The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-02
~ Graf Won 70
Blum en- = SchloSS.

the oldest families OF PRUSSIA. / was
an untitled American whose father had
been pork packer and whose hus.
band was manufacturer OF shoes.
Nevertheless Graf Won Blumen. Sehloss
treated me with as much attention as
II had been a duchess. When with
me no attraction elsewhere could In
duce him to desist from listening to
what ] had to say TO him or to suspend
for moment his attentive gaze upon
my face. True. was then young and
had some good looks. but | knew IL
was not who held his attention. but a
courtesy inherited from a long line OF
mobiles. Besides. when he was with
other women he was apparently quite
ms much wrapped In them.
he wore an army uniform aud on
his breast several decorations. did
not know what they represented. but
] understood that one of them had
been bestowed upon him for bravery
in battle. | think | should have fallen
in love with him II had been single
and given an opportunity. But | did
not see him again while In Vienna. and
shortly afterwsrd we left for America.
Two or three years after this. while
in Philadelphia, stopping at one Of the
finest hotels in that city. on entering
an elevator one evening TO 60 up to
my rooms | was ushered In by a man
wearing the hotel uniform. There was
something about him that was familiar
to me. The uniform Of servant seem
ed 10 resolve itself into that OF an
army officer heard the strains OF
dance music and was whlrling in the
german cotillon. raised my glance
to the servants face. Could believe
III He was the Graf Won Blumen.
Schloss.
His flaming face told me that It was
indeed he and that he knew me, but he
made no other sign Of recognition.
Nor did ]. The elevator door toward
which he waved his hand stood open.
entered and was lifted to the fifth
story. I could not bear to run the
risk Of continually meeting my pre-
vious cotillon partner reduced to a
servant. and the next morning left
the hotel.
Three years after that my husband
gave up business, and we again went
abroad. Being wealthy and abundant
ly able TO keep up a position in any
foreign city. we desired especially to
spend a winter in Berlin, but on arriv-
ing there my husband, who is an i'm
patient, independent. thorough Amer
lean, gave offense TO our minister, and
there was a deadlock upon our en-
tering society. We were about to give
the matter up and go elsewhere when
something occurred to change our reso-
luton. An invitation came one morn
ing to attend a ball to be given by
Graf and Grafin Won Blumen-Sehloss,
1t was evident, first, that the graf had
resumed bis original position In the
world and, second, that he knew / was
In Berlin. / assumed that be must
have seen me, though / had not seen
him. We made inquiries and learned
that be had married wealthy and
refined American lady and had recent
" been appointed an aid-de-camp to
the emperor.
We went to the ball and were very |
received by the grafiln, who
gave as a reason for inviting Us that |
we were her fellow countrymen. My |
meeting with her husband In his own
home was naturally constrained. He |
made no mention Of having met me In |
America, but asked me IL he had not
met me In Europe. told him that he
had been my partner at state ball In
Vienna. Then be appeared to remem-
per- He may have been sincere in
not giving evidence Of recollecting just
where he had first seen me.
Later an invitation came to dine
with the emperor and empress. which.
1f course, was inspired By bis abide
amp, the Won Blumen-Schlosses be-
ng Of the dinner party. After this
we were welcome everywhere.
Never did either Won Blumen-
schloss or his wife make the slightest
illusion to his having been in Ameri-
"a. l as well ignored having met him
n hotel livery. What inspired his
to me do not know. 1t
nay have been intended to keep me
Iilent on his past or it might have
been token of gratitude for my fail
ire to recognize him while In mental
position. Indeed, he might have been
Influenced by both Of these causes.
In time came upon his story. Soon
lfter had danced with him In Vienna
financial reverses deprived him Of his
ortune Like many an EUROPEAN aris-
ocrat In the same circumstances, he
vent to America and became serv-
mt From the hotel be went to serve
gentleman as chauffeur and while
citing in that capacity won the heart
f his daughter. Learning who he
vas. she had married him with her
ather's consent and set him up again
q Won Blumen-Schloss. After the
marriage the husband came into an
Their fortune. All that WIS known in
Europe about his having been in
.merlea was that he had married
here.
Query-Did he 90 there to get a
ich wife in clandestine manner9
living to lack Of means he could not
ave gone for matrimonial purposes
D any other way
THERESA G. HOLT.