The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-31
HIS AMERICAN
WIFE
How She Obtained Justice
In Berlin
By F. A. mitchell


Minna Selfridge, an American girl.
was quite a 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,
a blue eyed, fair haired Saxon, was
very much so. She accepted his at
tentions, and it 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. Nei-
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 file
Of soldiers entered his house, arrested
him and took him off to prison.
The blow fell upon him and his wife
like clap of thunder out Of a 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 it's need and go
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 Ills 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 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 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 ap-
peared at the office where charge
would be made against any one for
disloyalty and offered her services as
clerk. She met with refusal The
government had it's 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 so to America to escape
military duty.
One evening 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 dare take only time to say a few
words to you, for you are watched,
and l will 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
81 promise"
Your enemy is Count Herman Burn
hardt"
He raised his hat and passed on, the
interview not having lasted a 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
IL she went to him and accused him of
the contemplate deed he would shrug
his shoulders and declare that some
enemy was accusing him falSelv