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

as It Is told In ms own memoirs ana Tn Prussian history of the reign of the Great Frederick. Gotzkowsky's case was one ~, those in which facts supply all the s<sAyeriai that Is requisite for romance and the embellishments of fiction are un- needed. The base ingratitude with which the merchant was treated by the King by the cities of Berlin and Leipsic and by the people whom he had befriended in -heir need would hardly be believed did not the record stand in the pages of his tory. This historical novel is in many ways the best of Frau Mundt's works, for in 1t there Is more of nobleness and less of scandal than we generally find in her pages. Her description of the Prus- sian capital in the hands of the invaders, her character drawing of the King, her picture of the social and business life of the times are all valuable sidelights of history.
 LNEAR' distress sorrow was over whelming the city of Berlin. It 4 was the fifth year of the tremen- dous struggle between Prussia and Aus tria for the possession of Silesia. The Russians had taken the side of Austria and the army of the Empress Elizabeth was within 100 miles of the Prussian capital. Going through the wide and empty streets of the city there were to be met only sad countenances, women clothed in black who mourned their hus- bands fallen In the war, or mothers who were looking with anxiety into the future and thinking of their absent sons who had gone to the army. Only in one sport of that. disconsolate city did there seem to reside confidence and cheerfulness. It was the great house of the rich merchant, 0otzkowsky who was giving a festival to his workmen to celebrate the marriage of one of them.
 The mansion of Gotzkowsky was, in- deed, the largest and most magnificent private residence in Berlin, and 1t was filled with pictures and other works of art which the merchant had collected with rare taste and at an enormous expense. Several times had he travelled to Italy to purchase pictures for the King, the Great Frederick. But though he had bought the pictures with his own money he had as yet seen none of the King for the seven years war was on, and Frederick was devoting every cent he could raise to the necessities of his armies while he himself led a wandering life of battle and march far from Berlin
 The dinner in the house being ended, Gotzkowsky told his head bookkeeper to lead the guests to the garden, where the festivities were to continue. Bert ram had been brought up by the mer- chant and was treated by him as his son. It was his dearest wish to see the excellent young man married to his motherless daughter Elise. In the bloom of youth and beauty, Elise, though the daughter of the richest man in Berlin was unhappy. Counts and princes had made proposals for her hand-and fortune-only to be rejected. Upon Bertram she had looked with af- lection, but not with love. He was brother to her, nothing more.
 And now as. Elise sat alone in her chamber hearing the noise of the we'd ding festivities of one of her father workmen her beautiful eyes were filled with tears She drew from her bosom of a sudden a miniature In a gold case and pressed it passionately to her lips. IT was the picture of a young man in .ba Russian uniform. "Feodor!" she murmured so softly that it sounded ike q sigh. and then continued why dld we meet only to be separated sNlhs thee the right to possess me- 10 ne the sweet duty of loving thee?' In short Elise was desperately in love vttb the young Russian, Count Feodor von Brenda a colonel in the service or the Northern Empress. who mad been aome time before prisoner or war in Berlin and had been quartered upon her father Of her father Elise had oi late seen but little; the cares or ms business and the cares of many puplic affairs which he had voluntarily taken m had occupied so much Of ms time that the girl thought
 "Mv father is indifferent to my lonen- ness He is immersed in business. nate this wealth. And my father has declared that he will never allow me to marry an enemy of my country. What care TOT the ouarrels of princes or of boundary unesp Love is mightier than all these. l vYll marry my Feodor-or live my lonely u,o as if ,s." She wandered to the great ~.rden-it was of vast extent and sur rounded by wall. She avoided hef sathers guests and walked to retired
 
 mart of the grounds--he wished to be alone. "What can keep Feodor away srom me?'' she unused; The swore that he would brave anything to be with me ara,n, and yet 10 weeks have passed and no word from him." She raised her eves and Feodor von Brenda stood before her.
 .Elise," he said, and then; "start not, utter no cry" Then came warm em- brace and a glowing kiss upon her brow. ''It is death if am found here," he said.
 They talked rapidly of love and faith and war. Feodor told her that the Rus sians were coming, and begged her 10 pursuade her father to use his influence with the city authorities to have Berlin surrender without Q fight. It was for the best interests of the city and the citizens that it should be so. The Prussian capital was practically undefended; it must fall, and if it fell without resistance the vic tors would be lenert. "Feodor," said the sirl. 'T have no influence with my father, and if I had would not abuse it. Such a surrender without fight would be cow ardice." There spoke Gotzkowskys daughter! Well, you will see me again. Elise" said the young man. "when the Russians enter Berlin as conquerors; then will I come to claim your VOW. Fare- we'll" One last embrace and he was gone. s'He Is gone!' she cried. 70, God. have mercy upon me and pity upon my love-"
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