The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-08-14
HIS AMERICAN
WIFE
How She Obtained Justice
In Berlin
By F. A. mitchell

i: By F. A. mitchell 4:
Minna Selfridge, an American girl,
was quite O belle in Berlin shortly be-
fore the an-European war broke out.
Two Germans, Count Herman Burn
hardt and Heinrich Weber, were as
pirants for her hand. Count Herman
was not to the lady's taste, but Weber,
blue eyed, fair haired Saxon, was
very much so. She accepted his at
tentions, and 1t was evident that his
rival was much disgruntled. The
count was an important functionary
at court and considered himself insult
ed by commoner aspiring to the hand
of one he desired to possess himself.
He was arrogant enough to show his
displeasure even to Miss Selfridge.
When the war broke out Miss Self
ridge had become Frau Weber. Mel
Their Count Herman nor Weber was
In the army, but both were kept busy
in Berlin In the civil service. Those
were days when every one to whom
the slightest suspicion was attached
suffered vigorous treatment One
morning as Weber was about to leave
his wife for his duties of the day a file
of soldiers entered his house, arrested
him and took him off to prison.
The blow fen upon him and his wife
like clap of thunder out of clear
sky. Frau Weber had many friends
among the German women and was
not long In learning that the cause Of
her husbands arrest was that he pos
sessed an American wife; that Ameri-
cans were largely hostile to Germany,
and complaint had been lodged with
the government that Frau Weber had
persuaded her husband to desert his
country in the hour of its need and 60
with her to America.
Frau Weber went at once to Count
Herman Burnhardt and laid the mat
ter before him, asking his Intervention.
She called his attention to the fact that
he was In position to show q truly
noble nature In assisting one who had
been his rival and favoring one who
had declined the honor he would have
conferred upon her. The count prom
ised to do all in his power to right the
matter, assuring her that he would
appeal to the emperor.
Several days passed, and Frau Web
er, not hearing from the count, called
upon him to learn the reason for his
not keeping his promise. He told her
that the emperor's time was all occu-
pied and 1t was very difficult te get his
attention for moment except In most
important matters connected with the
war. However, the count was watch
ing for an opportunity, and if one &C.
CURED he would at once avail himself
of It.
Frau Weber had been at court and
had met the emperor. She wrote him
asking that her husband be released
on the grounds she had stated to
Count Herman. But whether the pres
sure on his time prevented or what
ever the reason, she received no reply.
Every day women in Berlin were
more and more called upon to take the
places of men who were needed at
the front. One day Frau Weber APP
peared at the Office where a charge
would be made against any one for
disloyalty and offered her services as
a clerk. She met with a refusal. The
government had its eye on all foreign
ers and knew very well that she was
an American. What was worse, her
husband was prisoner charged with
intending to go to America to escape
military duty.
One evening a young man whom
Frau Weber had met in society before
the war met her In the street. He
stopped to speak with her. but only
for moment
Il care take only time to say few
words to you, for you are watched,
and l win be compromised. am en-
ployed in the bureau of justice and
know who made the charge against
you and your husband. On your prom
Use not to reveal from whom you re-
ceived the information will tell YOU"
II promise"
"Your enemy is Count Herman Burns
hardt."
He raised his hat and passed on, the
interview not having lasted minute
1t would be impossible to find words
to express the mental condition of the
American at this intelligence. Aston
ishment, horror. anger, followed In
quick succession. Then came delibera-
ton as to how to make use Of the In
formation to effect her husbands re.
lease.
The more she thought of obtaining
this release the more plainly she saw
that, having no evidence against the
count which she could use, an applica-
ton in her husbands behalf would not
avail anything. The only person she
might influence through her knowl-
edge would be the count himself. But
If she went to him and accused him of
the contemplate deed he would shrug
his shoulders and declare that some
enemy was accusing him falsely.
Could the count be compelled to with
draw his charge? Surely this was the
only possible way of indicating Web
er. But how could force be applied to
the accuser? The only man who could
do so was Weber himself, and he was
a captive. Minna pondered long In
trying to find some way to bring pow
er to bear on the count Finally des-
peration brought her a desperate rem
edy.
Having formed a plan, she proceed
ed to put it In execution. Her first OBJ
Ject was to obtain disguise. Going
to coiffeur's, she bought face paint
and wig. Having changed her COM
plexion from pink and white to olive,
she painted a rosy tint in each cheek.
Her own hair was a light blond; her
wig raven black; her hands, too, she
gave an olive tinge. This was all that
was needed to make her unrecogniz-
able.
Count Herman frequently dined at
restaurant In the Inter der Linden.
Minna went there hoping to find him,
but failed. On several different days
she dined in the place where she had
| often dined with him, and one evening
she was about to leave It when the
count entered. He took seat at q
table and ordered his dinner. Minna
went back, sat down at a table near
him and ordered q dinner.
Presently the proprietor was attract
ed to commotion In the vicinity of
cused him Of having insulted her The
count protested. The woman declared
he had said to her that In entering O
restaurant without an escort she had
placed herself without the pale Of