The Democratic advocate., 1917-07-06


upon his table lay private letter from
the German ambassador in London.
"YOu will recall my conversation re-
garding the Countess Won Leutenberg
-eh?"
Perfectly" was my reply.
II told you that l should require
you to introduce me-" he said. "Well,
l want you to do so this evening. She
has taken a box at the Konigliche
Opera tonight, where they are to play
Falstaff.' l shall be there, and you
will be with me. Then you will in
troduce me to your pretty friend. I'm
derStand?"
A PuzzIing Sentence.
That night, in accordance with my
instructions, | sat in the emperOr'S box
with the crown prince, Tresternitz,
and two personal adjutants, and, rec
OgniZing the Countess Won Leutenberg
in a box opposite, accompanied by an
elderly lady, | took the crown prince
round, and there presented her to him,
greatly to her surprise and undisguised
delight.
The prince and the countess chatted
together, while I sat with her elderly
companion. Then, when We had with
drawn, my imperial master exclaimed:
"Ah! my dear Heltzendorff. Why,
she is one Of the prettiest women in
all Berlin! Surely it is unfortunate
most unfortunate"
What was unfortunate? I was fur
4Ipy- I,,+ +I,& To-,
| dare not ask any explanation, and
we went back to our own box.
After our return to the palace the
crown prince, who was standing in one
of the corridors talking with the slim,
fair-haired Baroness Won Wedel, one
of his wifes ladies-in-waiting left her
and beckOned me into an adjoining
room.
II wish you, Heltzendorff, to call
upon the Countess Won Leutenberg at
nine o'clock tomorrow evening. She
will expect YOU"
l looked at his highness, much puz-
zled. How did he know that the pretty
countess would expect me?
But he gave me no time to reply,
merely turning upon his heel, and
Striding down the corridor to the pri-
vate apartments.
"You Are Witness He Has Drawn His
Sword Upon the Heir to the
Throne"
Puuctually at nine o'clock that Win
try evening l called at the Lenne-
straSSe, but Josef. the elderly man
servant, Informed me that his mistress
was engaged adding that his imperial
highnesS the crown prince had paid a
surprise call.
The crown prince here!' l gasped,
aStounded.
"Ye&. count. And, further my mis-
tress is in high glee, for my master
returned this morning quite uneXpect-
edly from London. He has been out
at the ministry for foreign affairs all
the evening, and l expect him home
at any moment. The crown prince or
dered me to ask you to wait him here"
Count Won Leutenberg in Berlin
What did it mean? He was absurdly
Jealous, l recOllected. He might return
at any moment and find the crown
prince alone in the countess drawing
room. If so, the situation might GER
tainly be most unpleasant one.
Hardly had the thought crossed my
mind when l heard the count enter,
his spurs clinking and his saber rat
Ting as he Strodc up the stairs.
I crept forth, listening breathIeSsly.
fnIy cnann1S Jltar T bnnrJ
counts voice raised in anger and high.
bitter words. Next moment I sprang
up the stairs and, dashing into the
room, found the pretty countess stand
ing near the window, white and rigid
as Il statue, while the two men in uni
form faced each other. Won Leuten-
berg's countenHnce was distorted with
rage as he abused the crown prince,
and openly charged him with having
brought about his exile to London.
His highness made no reply, but only
smiled sarcastically and shrugged his
narrow shoulders.
So enraged the other became at this
latter gesture that, with a sudden
movement, he drew his sword.
1Ae COuAleSS Sl1Il6heu anu SWOOuGu
as I sprang forward and stayed her
husbands hand.
1t was a dramatic moment. The
count instantly realized the enormity
of his crime, and his hand dropped.
"Enough!' cried the crown prince,
waving his adversary aside. Then,
turning to me, he said in a calm hard
voice:
'Heltzendorff, you are witness that
this man has drawn his sword upon
the heir to the throne"
And with those naughty words he
bowed stiffly and strobe out of the
room.
A Message From the Emperor.
Two hours later | was commanded
to the kaiser's presence, and found
him in counsel with his son.
/ The emperor, who wore the uniform
of the guards, looked pale and trou-
bled, yet in his eyes there was keen,
determined look. AS passed the SEN
tries and entered the lofty study,
with it's upholstery and walls of pale
green damask-that room from which
the empire and the whole world have
of rricifnd