Old Fritz and the New Era

read her soothing wings over Louisa, and she heard no more the rapid steps and loud talking of her mistress, nor the rolling of

to decide her future-the weal and woe of her children! Was it he, her beloved, the father

nized the voice, the commanding manner, and rushed through the anteroom to open the door. The prince e

tenderly kissing her, as he sat her upon the divan at his side. Overcome with her tears, she co

g. He has crushed me with his scorn and anger. He has threatened me with a fearful punishment-no less than the house of

pon the divan, but her tears did not prevent her following the prince with a searching glance-to read his f

ed afresh. "I am a poor, unfortunate child," she sobbed, "whom every one despises, and fears not to inj

trembling with excitement and anger. "Is it my fault that I cannot protect you against him? Have I no

me is hard to bear, fearfully hard. I felt it today, as his beautiful eyes flashed upon me with contempt, as his haughty

h exalts me: my first act will be to lift the yoke from you and our children, and woe to those-a thousand times woe to those who would hold it fast! Only

rying me off to Spandau; a nameless anxiety confused my mind, and I only realized that I must e

whither you had gone! Oh, Wilhelmine, what if I had not divined

ing my children, and in some quiet, obscure retreat

?" cried the prince, encircling her in

a proof that you were indifferent to me. When I cannot lean upon your love, then there is no

led you to me, and I am her

and kissing him passionately. "You are here; I no longer dread the old king's anger, and his fearful wor

that, Wil

here is some ground for truth in those anonymous letters, which declare that you wo

n jealous!" the

derly, "I only repeat w

ff the poison which wicked, base men offer you? Why do you not thro

were not a prince, I should not be despised, my children would not be nameless, without fortune, and without justice. No, were you not a prince, I should not have felt ashamed and grief-stricken, with downcast eyes, before the lady who drove past in her splendid carriage, while I was humbly seated in a miserable wagon. No, were not my beloved a prince, he could hav

hat I could ever abandon or forsak

ve loved me, and perhaps you love me still, but with that gentle warmth which does not hinder

he quick, blazing fire soon consumes itself, leaving only a heap of ashes; then one

another?" said Wil

lmost with detestation, for they had related to her the unhappiness of my first marriage, and the happiness of my first love! She has learned the story of my first wife, Elizabeth von Braunschweig, and that of my only love, Wilhelmine Enke! She obeyed, like myself, the stern command of another, and we were married, as all princes and princesses are, and we have had children, as they do. We lead the life of a political marriage, but the heart is unwed. We bow before necessity and duty, and, believe me, those are the only household gods in the families of princes. Happy the man who, besides these stern divinities, possesses a little secret temple, in which he can erect an altar to true love and friendship, and where he can enjoy a hidden happiness. This I owe to you, Wilhelmine; you are the only one in whom I have confidence, for you have proved to me that you love me without self-interest and without ambition. You have said it, and it is true, you love me, notwithstandi

get the magic power which binds you, and will be free. No holy bond, no oath, no marriage tie-nothing but your love binds you to me.

ried the prince. "I will do it today, as a twofold danger

go with the king to the f

It is a question whether it would not be better to abolish the little principalities, in order to strengthen the greater German powers. The king will support Bavaria, because he envies Austria its possession, and, as he has decided upon war, it becomes his crown prince to yield to his decision without murmuring. Therefore, Wilhelmine, I will today witness to you the oath of fidelity. If God calls me to Him, if I fal

with writing materials. "There, my Frederick," said she, "the

er's oath as I will transcribe for you can be w

lood gushed out, he dipped his pen in it, and wrote; then handed it to W

as a prince, I will never forsake you, and only death shall separate you from me.-Prince

her in his arms and placing her upon his knee. "Take the paper and guard it carefully," said he. "When I die, and you have closed my eyes, as I trust you will, g

when I no longer possess you, my beloved one, my master? Not on that account will I preserve the precious paper, but for the love which it has given me, and of which it will one day be a proo

, Wilhelmine? Will you not swea

table without answering, and

ought to stay her hand. "Do not injure you

nife sank deep into her left hand, the blood gushing out. [Footnote: The scar of this wound remain

" cried the prince, terr

h terror as a clear stream of blood flowed over his own. "A physici

to smile in spite of the pain which the wound caused her. "Dearest, it is

continued to flow, and wrote quickly

hear from your own mouth your oath. You sh

l be faithful to you unto death, and will never separate myself from you; that my friendship and love will endu

of my choicest jewels, and I will never separate myself from it. We have now sealed our love a

torment and torture you again with my jealousy. I shall alway

ted the stillness of the night. A voice in lo

e porter. "Who calls me?

," commanded t

ad softly opened the window. "It is so dark, I

d the night-watch. "I dare let no

nd look at my livery. It

and hastened to the prince, who had

y," she whispered. "Hide yourself, that he do

ne, I will re

his mouth, and forced him into

hatever may come, it shall find me firm and composed.

d into the anteroom, which was

e cried. "Who ring

me of the

d back the bolt,

said, "and tell

often seen me at Potsdam in company with the king. I saw you this morning as the

send you here t

nkgeld. I was commanded to deliver into your own hands this paper, for which I must have a receipt." He drew from his breast pocket a large sealed document, which he handed to Wilhelmine. "Here

the royal footman, and hastened to sign the receipt t

eld, Mamselle Enke?" asked the fo

d Wilhelmine proudly, as she turned, wi

is without doubt an order of arrest, for when the king flashes and thunders as he did this morning, he usually strikes. I hope

id she, handing him the sealed envelope. "I beg you to open it; courage fails me, everything

abinet secretary, Menken, and the message comes immediately from the king's cab

consider her apartment as a prison, which she shall not leave under severe penalty, nor allow any one to enter it. Whoever may be with her at the time of receiving the order, who do not belong there, shall speedily absent themselves, and if the same ride or drive to Potsdam, they shall immediately take a message

of this letter. Both looked down,

d Wilhelmine, "a pris

diately for Potsdam, in order to be at Sans-Souc

u my imprisonment, my e

is wont. He would at once have sent you to Spandau or some other prison, and left it to me to have taken further steps. No-the more I think it over, the more evident it is to me that the king is not really angry; he will only torment us a little, as it pleases his teasing spirit. The chief thing now is to

prisoner? Oh, how har

wn prince, the heir to the throne! I shall be reprimanded and scolded like a footman. I must obey as a slave, and

if some one should hear you? You know n

e it is necessary, above all things, that we act according to the king's commands. Farewell, Wilhelmine, I must set off at once. Kretzschmar is no doubt at the corner of the street to see whether I, as an

orce myself to composure and humility. What I suffer is for you! This shall be my consolation. I