The Washburn leader., 1916-05-05
My Cousin
From America
B. EuNlcE BLAKE


The Won Muellers are one of the old
est families In Prussia. But there have,
been spendthrffts In the family, men
who despised the making Of money
and who have had no other profession
than the army, which, to say the least,
is not lucrative. The original family
estates were conferred on Otto Won
Mueller for military service.
One Of my uncles. Caspar Won Muel-
Ter, rather than be poor aristocrat In
Prussia chose to be rich commoner
in America. At any rate, he went
there to attempt to make a fortune. He
succeeded, and at the beginning Of the
twentieth century was the only rich
one of the family. He was loyal to
his relatives and entered upon a cor
respondence with my father, his broth
er, with view to starting the family
on new career Of prosperity by means
Of his great wealth. He had only one
child, son, and his plan was to mar
ry him to one of the family in Prussia.
Then the young man was to remove to
the fatherland and by, means Of his
wealth secure position at the kaiser's
court.
Our Won Muellers in Germany were
quite pleased with the plan. The aris-
tocracy and the commercial classes had
been drawing closer together. The kai-
ser himself owned a pottery. Caspar
Won Mueller's millions, though acquired
in trade. were not to be despised. To
make long story short, it was ar
ranged that he should come over to
Germany, and l, being the only girl
Won Mueller of suitable age for him, it
was hoped that match might be ar
ranged between him and me.
One evening lot Of us Won Mue:lers
were sitting III I puH.ic garden listen
ing to an orchestra and drinking wine
or beer. Two young men came in and
took seats at table near us. They
seemed to be English-at least they
spoke the English language. The feel,
ing against the English people was
very strong, and even the language
was Irritating. But one Of the young
men opposite me was very handsome,
and could not help glancing at him
occasionally. Whether or no he was
encouraged by this or because he ad-
mired me, he gazed at me continually.
Finally my brother Otto, lieutenant
in the army, noticed his eyes continu.
ally bent on me. Rising, Otto went to
the table where the young man was
sitting and said, II will pig stick you,"
and threw card on the table bearing
his name and address.
This was equivalent to challenge
to fight. As soon as Otto returned to
us gave him piece of my mind, tell
ing him that did not need him to pro-
tect me and he had no right to chal-
lenge man simply for admiring me.
l did not know whether the stranger
would fight, but determined to pre-
vent q meeting If possible. Ny cousin
Gustav, boy Of fifteen, was of our
party, and, Otto having left us, taking
Gustav with me, went to the table
where the two strangers were sitting
| and said to the one who had been look
ing at me:
II have a request to make Of you.
SIR"
Rising and removing his hat, he ask
ed to be informed what it was.
spoke in German, and he replied in the
same language, though with foreign
accent.
II have seen my brother challenge
you. l beg that you, will decline to
fight"
"But your German men expect
"Never mind what our German men
expect. You have the request Of a
German woman. 1t should be Of great
er import to you than the demand of
any man."
He hesitated for a few moments,
then said:
"Fraulein, shall consider your re-
| quest a command. I beg to offer an
apology for looking SO intently upon
you. In the first place, lost a sister
few years ago who greatly resembled
you. In the second place, admit that
you excited my admiration the moment
l looked at you"
"No apology is necessary. thank
you very much for granting my re-
quest"
AS was turning away to rejoin the
party at our table he said:
"May ask, fraulein, to be informed
as to whom have the honor to obey?"
t"I am Bertha Won Mueller"
He looked at me with an expression
which did not understand. but said
nothing further.
The duel, Of course, did not take
place. My brother In speaking Of it
said contemptuously that the man was
i fans,ht1osc an En0lishman and tho Emo