The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-30
- Graf Won -
Blgmen : SchIoss.
tcopyrisht. 1909, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l

49, SnsptCSo hhu WIS theEtDy uhuo n
part Of Berlin society7 MOI Wen, I'll
tell you now.
While in Vienna was In nyited to a
state ball at the palace. My partner
for the cotillon was a young German,
Graf Won Blumen-Schloss. He was
handsome. refined and of a noble bear.
ing. His social position was of the
very best not only from his PERSONAL
ity, but because be represented one Of
the oldest families of Prussia. / was
an untitled American whose father had
been a pork packer and whose hus-
band was manufactures Of shoes.
Nevertheless Graf Won Blumen-Schloss
treated me with as much attention as
IL had been a duchess. When with
me no attraction elsewhere could in
duce him to desist from listening to
what l had 20 say to him or to suspend
for q moment his attentive gaze upon
my face. True. ] was then young and
bad some good looks, but / knew Il
wns not / who held his attention. but
courtesy inherited from a long line Of
mobiles. Besides, when be was with
other women he was apparently quite
as much wrapped in them.
He wore an army uniform aud on
his breast several decorations. I did
not know what they represented. but
/ understood that one of them had
been bestowed upon him for bravery
in battle. / think l should have fallen
in love with him If had been single
and given an opportunity. But / did
not see him again while in Vienna, and
shortly afterward 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 go up to
my rooms was ushered in by n man
wearing the hotel uniform. There was
something about him that was familiar
to me. The uniform Of a servant SEEM
ed to resolve itself into that of an
army officer. l heard the strains OF
dance music and was whrling In the
german cotillon. Il raised my glance
to the servants face. Could believe
III He was the Graf Won Blumen.
Schlogs.
His flaming face told me that 1t was
indeed be and that he knew me, but ne
made no other sign OF recognition.
Nor did !. The elevator door toward
which he waved his hand stood open.
l entered and was lifted to the fifth
story. could not bear to run the
risk of continually meeting my pre-
rions cotillon partner reduced to
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 position I'm any
foreign city, we desired especially to
spend winter In Berlin. but on arriv-
ing there my husband. who ia an I'M
patient. independent, thorough Amer
lcan, 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 on: reso-
luton. An invitation came one morn
ing to attend a ball to be given by
Graf and Grafin Won Schloss
1t was evident. first, that the graf had
resumed his original position in the
world and, second. that he knew l was
in Berlin. assumed that he must
have seen me, though l had not seen
him. We made inquiries and learned
that he had married wealthy and
refined American lady and had recent
Iy been appointed an aid-de-camp to
the emperor.
We went to the ball and weBe very
graciously received by the graffin, 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 II he had not
met me in Europe. ! told him that he
had been my partner at state ball in
Vienna. Then he appeared TO remem-
ber. 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,
of course. was inspired by his aid-de-
camp, the Won Blumen-Schlosses be-
ing of the dinner party. Aftes this
we were welcome everywhere.
Never did either Won Blumen-
Schloss or his wife MAKE the slightest
allusion to his having been in Amerl-
ca. as well ignored having met him
in hotel livery. What inspired his
kindness to me I do not know. 1t
may have been intended to keep me
silent on his past or it might have
been token OF gratitude for my fail
ure to recognize him while In menial
position. Indeed. he might have been
Influenced by both Of these causes.
In time | came upon his story. Soon
after had danced with him in Vienna
financial reverses deprived him OF his
fortune. Like many an EUROPEAN aris'
tocrat in tae same circumstances, be
went to America and became a serv-
ant. From the hotel he went to serve
a gentleman as chauffeur and while
acting in that capacity won the heart
Of his daughter. Learning who he
s was, she had married him with heI
y fathers consent and set him UP again
y VI, Sol