River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-05-31
STANDING ON GUARD.
-, lated from The German.

streets. Nobody stood still =
The sentry at the powder niasa1lno
did not seem to mind the snoA -.
much He walked his post bris, ny
with his musket carry arms; but, q
the cold increased, he took sheltered
position against the wall of the maya
zine, holding his musket with his man
tie. to prevent his stiffening fingers from
adhering to the metal, and gazed over
the vast expanse of snow, he looming
up Ikea bulky exclamation point. Occa-
sionally no stamped his feet. A couple
of icicles hung from his heavy mustache.
1t was indeed a heavy snow storm.
All at once his attention was directed TO
dark point, Ii certainly moved, and
Il appeared to be comming nearer.
Some belated person was coming through
the snow towards him.
"Haltr called the sentry, bringing
his gun to his shoulder. The figure con-
tinued to approach. Halt, or III fire."
called the sentry once more in threat
ening tone.
Don't fire! it's only me. It's Katie"
Hesdropped the butt of his gun to the
ground, "Ale you here? In the name
| of the devil himself. what brings you
out of our village in all this cold wealth
err"
81 want to speak to you, Fritz, and l
| had to come tonight, or not at all.
The dark spot on the snow came near
er and nearer.
The soldier is not allowed to talk
when he is at bis post"
"But / want to talk to you. Nobody
can hear us"
"When the relief guard comes and
| finds me here talking to a woman, | will
| be locked up in the classmates" said
the soldier sullenly.
"There is do danger of anybody COM
ing here i'll this snow storm. I'll be
gone before you are relieved"
"What devilish sly girl you are"
| laughed the soldier grimlv, shaking him
| self up TO Get rid of the snow that was
| falling thick and heavy. Here you
have hanked me IN place where can't
advance or retreat. You have a strlget-
| ic head, you have There is staff Of
| ficer lost by You being a woman;" and
the soldier, tall, handsome specimen
of the German soldier, laughed heartily.
Kate did not laugh. On the contrary
she looked sad, and her large black eyes
seemed surchareed with tears.
"Dont look at me so sharp with your
big black ewes. You are sly one, TO
! take me by surprise when | have no
| chance to fire and fall back. So you
want to talk, do you? Talk away, to
your hearts content, only don't you ex-
pect me to answer you. My oath as
| soldier forbids me to answer you when
| / am on guard"
"Your oathr she exclaimed scornful-
". her dark eyes flashing fire. "Your
OATH" she repeated in ringing voice.
"Can't you remember another oath you
took when my people drove me away
from home on your account She
clasped her hands in despair and
groaned i'll her misery.
"For Gods sake, Katie, calm yourself
You cannot reasonably expect me to
take care ola wife and child while am
soldier in the barracks on my
pay 4, I'll;
fierce tone of voice. Give me back
my honor, and | will work for us
all"
"Keep quiet" responded the soldier
lowering his voice, "they will hear you
at the guard house, and then / an
lost"
"Let them hear. Let the whole world
hear that came here in the cold anC
snow to remind you, for the last time o
your oath. | want you to keep your
word. Make me your wife before Goo
and man, as you promised me yor
would"
She looked beautiful, in all her de-
SPAR and Indebtedness. Fritz looked
away for a moment and then re-
piled:
''I'll do all that you wish, Katie, only
keep quiet. If the patrol were to come
we should both be lost"
| Dn,,bt otH INV MARA Y,1inClad in the
expression of her face, as she almost
shrieked:
"Wilyou, Fritz, will your
The soldier glance around anxiously
but there was noslgns of relief.
$50 help me God, we will be married
Tomorrow"
Her eyes danced with Joy, as she
nestled up 10 him. He threw the cape
o his mantle over she shivering form,
and placed his arm around her.
81 always knewyou were only thought.
less. knew you were not bad" And
she looked up trustingly into his face
"You love me yet, don't you, Fritz"
"Of course l do, what foolish question
to ask"
"But you have not come near me nol
the baby for almost year."
GLOW could /, penned up here in the
garrison? By the way, how is the
baby?"
'He is big, stout fellow. Your moth
er takes good care of him."
"My mother was always good to me,
said the soldier with q sigh. MANY 6
time she saved me from a whipping.
It's good for us my father is dead. lie
would never have allowed us to marry
never in this world. He wanted me to
marry Elise, the rich miler's daughter,
but l wouldn't marry her if she was up
to her neck in money"
"But you will marry me, won't you,
| Fritz"
"You have captured the fort, little
one. The garrison had to surrender OF
die, and | would rather surrender and
take my chances Of good treatment"
Fritz, please don't joke; it hurts
me-" and she pressed her hand to her
| heart. "You used TO be joking
all the time, but | suppose you
are cold. You are not dressed warm.
| But, Katie, YOU must go. 1t is nearly
time for the relic. guard. Are you cold?
| 1t Eeems to me you must he freezing"
Il II go In minute. Where will we
! live when we are married.
"As soon as my term of service has
expired, which will be in few months,
we can get into Silesia and establish a
home there Hans Stockelbauer, who
used to belong TO my company, has Of
| fered to sell me farm on easy terms.
We can pay for it when we are able.
| We will live there with the baby all to
ourselves. How 30 you like that, little
| one?"
Although shivering with cold, she
looked up into his face and laughed but
said nothing. lie leaned back against
| the stone wall of the magazine, and
drawing his cloak still closer around her
| said in voice full of tenderness.
Poor thing; you are shivering all
over Be careful you don't to 90 sleep.
This snow will keep the patrol back in
| making his rounds, but cold and snow
are treacherous things A man is apt to
| doze off and wake up in kingdom come
| if he is not careful We will have fine
| times roaming through the green woods.
| There is plenty game where We will have
our home, and ! am pretty good shot
My captain said yestedav / WAS the best
shot in the company"
81 believe It. You shot me through
the heart, but it is all right now. I'll
never reproach you any more, Fritz.
God bless YOU" And she leaned her
head on his road happy breast. "Its all
right now. ] will be 50 happy with you
and the baby-so happy
"Whew, this is dreadful weather.
don't believe the relief guard will ever
get here through this snow.
Thicker and thicker fell the snow.
a \ N2srE