The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-04

Adeiheid Won Kienitz?
She was a funny little deformed
person, aged, perhaps, seventy, widow
OF the great General Won Kenitz, who
had served in the FrancO-German cam
paign, and who. before his death, had
been acknowledged to be as great q
strategist as Lord Roberts.
Countess Won Kienitz was the daugh-
ter of a certain Countess Won Borcke,
and after living for many years in re-
firement in her picturesque old schIoss,
perched on a rock not far from the
famous wine district of Berncastel. on
the Mosel river, became suddenly
seized with an idea to re-enter Berlin
society.
With this view she rented a fine
house not far from the Leichtenstein
bridge and early in 1911 commenced
a series of wildly extravagant enter
tainments with view, as it seemed to
me, to attract the more modern and go
ahead section of Berlin society.
At first the smarter set looked as
kance at her, and they strenuously de-
clined invitations to her splendid, new
~ furnised mansion in the StuIer-
endeavOred to surround herself with
young society of both sexes, and many
smart dances were given at the Stuler-
Strasse during the seasOn-dances at
which the staggering Prussian officer
was seen at his gorgeous best.
One afternoon, seated by the crown
prince as he drove recklessly his great
Mercedes car along the BismarckalIee
In the direction Of POtsdam, we passed
an overdressed old woman, very artifi-
cial. with yellow hair and short stat
ure.
Look, Heltzendorff! Is she not like
Won KienitZ?"
''Yes, her figure is very similar"
admitted
"Ah The old woman was introduced
to me the other night at Bismarck
Bohien's house. Himmel! What a
freaki Have you seen her wigY"
! replied that had visited once or
twice at the Stulerstrasse and that the
company had met there were certain
~ amusing. mentioned some of their
names, among them that of young Won
Ratibor. Major Gersdorff of the Deaths
Head Hussars, Van Heynitz of the
konigsjager, well-known man about
town. his friend Winterfeld. together
with number of ladies of the very
ultra go-ahead set. At this his high
ness seemed highly interested.
"She certainly seems a very curious
old person." he laughed. "Fancies that
she's but twenty-five, and actually had
the audacity to dance at Bismarck
Bohien's."
New Arrival at Court.
Judge my great surprise when,
about six weeks later, Frau Won Alven- |
sleben, the pretty grand maitresse of
the court of the crown princess, stop
ped me in one of the corridors of the
Marmor palace and, drawing me aside.
whispered:
CT have news for you, my dear
count. We have q new arrival at
cOurt-Frau Yellow-Wig."
She saw that did not follow her.
Countess Won Kienitz-a friend of
yours, I believe"
Friend of mine!" I echoed Eve
only been in her house three or four
times. just in a crowd, and out of Gu
riosity"
''Oh. la la Well, she has told the
crown princess that you are her friend
and. in brief, has entirely fascinated
her imperial highness."
What the grand maitresse had told
me was perfectly correct, for three
days later a dance was held, and as 1
entered the room l saw amid that gay
assemblage the widow of the long-for-
gotten military hero talking quite ia
miliarly with her imperial highness.
To my utter amazement, also, his ma
jesty the emperor, in the gay uniform
of the Third regiment of Uhlans OF
Saxony. advanced and smiled gracious
~ upon her as she bowed as low as |
rheumatism and old age allowed.
The fascination which the shriIl- |
voiced old woman exercised over
''CilH" (the crown princess) was quick
" remarked. and. OF course, gossip be-
came more rife than ever, especially
when. a week later. 1t was announced
that she had actually been appointed
. lady-in-waiting.
The crown prince, too. soon became