The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-26
HIS AMERICAN.
WIFE
How She Obtained Justioe
In Berlin
N F. A. mitchell


HasRasslIasriiillIlassr r...sHHa!:;aas nlzIEIRnii
Minna Selfridge, an American girl,
was quite q belle in Berlin shortly be-
fore the Pan 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,
a 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
ther 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 flle
Of soldiers entered his house, arrested
him and took him of to prison.
The blow fell upon him and his wife
like a 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 a 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 emperors time was all occu
pied apd It was very difficult to 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 oc
CURED he would at once avail himself
of 1t. .[..-..
| 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 tt
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 thu
places Of men who were needed al
the front. One day Frau Weber ap
peared at the office where a charge
would be made against any one fol
disloyalty and offered her services 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, hel
husband was a prisoner charged will
intending to go to America to escap,
military duty.
One evening a young man whom
Frau Weber had met in society befor,
the war met her in the street. III,
stopped to speak with her, but only
for moment.
II dare take only time to say few
words to you. for you are watched
and / will be compromised. | am EN-
ployed in the bureau Of justice ant
know who made the charge agains
you and your husband. On your prom
ise not to reveal from whom you re
ceived the information l will tell you.
II promise"
"Your enemy is Count Herman Burn
harit."
He raised bis hat and passed on, tn
interview not having lasted q minute.
| It would be impossible to flnd word
to express the mental condition Of th
American at this intelligence. Aston
ishment, horror. anger, followed Il
quick succession. Then came delibers
ton az to how to make use Of the In
forms tion to effect her husbands n
lease.
The more she thought Of obtainin
this release the more plainly she say
that, having no evidence against tn
count which she could use, an applies
ton In her husbands behalf would no
avail anything. The only person sh
might influence through her know
edge would be the count himself. Blu
II she went to him and accused him o
the contemplate deed he would shru
his shoulders and declare that som
enemy was accusing him falsely.
Il