage where he desired to take a coach for Vienna. He looked around to hire a carriage, for which, having been ob- tained, he sought a driver. At length a lad was brought to him.
 Your name?" quered the archduke
 Johann, sir" answered the lad
 The archduke was "cute" He had seen at a glance that this was no boy before him. but a girl disguised
 What do you call yourself when you are at home helping mother in the kitchen " he asked, smiling
 Anna Ploehl," she answered. and what is your name2"
 Johann, too; 1 am an archduke' T suppose you will say that you arc the Emperor himself next" she laughed back at him. Then she drove his car riage into Vienna.
 Here. behold, the people saluted and she made inquiries. thus finding out the real facts. But she thought little more of the matter until month later the archduke strode into her fathers cottage just al the dinner hour and asked per mission to join the family gathering. The girl began apologies. but the arch duke laughed them aside, and insisted on being called plain Johann
 The visit was repeated again and again. and at last the villagers began to talk unkindly. Anna at last asked the arch duke to come no more because of the gossip. That settled it. He asked her to marry him, and, despite the objections of the Emperor, the two were married. Later, the girl, the daughter of a job master, was created baroness and count ess, and at last forgiven by the Emperor.
 Make an Ideal Couple.
 If ever there was a love affair in court, camp or grove, it surely was that of the Grown Prince of Germany. It was a love match from first to last. and. quite in the manner of melodranla. the alliance was looked upon askance by the great father.
 The girl who had won the heart of Germany's young hopeful was not veal thy, and had little to recommend her. save her simple ways and gentle bear ing. 'I am not a bit clever, but I can make bread and cook dinner and keep house." she used to say; and her charming modesty made the match dear to the heart of the German people
 The young lovers had to resort to scheming to obtain their meetings Ce- cilia would visit friends in a certain old castle, and there young Wilhelm would appear. and the two by day would motor through the quiet country lanes and at evening stroll hand in hand beneath the great trees of the deer park. For years, 1t seems, Cecilia had admired the tall slim figure of her hero, and when she saw him riding his horse down the great stone staircase of the Potsdam palace her young heart thrilled.
 It Is doubtful if in all the courts of Europe there are more domestic-and happier-couple than the German crown prince and his wife
 The second son of Prince Oscar IT fell in love with Miss Ebba Munck while at Bournemouth. She was one of the lades-in-w waiting to the Swedish crown princess. and King Oscar wished his son to make an alliance with one of the royal houses of Europe
 The difficulty seemed one to be met only by drastic steps on the part of f1,e lovers; but Queen Sophie's heart was won. and she it was who obtained the Kings consent. She was very Ill, and a dangerous operation was the only chance