New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-31
LINA'S BETROTHED.

So you would have me gayer, my little wife
Fighter of heart more like true Rhnelander; and
,nn rec sn ON S bis SHAY bd ae
after ALL it is only OCCASIONAL cloud you have to
complain of; for l am not the ungrateful wretch
the light of your blue eyes. And then, to-day, /
have great news-yes, Marechen. great news! It
is long story, but will ask your leave to tell it
you, for it viii be an excuse for the sadness which
you take amiss-these passing shadows; and it will
of our honeymoon to Hamburgs Why put Oft the
longed for sight of the wild salt seaT
must go back to my soldering days, my darling
for the beginning of it all few DAYS after the
pattle of Sarrebrucken letter reached me, and
even before saw the writing ting felt sure knew
line had ever had from her. You need not take
your little hand away mein susses Webb; and you
months before that very day that had seen you, a
little girl then baekhsch,' as we ,rudely say
playing with our baby brother; and said, as you
know. to your mother, If ever | marry, it is your
Mariechen who will be my wife, She laughed ;
thirteen hp and Solder W Snt yoa
see it was /, not she, who was right! few days
later vas ss called out to Join the regiment egi
Now, if you win give me back the little hand, l
will go on with my. story There .
ing, and it not addressed to me, Franz Weber,
but To the Comrade of the Herr Lieutenant Won
l well knew what name should find, and read,
Lima Hilebrand; then to the top of he page, and
u,
say familiar writing because, though / had
never before heard from her, poor girl had seen
parts Of many OF her letters Beautiful letters they
Lit up by. playful fancy. And how Won DonneIs
marck priced theml This one was short, SIMPLE
details that l could give of my dear comrades
death and of his last days. and. generally, Of his
fortunes since tho beginning of tho war. The
writer begged to send her some little thing that
had belonged TO the heutenant-any book he had
been using lately shred of his uniform .
closed
apology for troubling me, a stranger, with these
requests but pleading as excuse the longing of one
In sores grief tor a relic and for tdngs of the dear
dead soldier who was soon to have been her hus-
marck's comrade must know that hers was no COM
mon loss and perhaps this fact would make him
ienient to her opportunity and induce him to strive
to send her some comforting words IN her bereave-
ment. Was there not, she asked, some message left
with me for heri
of that sorrowful letter, but / have it somewhere
treasured through all these years, and must show
time to time, when l could spare a few minutes
set down whatever l thought mg ht most interest
her. without too much narrowing her feelings.
told her briefly of the condolences with which he
had honored me, and how very often he had spoken
Of her; but i dared not dwell much on the tender
expressions be had used. Her sorrow was too fresh
TO find anything but aggravation in the thought
Of his devotion toward herself promised some
day, if lived, TO come TO her, and speak of many
things of which l could not write. i was able to
say that he died instantaneous death-shot
through that noble heart of his-and not before he
knew that the day ours. To my regret, could
send her nothing that had belonged to him. Every
thing Of his had been removed directly after he was
officially returned amongst the killed but, with
great relief TO my own feelings, told her how /
Loved Loved him; how we'll l knew his fine, pellqcidly
shown himself; how the men admired and loved
him; what generous unseliish. CHEEKY comrade
he had ever been TO me; and much more. He had
Entrusted me with no message; he was too sanguine
for that j have charmed life,' he laughed one
day. See if don't outlive half the regiment ?
Entering into his merry mood / told him that the
thunder of the artillery would act on him did the
thunder of the elements, and that he would wither
away for fear. He had a morbid horror of storms.
Strange that it should only be to-day that learn
the explanation of this popularity of mis-
Well, | must not anticipate; he fell, without a
groan, that day at Sarrebrucken, all his promise
antnlIilled, leaving one to wonder why, tits that
are the soonest take flight from this earth of
ours. To think that he should be killed-shot down
Ia moment-and that should get to Metz with
nothing worse than a hesh-wound
He seemed to Inc, in those old days. the ideal
cheratir sans pear ct sans reproche; the soul of
honor; curiously crystalline nature not only in
capable of deceit, but even of concealment; bright
and full OF high spirits; energetic alectionate re-
stock of general knowledge; and blessed with the
sunnest of tempers. do not say that he was abso-
lutely perfect. He had what they call the defects
OF his qualltiesa certain youthful ardor that led
TO partisanshp and prejudice perhaps, but it was
cbvalrous enthusiasm. that seemed finer In him
than the grave impartiality of Others He had. too
that most pardonable of all defects extravaganza
IN money-matters. IL seemed but part and parcel
Of his generosity OF little harmless oddities he had
several of which everybody knew - foremost
was the only conidant of one of his peculiarties
lie attached some Importance to his dreams, and il
afflicted him quite unTeasonably that Lima appeared
Almost nightly in them not as the fair blue-e we'd
German girl she in reality, but dark and Italian
m type Lima, as look at her. turns into a dark
sir, with piteons pleading eyes, he said 10 me a
5ozen times The dream picture is perfectly clear
1rst, OF Lima; then of the Italian. | know every
lurn OF her features Just we'll as Linas. / hate
her Tor coming and blottng out my darlinp's
magev laughed at his vehemence always and
he generally shook of his discomfort with some
oke When we are resting our laurels | will
draw her for you, Franz. Some painters were
Eslted by their Inspirations only in dreams She i
beautiful. But hate her. OR, She is your fate
Weberl 4 want TO share my happiness with Won
cannot give you any part of Lina-no, not n smile
Of her lips or a glance of her eve; but this dark
beauty is 10 be yoGr JOY. She is lovely. hate her
out you will adore herp
You don't know, liebes Kind, how he said these
trihes. he had an airy grace of manner not at All
leutonic, and quite Teutonic heartiness thar
made his lightest word entirely charming to me
lhen, ne had the body of young athlete and a
eome'hing OF the Grecian deinigod in his face
uan OF the people like myself, who has had TO worl,
ns way up iaboriously from amongst the common
l,onhdngs OF the less favored classes with inner
soa sauyantages OF unpliant mind and somewhat
rnsniny body-Whati my dear wife will not have
Inlay INA. ~ Is sol Well, we'll / will only say that
.aa q solng proressor-lieutenant has for his com.
sauo = youth ike Won Donnersmarck, he is apt 10
Linodi u',Ousiy conservative; 10 put his faith in
usn, ana 10 feel servilely disposed toward the
na naSsacy IN general, because one particular
Mi nohla.S WY 3ooAAsy w ofe usco w