The daily Alaskan., 1915-01-12
AN EYENTFUL
 CHRISTMAS
It Unites a Pair of
 Lovers.
By WILLARD MALTBIE


 Count Caspar Gotwuld at twgnty-One came iutU his ancestral estates As for family responsibility, his uher- itanre was large; landed property and money were inversely small. In his fathers time the SchlOsS that had been in the family for hundreds of years had passed into the possession of an American millionaire. When CaSpHr received his inheritance 1t was the remains of everything the family had owned turned into money and in American currency amounted to about $5,OOO
 The young man concluded that he might as well avail himself of the only other asset in hls possessiOn--an entry into the court circle of Berlin The funds at his command would en. able him to keep such position through one season. after which he would go to some country where he would not be known and make liY- Ing the pest way ne COutu
 Had he realized that he would great. ly need this money in the new field, that its possession would be a great advantage to any one knowing how to handle 1t, doubtless be would have ] fOregOne this plan of brief career in the gay world at Berlin and held on to his funds. But Count Caspar was as ] ignorant of business as a child. and it IS quite probable that, considering this ignorance, had he retained bis inner itance, be would not have had the slightest knowledge of how to use it to advantage.
 So it was that one autumn Count Caspar Gotwald appeared in Berlin, presented his credentials and made his appearance in that exclusive society presided over by the kaiser and the kaiserin. He was the handsomest man in the court circle that winter, the most entertaining converSationaliSt and the best dancer All the women were in love with him. Yet, singular as 1t may appear, he seemed to have no fac ulty for bettering his financial condi ton by marrying a fortune, which he might easily have done. For this there was a reason. Among those who entered Berlin society that year was an American family named Rathbone. Winifred Rathbone then saw the gay world for the first time as a young lady. Her father was a retired banker and rich. The young count met her and was conquered During the whole season he was sub seryieut to her beck and call. But when the spring opened he was not be. trotliad to her and had thrown over hals q du2Cn women any one of whom would have been glad to marry him.
 Aftcr the departure or 1he fair Wini fred Baron GeraIt. one Of Count Gas par's intimate friends wGv knew of bis necessities. took h.m to task for ha,ing wasted his opportunities
 since You could noI grt the Amcri cal. w,,y Gii you not take one of the oth2r women who were dying for you?'
 "l did not ask Miss Rathboue to marry me"
 Did not ask her?" No In America they do not make , marriages as We do here. It is con. sidered beneath man who has noth, ing to ask a woman of wealth to mar " him"
 Then why did you not ask the Bar. Oness Richter?"
 "I did not wish to marry the bar ouess, and l do not know that the baroness wished to marry me" "Caspar, you talk like fool"
 Nevertheless l am a gentleman, and my ancestors have been honorable men. l cannot offer myself and my 1 poverty to any woman in whose cOun- try a man without the means of sup porting himself is demeaned by talk ing a rich wife"
 Well" concluded the baron, since you won't marry the American be- cause you are poor and will not marry one of your own countryWomen who Is rich I don't see what you are going | to do"
 "I am going to America to lose my self among the 90,0OO,OOO people there are there"
 How will you make llving2"
 By doing anything can find to do"
 What, a count work"
 "I shall drop my title. shall be Caspar Gotwald."