The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-27
STRONGER THAN LOVE.
TCoNCLUDRD.l

l. uuS III tnOu WOulu nave uscu Luy uny "
net as thou didst to-day? Have some
/ wine, and truce to thy tears. Was del
Hen kerW
AS Bergholt made this exclamation hi
started back with an expression of alarm
that caused a laugh, as q large black re-
triever cleared the circle with leap, snc
dashed ON to where Waldemar was hal
sitting, half reclining. The dog darted
upon him with a cry almost human in
its expression of Joy, licking his hand:
and face. Then, changing his tone to s
whine, he pulled at his coat, and showed
by his action that he desired Steinthal tc
follow him.
"Good heavens, it is Gros Noir" Wal
demar exclaimed Eugene must be here
Heinrich, Julius, Fritz, come with me. ,
He started up, taking the cloak on which
he had been lying over his arm. "No1
you, Ludwig, you have had enough, my
lad Bring torch with you; it has be
come as dark as the jaws of death"
The dog, finding that his appeal had
been understood. ran on before, bounding
over the membranes by the way, The
men followed more slowly over the
ground.
At last the dog stopped, and raising his
head uttered howl that made the listen.
ers' blood run cold.
Steinthal seized the torch from the
comrades hand and stopped down over 8
heap of slain. There, as he had forebod-
ed. lay the brother OF his once promised
bride-Eugene Delapierre. A few drop:
of wine from the flask they had brought
with them were poured between the rigid
lips, and then carefully the four youths
raised the dying man. They placed him
in Waldemar's cloak, and, each taking q
corner, they gently bore him in this i'm
provised litter to their camp fire, Gros
Nor followed close behind.
With aching heart Steinthal endeav'
ored to restore his friend TO conscious
ness; his tears falling fast the while over
the well known face, on which the sea
of death was already set. But 1t seemed
to be Gros Noir licking his masters colo
face that at last recalled for moment
the fast ebbing tide OF life. Eugene
opened his eyes, and on seeing Waldo
mar smiled family.
brother" he murmured, endeaVorins
to hold out his hand
Waldemar clssped il. his strong breas
heaving with the emotions and recoliee'
tions that word had called forth. Eugene
made a sign for Waldenar to raise him
With feeble hand he pointed to hi'
breast.
aTake it," he gasped. "Her portrait
-ictter-she loved you, though she broke
off with you. She will know l died-fol
Francel"
These words were the last effort OF ex
piring nature A few struggling signs
and Eugene Delapierre lay dead in Wal
demar's arms.
Waldemar covered the form OF hi
friend with the cloak on which he hao
been aid, and leaving Gros Noir stretch
ed beside the body retired to II little DIS
lance, where, his face buried in his hands
he gave himself up to grief Not long
however, was he left to the indulgence OF
his sorrow. Suddenly the bugles sound
ed to horse-thc French were retreating
under cover of the night. The events OF
that memorable retreat are matters OF
history. On the night of the 18th Wal
demar Stenthal slept in his father
house
Herr Steinlhal, on the first rumor OF
the German outbreak, had conveyed him
self and his money bags to a place oil
safety. and the house had been occupied
by the sick and wounded ever since the
battle of Lutzen. Waldemar, however
found a small room where he could bt
alone. He had just been assisting to lay
IN the grave his two dearest friends, Flu
gencc Delapierre and the tender hearted
young Ludwig Krone, killed in the nletc'
when the explosion took place at the Lin
denau Bridge.
Now, at last, Waldemsr had time t'
give to sorrow. He opened the packet
taken from the breast pocket OF Eugene:
coat. The first thing that met his eyes
WAS a beautifully executed miniature o.
Iuc enne. There were the rosy,lps hi
had kissed; there the dark eyes tina, hao
looked lovingly into his; there the album
dant and glossy hair, lock OF whlct
still rested next his heart. lie raised TIT
portrait to his lips. Alasl neve
more would he meet the
light of those speaking eyes
never more bask in the sunny smile o
which the picture gave faint reflex
With a bursting sigh he laid the minia
ture by his side, and took up the two o.
three letters that accompanied It. I'M
sight OF the well known handwriting ct
fected him almost as deeply as the pic
tured face. The letters were addressed
TO her brother; one seemed to be in an
swer to some question or expostulstlon.
You ask me if ! no longer low
Waldemar Steinthal AS well ask m'
| if l no longer breathe" So it ran
"You men make sacrifices for your EN-
peror and your country, We women nav
also sacrifices to make. You men give
YOUR swords, we give our hearts; ant
mine lies torn and bleeding, broken ol
this bitter strife between all hold dear
Sleeping or waking l have ever on
image before me-Waldemar arme'
against France perhaps against thee
NV PRAYERS are distracted
How can l implore Divine ali
for one while l weep TO thinl
of the Others fall? DO not think,
blame Waldemar; he could not hav'
! done otherwise. II is no wrong, bu
cruel fate, that has come between III
Speak to me no more OF marriage; hence
forward dedicate myself to my God, Z
the unfortunate, and to thee, my brother.
Wi,demsr read no more. The letter
did but confirm what he knew before.
.Oh; my country" he cried aloud
utbou hast cost me muchP
y. Fifty-seven years passed away. Ns
ture, ever young, ever renovating VI