River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-11-04

throng,d with soldiers, was now quiet
as the grave. Those who had accom-
panied the marching troops had re-
turned TO their labor, to forget the
bloody work that death was soon to he
gin.
Bye and-by the church began TO I'LL,
and Marie, though Lutheran, knelt
in convent chapel to implore God to
keep her beloved.
An hour after the Prussians had de-
/ parted the thunder of the cannon could
be heard in the distance. Through
messengers and country people, whose
4 business led them that way, it was re-
/ ported that the Prussians near Humid
helm had met band of troops, aud
there had been bloody encounter.
i Marie's nature was not communica
/ tive. For long years she had loved
4 Heinrich in the secret depths OF her
/ heart, without her mother having the
/ least suspicion of the fact. So to-day,
the dear girl in her Joy and sorrow, was
equally undSmonstrative. But, as later
in the afternoon the thunder of the
cannon ceased, her usual self possession
forsook her, and she went TO seek her
brother She found him in his room
preparing to 60 out.
Morit1, dear Moritz, she began
with trembling voice; if you knew"
As if could not read your soul. |
know you, my good, faithful sister, as
well as my own self. You are anxious
about Heinrich. lam already on my
way to procure intelligence of him.
Moritz, / am sick of anxiety. |
beg of you to let me go with you.
The brother shook his head, and said
gently:
cannot consent to that. You
have ever been our self-reliant Marie
deserve this praise to-day, in this try
ing hour. Remember that surgeon
is not surrounded by as much danger
as the combatants; that the bitterest
enemy will not iniure the one who
can help him. Your going would
only hinder me, dear Marie A forsaken
battlefield is no place for a woman.
You know | am good walker, and |
will return to you tonight with intelli.
gence of Heinrich
AT least take bandages, and strong
essences, and Patient
81 will l have all prepared, and
here comes Patient. Adieu.
God go with you, Moritz
The sister pressed his hands, and
the young man fastened away.
There is no more shocking sight
than a battlefield Immediately after
the conflict. Although il was late when
Moritz reached Hundheim, the light
of the moon was sufficient to show him
the field torn by the horses hoofs. bro
ken arms, fallen horses, lost caps and
knapsacks, and unburled dead. The
wounded had been taken to the hos
pital, and the Prussians had already
buried their dead. A pioneer corps
had dug a large trench, aud men from
the vicinity, apparently day laborers,
We're engaged in placing the dead
therein. They empiied the pockets of
the fallen. The living took what they
could find, for which the dead had no
further use.
Moritz inquired of these men about
this and that one, but they answered
CURLY, they knew nothing but that
there had been a bloody contest, and
the troops had gone on that there had
been a hospital hastily constructed,
that some of the wounded had been
carried on to the next city.
Moritz heard the pioneer say, " Let
us look behind every bush, Buchanan,
that none of our people be left. The
Prussians have removed all their
wounded. y
Involuntarily Moritz followed these
men. Now his eye would fail on the
dead, on whose young faces the moon
light streamed. Moritz folded his
hands and breathed prayer. Behind
him moved the dark figures of the
pioneers he thought Of the Lemures.
" Here is a dead Prussian cried
one of the pioneers.
:" 1t is a surgeon :" cried another.
At this moment Patient, who was
close by Moritz, leaped out with loud
howl; Moritz whistled to the dog, but
he would not obey, and would not stir
from the spot.
The young man turned around and
stood transfxed. With quivering lips
and wild eyes he gazed upon the dead
whom the pioneers were about 60 lay
in the trench. The moonlight spoke
with fearful distinctuess "This dead
surgeon is Heinrich, the beloved of
your sister" Patient continued to
howl and snuff around tine body. Nor
ltz now began to collect his thoughts,
and with deep emotion said to the
men: Permit me tO take charge of
this dead he is my friend.
The pioneers stretched the dead
Heinrich upon his side, on the grass.
One made the remark This man has
no visible wound perhaps he is only
stunned by ball.
Morris knelt down 10y Heinrich and
looked IN his pale face, which looked
so calm. He prayed as though he
would assaIl Heaven to work miracle.
He bathed the lifeiess temples with
cologne water, and held some volatile
essence To his mouth Was IL an illu
siOni Did lac see aught The dog
started TO the side of his former mas
ter and looked in his face, then laid
his head ON his cheek, and began 10
jump about with JOY Heinrich opened
his ewes, and IN "A weak voice said.