Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-06-22

/ u
OF silence, during which l noted that
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 / should require
you to introduce me-" he said. swell,
want you TO do so this evening. she
has taken a box at the Konigliche
Opera tonight, where they are TO play
'Falstan.' l shall be there, and you
will be with me. Then you will In
troduce me to your pretty friend. IN
derstand?'
A Puzzlng Sentence.
That night, In accordance with my
instructions, l sat in the emperors 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, l 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 l sat with her elderly
companion. Then, when we had with
drawn, my imperial master exclaimed:
"Ahl my dear Heltzendorff. Why,
she is one of the prettiest women In
all Berlinl Surely it is unfortunate
most unfortunate"
What was unfortunate? 1 was fur
ther puzzled by that last sentence, yet
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 wife's 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"
/ 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"
Punctually at nine o'clock that win
try evening 1 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!" I gasped,
astounded.
Eyes, 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 walt him here"
Count Won Leutenberg in Berlin
What did it mean? He was absurdIy |
jealous. 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 | heard the count enter,
his spurs clinking and his saber rat
Ting as he strobe up the stairs.
l crept forth, listening breathlessly
A few seconds later l heard the
voice raised in anger and high,
bitter words. Next moment l sprang
up the stairs and, dashing into the
room. found the pretty countess stand
ing near the window, white and rigid
as a statue, while the two men in uni
form faced each other. Won Leuten-
berg's countenance was distorted with
rage as he abused the crown prince,
and openly charged him with having
brought about his exile 10 London.
His highness made no reply, but only
smiled sarcastically and shrugged his
narrow shoulders.
SO enraged the other became at this
after gesture that, with sudden
he drew his sword.
The countess shrieked and swooned
rs l sprang forward and stayed her
husbands hand.
Il was dramatic moment. The
,ount instantly realized the enormity
# his crime, and his hand dropped.
Enough cried the crown prince,
waving his adversary aside. Then.
urnlng to me, he said in calm. hard
'oice:
''HeltzendorfT, you are witness that
his man has drawn his sword upon ]
he heir to the throne"
And with those naughty words he
'owed stifily and strobe out of the
DOM. 1
A Message From the Emperor.
Two hours later | was commanded I
o the kaiser's presence, and found Z,