Middletown transcript., 1917-07-21


I'm q somewhat curious manner.
/ Glanced to be lunching at the Es-
planade in Berlin, chatting with La
rogue Of the French embassy. Our
hostess was Frau Breltenbach, q
wealthy Jcwess-a woman who came
-Dortmund-a who was spend
ing money like water in order to
wriggle into Berlin society. AS per-
sonal adjutant of the crown prince, L
was. of course, one of the principal
guests, and I suspected that she was
angling for card of invitation to the
next ball at the Marmor palace.
Frau Breitenbach was lunching with
sixteen guests at one big, round table,
her daughter Elise, q very smartly
dressed girl of nineteen, seated oppo-
site to her. It was q merry party, in
GLIDING, rs it did, some of the most
renowned persons in the empire, among
them being the imperial chancellor
Bethmann-Hollweg, and that grand
seigneur, who was favorite at court,
the multimilliOnaire serene highness,
Prince Maximilian Egon zu Fuersten-
berg. OF the latter it may be said that
no man livaled his influence with the
emperor. What he said was law in
Germany.
Fuerstenberg was head Of the ia
nous princes trust" now dissolved,
$5OO,0GO,O00, it was great force in the
German commercial world. Indeed,
such q boon companion was he of the
kaiser's that an august but purely dec
orative and ceremonial place was actu-
ally invented for him as colonel mar
shall Of the Prussian court, an excuse
to wear a gay uniform and gorgeous
decorations. as befitted a man who,
possessing hundred millions. was an
important ASST to the emperor in his
deep-laid scheme for world power.
Young Man Across the Room.
That merry luncheon party was the
prologue of q very curious drama. AS
we chatted I noticed that far across
the crowded room, at a table set In a
window, there sat alone q dark-haired,
sallOw, good-looking young civilian,
who was eating his lunch in rather
bored manner. vet his eyes were fixed
straight upon Elise Breitenbach, as
though she exercised over him some
strange fascination.
Half dozen times I glanced across,
and OF each occasion saw that the
young man had no eyes for the no
tables around the table his gaze being
fixed Upon the daughter Of the great
fnancier.
Somehow I felt distinct belief that
thesycung civilians face was familiar
to me. It was not the first time l had
seen him. yet I could not recall! the cir
cumstances in which we had met.
Two nights later I dined with the
Breitcnbachs ut their fine house in the
Alserstrasse. The only guest besides
myself was the Countess Won Basse
WITT, and after dinner Frau Breiten-
bach took the countess aside to talk
while I wandered with her daughter
into the winter garden, with its high
palms and gorgeous eXOtics, that over
looked the gardens of the Austrian EN-
bassy.
When the man had brought us cOf
fee, the pretty Elise commenced tC
question me about life at the crown
princes court.
allow intensely interesting it must
be to be personal adjHtaHt to the
crown prince! Mother is dying to get
q command to one of the receptions at
Potsdam," the girl said. "Only today
she was wondering whether you
could possibly use your influence in
that direction"
In an instant saw why I had been
invited to dinners and luncheons SO
often.
I reflected a moment Then I said
81 do not think that will be very diff
ficult. will see what can be done
But hope that If am successful you
will accompany your mother"
When I looked in at the court mar
shal's room In the palace next morn
ling, I scrubbed down the name OF
Eli !plother and daughter for cards.
4 A week later the crown prince and
;. princess gave grand ball at the Mar
NOR palace at Potsdam, and the en-
peror himself attended.
Frau Breitenbach, gorgeously at.
tired, made her bow before the all
highest, and her daughter did the same.