The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-29

sOu VII assist hA''
1T will not only be my pleasure,
but | consider II my duty, yoHr
Majesty"
Well, | have explained the e 4
son why l have given You prlIat"
audience tonight. | want you TO
hasten to London and see exactly
What is happening. appoint you
equerry TO Leopoldine, and plac"
her affairs entirely in your hands. y
II was the white-hended old
Emperor Francis Joseph who
spoke. the head OF the Inflated
H~apsburgs. Ever since the long
ago days when my father had rep
resented the. French Government
at the Court OF Vienna had been
persona grata there. and for a
number OF years the Emperor had
showed mo many gracious acts.
Because OF my constant visits 20
Vienna I had become acquainted
with several OF the Young Arch
duchesSeS. including the very sk,t-
tish Princess L~eOpoldine. who, 4,
the age OF twenty-three. had
kicked over the traces. and, her
father being dead, she had formed
her own encourage and travelled
about Europe. enjoying herself
hugely.
Whispers Of her unconventional
friendships having reached the
Emperor's ears. his private secrc-
tary. Count Won Zichy. had tele-
graphed to me In Leghorn, where
! was living. TO come at once TO
Vienna Next day I Joined the
Rome-Vtenna express al Pisa, and
on arrival In the Austrian capital
had at once put on my dress sui
and presented myself TO His
Majesty.
was known to the liveried SER
wants OF that huge palace. As |
had driven into the courtyard the
sentries had saluted. and without
delay Won Mariassy. the Imperial
chamberlain. had conducted me UP
the grand staircase and through
those many sortly-carpeted corrt-
doris TO the heavy polished maho%-
any door which led to His Maj
eSty's private apartments.
This the chamberlain opened
With his latchkey. and in 4 large
workroom. half Office. half salon.
with three long windows through
which the summer sunset was
streaming. ! had found the Err
peror with his secretary .~engrossed
in a great pile OF State documents.
At sign from his Imperial mas
ter. Won Itchy rose and left us to-
gether.
Then His Majesty. who wore the
undresS uniform OF Il general,
with decorations. had sat. and for
a full half-hour discussed the i'm
possible doings Of the pretty young
Princess.
Il see that the newspapers arc
stalking about her" he vent on. Il
am very diSpleased at all this. |
quite understand that a girl Of her
high spirits and bright tempera-
meat is fond OF young society, Her
trther's home az Innsbruck was as
quiet as a monastery. | went there
once. Ugh! Never again, Charles
believed in bringing up his chill
dren too strictly. disagreed win
him all along. Here We have til'
result. L~eopoldine is bringing dis
grace upon our House, therefore |
hope that YOU will do your hest,
N'sieur lie Qu"uy, to stop all this"
Her Imperial Hlghness may r.
sent il. | tc&:." | yentured to re-
mark
"It she does. then tel, her yoD
are acting a. my orders" was lis
Majesty's hard reply. And if Sh"
still resentS. | will recall her here
LAS you wish. your Majesty
Il know very we'll that you are
old friends since childhoOd." n"
Emperor went on. And know
that you have more influence over
her than anyone"
Perhaps. but II I join her in
London, gossip will link Il names
together. and there will be yet an
other scandal"
Anu HAuN llaNNCA o'NNN Ai'F
Majesty, laughing lightly.
ITO myself It matters nothing.
I am only thinking Of Her High
ness"
Well. one scandal more or less
will not be Of much consequence.
I suppose" he remarked with e.
heavy sigh. Though much has
been said and written about the.
dead Emperor. he was. after ;s!l.A
a very genial old soul, and though
some believe he was anti-Brttish.
I have reasons for knowing that Er
looked upon England as his pro-
tector, and only by the vile in
ttriges OF the Kaiser IA he pitch
torked into the war AGAINST us.
l drove back to the Bristol full
OF deep reflections. He had scMt
mo back once more 70 the side o!
the playful Princess" as h"r
friends loved to call her. Two
years ago We had parted in
Palermo. and | he'd vowed Within
myself never to see her again.
Yet by Fate and the order Of the
Emperor | was to go back to hc-
as director OF her affairs.
/ confess 'hat ! was going to
London upon 4 somewhat di*tasr"-
ful mission. but when m is in III"
confidence Of Il ruling Sovereign i
Is difficult to refuse ur GiSnhcy.
Through the mkt two days !
stretched myself in the narrow
wagon-lit. sleeping or reading. and
AZ last found myself on Tho Dover
boat. crossing the Channel on Il
grey and cheerless afternoon. Z
That night. after dinner. | tap
ped at the door Of Princess Leo
poldine'S private sitting-roOm 1T
Claridge's. and. hearing her voice
within. entered.
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