The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-08-09


court" size-linen-lined, as are all en-
velopes used by the emperor for his
private correspondence. l saw it had
been sealed In black by his own hand.
Then, as he handed it to me, he said:
go to Dresden as quickly as pos
sible and obtain a reply to this"
/ clicked my heels together, and,
saluting, left upon my secret mission
to the Saxon court.
The letter was addressed to Baron
Georg Won Metzsch at Dresden.
Next day. when presented 1t to the
tall, thin controller of the household,
l saw that its contents greatly puzzled
him.
He wrote a reply, and as imperial
messenger, l returned at once to Pots
dam, handing it to the emperor as he
strobe alone from the Shell salon,
through which he was passing after
dinner.
He took 1t from my hand without a
word, tore open the envelope, read its
contents, and then smiled contentedly,
after which l went to old Won Donau-
stauf's room, and smoked u good cigar
In his company.
The Crown Princess Calls.
Next day we were all back at the
Berlin Schloss. During the morning
his majesty inspected the Berlin gar
rison in the Tempelhofer Field, and
the Princess Louisa rode with him.
That same afternoon, while l was
busy writing in the long room al
lotted to me in the Berlin Schloss, her
imperial highness to my surprise, en-
tered, closing the door quietly after
her.
Count Won Heltzendorff, you have
been on a secret mission to that spy
Won Metzsch, in Dresden, have you
not?"
rose, bowed, and without replying
courteously offered her chair.
why do you not admit it?' she
asked quickly.
princess. If the emperor gives me
orders to preserve secrecy, then 1t is
my duty to obey" l said.
L hllOWt Sllt dlISNtItD, anu lItu
realized how upset and nervous she
seemed. But Won Metzsch hates me,
and has put about all sorts Of scandal
Gus reports concerning me. All !.
count" she sighed, you do not know
how very unhappy | am-how l am
surrounded by enemies"
II much regret to hear that" I said.
But your imperial highness has also
many friends, of whom | hope | may
i be permitted to number myself"
"Ah! IT is extremely good of you
to say that-very good. If you really
are my friend then you can help me.
You are in position to watch and
discover what is in progress-the rea-
son the emperor exchanges those con-
slant condolences with Won MetZsch,
the man who twisted my husband
around his little finger and who has,
with my lady-of the-bedchamber, Frau
Won Fritsch, already poisoned his mind
against me. All! you have no idea
| how much l have suffered !"
She seemed on the verge of a nerv-
Gus crisis, for l saw that in her fine
eyes stood the light of unshed tears,
and l confess l was much puzzled,
for had certainly believed, up to that
moment, that she was on excellent
terms with her husband.
"But surely his highness, the crown
prince of Saxony, does not believe any
of those wicked reportS?" said.
"Ah! Then you have heard. OF
course, you have. Won Metzsch has
taken good care to let the whole world
know the lies that he and the Countess
Paule Starhemberg have cOncocted be-
tween them. 1t is cruel! 1t is
wickedl'
"No, no. Calm yourself, princess y
I urged sympathetically. Il am at
least your friend, and will act as such,
should occasion arise"
"Ah!" she exclaimed in a low voice.
81 fear l shall require the assistance
of friend very soon. Do you recol-
lect my broken pearls"
And a few moments later she left
the room.
You Lie!"
Through all that day and the next
wondered what underhand work
could be in progress. pitied the good
looking, unconventional imperial prin-
cess who, because of her somewhat
hoydenish high spirits, had aroused
the storm of anger and jealousy in the
Saxon court. But the Hapsburgs had