The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-30

"......"..s.s........... ................s.ssssssssss chant Gotzkowsky was about to go Into bankruptcy His efforts during the war in behalf of the city of Berlin and the city of Lelpsic, his guaranteeing of | their pledges, his enormous expendi- lures in behalf of his fellow citizens, l and the great sums which he had ex- pended in behalf of the King, and which the King did not find 1t convenient to repay. had reduced him to financial extremity-to financial ruin. Rus oian commissioner arrived in Berlin to demand an immediate payment of the long overdue indemnity guaranteed by Gotzkowsky at the time of the occu- patton of the city by the allies. It was the last straw for the merchant of Ber- lin. for the city fathers refused to help him pay. The Russian commissioner was the Prince Stratimojeff, whom Catherine had sent on this mission to get out of the way while she estab- lished in her favor her new fancy, tho Prince Oroff
 q will take vengeance on this proud woman who thinks to cast me off like toy of which she is tired.' thought the Prince. "I will show her that my heart Is unmoved by her nf1delity. will present to her my young wife. whose beauty. youth and innocence will cause her e blush for shame" The Prince presented himself at the house of Gotzkowsky. He sought interview with Elise He was the same man who formerly had been known as Count von Brenda. Through years and leagues have I come to you, Elise" he said. My wife is dead. She left this. her last will" He handed her a paper in which the dead wife hal begged Elise to take the heart of her husband, which had in reality always been hers. She bequeathed 1t to her. Elise forgot everything and threw herself into Feodors arms.
 Elise knew that her father was in some business trouble, but attached no import- ance to the fact. From her girlhood she had hated business and the wealth it brought-why should she interest her. self? Her father knew these matters thoroughly. She was, of course. sorry to that he worried. But now that Feodor had again appeared she was joyous, radiant. She sought the mer- chant where he sat alone contemplating the ingratitude of man and his approach- ing ruin With glad accents she told him of the return of her lover. Feodors heart had always been hers-she poured out the whole story as she believed 1t v to be. Gotzko wsky looked at her mourn- = fully. His prejudices should guide him no longer death or poverty were awaiting hm-here was one weight taken from hls l mind, his daughter would be provided for. He gave his consent and blesse1 } the child She ran to tell Feodor and 1t was arranged that the next day in Elise's own apartments priest of tho \ Russian church should unite the pair In , holy wedock.
 Bertram, who had offered his all to } his friend and foster father, saw this 1 approaching marriage and the final loss , of the woman he had so long and so devotedly loved with a grief bordering ; on frenzy. He at that moment received from a friend in St. Petersburg a let- ter Tn which the true position of Feo- dor at the court of Catherine was set forth. He sought Elise and handed her the letter. He explained to her that Feodor was, even now, in Berlin to press the financial ruin of her father.
 
 which told of the reasons why the Em- press had given her written consent to the marriage of Feodor with the merchants daughter with especial agony. q did but seek to save you. sister" said Bertram. Do you still lov6 rce?" she suddenly asked of the young man. Can you ask that question:" he replied.
 She took his hand and led him to her father. Here is my husband" she said. Tong and faithfully has he loved ne, and I have thrown away the idle fancies of my former years for otherA Upon this noble and devoted heart will henceforth rely" Tears of joy came to the old merchants eyes as he blessed his children.
 When Feodor arrived he found E1ise , in her bridal dress before the altar which had been erected in her room. Beside her stood Bertram. T am . bride. but this is my husband" said she as the prince stopped in astonish. Inent To-day for the third time he has saved me-saved me from you. I kept :, my heart faithful to Feodor, but Eco. dor ceded it to the Prince StratimojeH. am too proud to be the wife of the favorite of an Empress" q came to you to save me from the waves of sin." said reodor, and went sadly away. He rec turned to Russia to live the life of . discarded favorite. and to end his days rapidly in dissipation.
 Gotzkowsky was ruined-even the King forgot his services and the moneys he owed him. Bertram and Elise mado Ia. For i'm, vba ba w a than he had been even in the days of his greatest prosperity. Far away from Berlin and the ingratitude o1 courts and cities they lived on . farm . In Selsia, peasants, following ono a1. other to the grave and happy in thalp mutual affections.
 Next weeks one-page classic will Do "Reveries of a Bachelor" by Ik Mape vel