OCR Text |
Show ! ..... . HOW THE KAWWX' I "Held by the Kaiser's mailed hand, her lov-i lov-i ing woman 3s heart still ! j struggled to find its mate erne see& happi-ii happi-ii ness zn a reer land" T ZTUCH interest has been occa- sloned both hero anil 1 abroad, by the charming but unhappy lova affair between Princess Victoria Louise, the Kaiser's only daughter, and Count George Fuggor - Habenhausen, a young officer of the Imperial Body Guard. Tho retirement of the Count from the army, and tho torn-.porary torn-.porary exile of the Princess to St. Moritz promptly followed tho discovery dis-covery by the Kaiser of tho affee-tlon affee-tlon of the two for each other. How seriouB the love affair was, and how the Kaiser found out that it existed, has been a matter of German Court gossip only. Here Ivan Narodny, tho distinguished distin-guished Russian litterateur and revolutionist, rev-olutionist, tells the story of how the Kaiser was warned of his daughter's attachment just as it 8 C tkJ Cj S-l "J" T was written for him by the man who gave tho warning. This man la a noted artist and portrait painter o Berlin. Tho article that follows is one that the artist himself him-self prepared for a German magazine maga-zine to justify himself. It could not bo printed abroad because of tho imperial censorship. The artist's art-ist's name has been withheld at his request by Mr. Narodny, Dut the story gives for the first time the real reasons for the destruction of one of ibo most unusual royal romances in years. II TJle-ir,tiS,t'S.0wn StorY f the Imperial Love Affair IB j Va fellow-officcr of Count Fug- m i ger-Habenhausen tho latter H ! ?aw a collection of my portraits M painted in various romantic poses I ; and was so much fascinated by tbom HI? that he at once" asked" me if I could MB paint him and his beloved In a slmi- BB lar poetic pose. H " JT love romance, and hate cvery- H thing of a prosaic nature," said the Hj young- Count, enthusiastically. ' ,1 iold him my price and ho agreed. M a The Count asked me if he and his I sweetheart could pose In a certain m i I garden, about three or four miles out :K of Potsdam in the country, instead of S i coming to my studio In Berlin. "Why iff ': not?" I said, and consented, although jflj - the proposition sounded strange. B : "But you must give mo your word g J. not to tell anybody about this, E ' and must keep your painting secret," H ; pursued the Count, seriously. 3 I promised to do 30, and did not y wonder at the proposal, as young ! II German officers are" often very ro- ;R mantic and still live in the spirit of HS: Byron and Heine. Having given mo ' a detailed description of the dwell-H dwell-H ; Ing of a certain Frau Boseke, and n . bow to And it, he asked me to be 1 there a week from that day. 1 I arrived at the appointed time at m ) 'the villa with my canvas and the im- m J plements of my art. It proved to be m I an idyllic spot, out of all the rush and noise of the, city, just suited for I a romantic rendezvous. A high stone m wall surrounded the old mansion and 1 a larpe garden. It looked like a B convent. Tall, old trees and high m shrubs framed the road that led to SB the heavy gates, before which Wt crouched two ferocious watch dogs H in chains. It seemed as if the place ;B mill held the spirit of past cen-H cen-H turics. f hesitated when r ap-H ap-H proached it. I was met at. the gates H; by a tall servant In livery, who led Hi jih without any word, Into the house. M; Fruu Boseke met me and led me to B a salon, saying that the Count and H! his ludy would arrive half an hour jB rooiri, where I prepared for uiy work, I I could overlook a charming garden H' -tTltn ruIns nt e back. All was vS ancient lookiug and quite in beeping iVJ' with the idea of romance. But I gj: could see no other people than the IjB.1 Count George Fugger-Haben- fi? f haueen who wanted to elope with the Kaiser's daughter. j uuvc mitxir Jady and her servant, and a silence of the grave pervaded the place. thffSri?!3SS2 tbat 1 eot from mado mo really . curious to know for whom and by yi&w whom this place ' " yr 'fvas maintained. for it was evident f Jf'rau Boseke was ' a mere caretaker of it. To all my questions she re- s&m plied with a mute aWtiST smJIe. It was ovi- r? dont that amys- tory was behind lwhlch I could nWhenVl was S ready the hostess led me to a fine knoll out in the Sbbs ,won,Joy2rerown with wild flowers, and said that this was the place for f ?a thereafter the Count mZ S1id In "mated that he anil his beloved would llko to be painted in the garments of ancient Greece, bo tney would have to change "their dresses. The gates opened, and a seemingly young, but heavily veiled. . gin entered and walked toward the cottage accompanied by Frau Boseke. The Count ran forward and greeted her by kissing hev hands, and both disappeared in the house. Fifteen minutes later a couple in the picturesque garments of ancient Greece arrived and took their pone on the hill. The Count introduced his companion as Miss "WTiitehouse. presumably an American lady. Her features reminded me of some one I had seen, but I could not recollect whom. Women look very different in an unusual garment, especially when one does not know them intimately. J had no doubt that the picture r was to make would be fascinating and full of tho sentiments o romance, ro-mance, poetry and youth. The mystery connected with this affair made me so curious to find out who the girt really was that I decided de-cided to play the detective after tho laat posing. I hid myself behind the shrubs outside of the cottage and waited for the departure of tho couple. But the Count left alone, looked suspiciously around, walked a distance, then returned and whistled thrice, after which ho walked away fast in the direction of Berlin. Soon thereafter the lady emerged, looked shyly around and walked in the opposite direction toward Potsdam. T followed her at a distance until at a point of the main road she entered a waiting aulomohile and drove away. But I noticed that near the place where the automobile had stopped stood a policeman. po-liceman. I approached him with a friendly air and started a convention conven-tion in which I asked about the lady in the automobile. "Did you not recognize Her? She was Princess Louise Victoria of Prussia!" exclaimed the policeman. I stood thunderstruck, and was shocked at the thought of being an involuntary eyewitness of a royal love affair. The longer I thought of it the more serious I became. "Suppose those two should elope," I thought to myHolf while walking to the railway station. "I have no doubt that tho olopement would create an enormous sensation at home and abroad. Afy part in the affair would bo suspected, and r should be attacked more severely than the lovers. It would rain my career." A weetc passed, and T "began to feol more and more uncomfortable. Finally I called at the residence of tho Connt He received me very hospitably and inquired about the progress of my pninting. "Count, I must tell you that I will not put my brushes to your painting until you tell me who the lady Is and what is the reason of your secrecy," I said firmly. The Count turned pale, Tils hands trembled, and grasping the gilded lip . .. .--a . m ' v.pw ,;f hilt of his sabre ho stammered: "Herr Bruch, I must apologize to you for all the secrecy. But do not betray me. She is the daughter of the Kaiser. "We love each other deeply, but, heavens! it is an ill-fated ill-fated love!" The lieutenant pauEed and tried to conquer his emotions. iror several minutes he was laboring labor-ing under great excitement, and continued: con-tinued: "We have loved each other over a year. Our love story began under tho very eyes of the royal parents. While on duty at the palace X would often walk in the park. On those occasions she would meet me here and there, either alone or nccompanied by the court ladies. At first only our eyes would meet shyly. But little by little our eyes grew bolder. At first I did not dare to speak to her. But ono day while I was reading tho poems 6f Schiller, sitting on a lonely bench, I heard soft steps behind me and looked n round. The Princess, like a fairy, stood gazing, smilingly, at the poem In the open book that I had been reading. " 'Oh, you are reading "Die Sebnsucht,' she whispered ' very sweetly. 'I am reading the Game poem.' "She showed me the page on which was her finger, and we both laughed. It was a naive joy and brought us together. She was pleased to learn that I too waB an admirer of Schiller and Byron. My heart trembled with excitement. One afternoon while I was again taking a walk in the wildest corner of tho park the Princess walked along and graoiously held out her hand. In her other hand was a small book. " 'I am reading Mrs. Browning. Do you know her?' " 'Yes, I replied. " 'Is ehe not wonderful! Would you like to join me in reading her Poem87' asked the Princess. "I expressed my appreciation of the honor. Then we walked to a bench hidden In the furthest corner of the great park. Here our souls opened llko flowers in the sunshine. Tho royal parents discovered our attachment, at-tachment, and His Majesty gave his daughter bo understand sternly that even leaving out the question of rnnk the marriage would be impossible, impossi-ble, because I and my parents are devout Roman Catholics, and 1 can not change my religion unless 1 ieave the country. Although I am the scion of an old Hungarian fam ily that was at one time the wealthiest wealth-iest house of Europe, yet I am not entitled to the hand of the Kalser'3 daughter. "Her father has expressed his wish that she should become acquainted ac-quainted with tho young Prince of Wales, but her royal mother wishes-tbat wishes-tbat she should marrv the young Duko of Meckieuburg-Strelltz. But how can she when she loves me. with all her soul and heart? She Ui; given me her word of honor that 'case she could not marry me shr would marry no one else. As 6he if the favorite child of the Kaiser Hi:$ ' . 1 , Majesty might change his mind. She is doing all she can to influence her family to give their consent." The Count paused and seemed to be picturing to himself the delights of a happy union. Sighing, he continued: con-tinued: "But, after we have tried nil other ways in vain, we may elope and marry in America. I am a fairly good soldier and might enter Uie army of the United States as an officer. The Princess would be happy to be the wife of a citizen of the New World. We have mnde already plans for our departure and J are prepared for any hardships, for li we love each other truly and. af- jk fectlouately, regardless of all Worldly m obstacles. S "I assure you that there Is only lm one thing of importance in this m world, and that is love. Money. jp political power and all the riches of MS, the world are nothing as compared j with the communion of two loving IRS hearts. We are both children of a B2 romantic era and opposed to the materialistic spirit of this age. Now, you must keep what you have jgtf ?cen secret and keep the word of iUs honor that you gave me in regard ha to the picture." fp T left the Count and promised him w to think my situation over, and that v& I would let him know my decision. re This made him ead. He thought I V? was a traitor. Tho longer I pon- V dered about tho affair the more T found myself in a painful dilemma. It was evident that the romance-would romance-would take n serious turn some day, and as I disliked to be dragged into it I wrote to the Count saying that 1 would destroy my painting and thus bo relieved from all obligations and fears. To this I did not get any reply for many day3. I went to Potsdam and found the Count in a slate of excitement. I asked why did he not answer me, and he was confused. nowever, he admitted that I could do as I wished with my painting, but he expected me to keep the secret He said he was taking a leave of absence and inteuding to leave Germany for a longer trip abroad. His behavior was suspicious, and I left him with a heavy heart Before Be-fore returning home I decided to visit Frau Boseke and learn from her if she suspected me to be in the secret of the love affair. But how can I describe my surprise on finding find-ing no trace of Frau Boseke, although al-though everything else was in the , same order as It had been before. ' There wero still the barking dogs, but a stranger opened the gates aud asked me in broken German what 1 wished. When I told him that I W STATE and SROW-ftL,- 5' The Romantic Idyl of j i. Princess Victoria Louise ' and a Handsome Young . Guard Officer That I Almost Gave America 1 r I a Runaway Princess j ;' ' wanted Jo sec Frau Bofeeke the stranger replied that he knew nolh-is, nolh-is, : ',)r lug of Frau Boseke. ';. ' "But who occupies this place ' now?" I asked. I "Mr. Martin King, from New j ' ' York." replied the butler. "I never ig . heard of a Frau Boeelte." S ' ' "But she lived here only h few i? months ago." I said, if . "Never," replied the phlegmatic s . " butler seriously, and I lefr, my bead full of the strangest thoughts. As 1 could not see the mystery behind be-hind it I decided to clear mybelf from any possible scandal. T was almost certain that the young lovera were ready to commit any daring act In order to realizo their romantic dreams. Although It was i repugnant stGp, yet I ; resolved to Inform the( court marshal of the J. Kaiser of the situation Jaiiit' without telling every- tbing I knew. I did so. jftflrOT The next day a func- 7l tionary of the court W called at my studio in C-vf flyyg Berlin and inquired for tfJt& moro particulars, espe- , J cially about tho picture --jfUftiB-J. -f' 1 nacI Pamled Ab 1 had kH given to the Count my Efrff-vJffi word of honor I said that lfeP 1 had destroyed the WjlSIIIiih painting, and there was TpjjWffiijpV -nothing moro for me to 91 o11 'ie functionary assuring me I was Soon afterward the newspapers made the announcement that the 'j Princess had suddenly left Potsdam 'fj for a rest cure in the Mediterranean, If where she would remain until the Kaiser could join her in Corfu. But -. a court official told me confidential- ly that the Princess had been Bent hurriedly for some mysterious reason to St Moritz fx her brother, the w Crown Prince. There she was to be ; kept under the strict supervision of bpcclally selected ladles of the court Strange rumors were circulated la Berlin, and au official statement was ) Issued by the marshal of the court ' tbat the Princess was suffering from j a distressing attack of nervous pros- ;' tratlon, and that the doctors had ad- vised her an absolute retirement from every court function. In some way I realized the elopement of the lovers to America had besn pre- , vented. ' Count Fugger-Habenhausen re- f turned to Potsdam after a vacation of thveo months and looked ten ) years older. It was evident that he had suffered seriously. It was an- nounced that he would retire vei7 soon from the army and devote him- j self to art Tho ysterlous villa of Frau Boseko is still the same as it was ! when I painted the romantic lovera Twice I have visited the young , Americans who occupy it at preaenk I and tried my best to clear up tho it mystery, but In vain. I have found M no trace of hospitable Frau B6seke Ii and her sphinx-like sen-ant It 1i-seems 1i-seems as if all that had happened ia a dream. ;li DOn . ;;;,;., ' - - M , . ' ' . f... , t. |