Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-11-13
SELECTIONS.
KISSED INTO LIFE.

Anna Essenbach, gracefully
formed German girl, plump looking
and neatly dressed, stood on tiptoe
on Wednesday afternoon, and held
upa pair Of every pretty red lips to
be kissed by Mayor Whitney of
Brooklyn. The Mayor looked will
ing, and, after glancing at the hus-
band of the pretty girl, ventured to
avail himself of the proffered salute.
AS he had just married the couple
before him everybody conceded that
he had earned the reward, but they
were not SO sure about Secretary
Philips right to follow the Mayors
example as he did.
Mr.. and Mrs. Herman Krause
then told the simple story of their
life and love, which commenced In
the village of Freiderichsrue, on the
Rhine.
The little bride, who looked as pic
turesque as a figure on a bit of
Dresden china, told her story with
modest excitement after she had
been judiciously prompted:
Herman and ] were born in
Friederichsau," she said, "and we
played together as children. He
used to carry me and my books to
school, and we always loved each
other, didn't we, Herman 2"
Herman, who is as big and yellow
haired aud good-natured looking as
any German well could be, gave his
little bride a fond look and remark.
ed briefly:
"Yahw
"When Herman was Is years old
he had to go away to the army, and
oh my heart was sad. / made him
promise to always think of me, and
/ gave him a little Bible to read
When the Kaiser commenced to
fight the French / knew Herman
would have to go to war in earnest.
aud as l wanted to be near him
Joined the Red Cross Hospital corps
During the battles | always tried
not to think OF Herman, aud remem.
bered only the poor wounded men
whom [ nursed. After the battle OF
Gravelotte, Herman did not come ia
see me or send me message, as be
always did, and then / knew that
there was something wrong. 1 got
to where his regiment had been
fighting, and there on the dark field
1 found men burying the dead
When I asked for him one of the
soldiers looked as if be was very
sorry, and pointed to a big hole in
the ground which was half full Of
dead men. They said l went crazy,
but didn't. | was wild to kiss him
just once and for the last time, so
sprang into the trench, and before
they stopped me | had scratched
away the thin dirt on top of Her
mans face and kissed him.
didn't remember anything more
then, for l tainted.
Afterward, when the soldiers
went to bury more men, they saw
that Herman had moved his head
so they knew he was alive, and they
took his body out and sent him te
the hospital. When | got well they
told me a piece of shell had fractur
ed his skull, and that it had injured
his brain SO that he would always BIZ
insane. / saw him once, when ir
his delirium he tried to kill me anf
then l left him, as l thought forever
My father soon moved to this coun
try, and we lived in Brooklyn. One
year ago got letter signed by my
Herman, telling me that the doctor.
had taken out the piece of skull
which had made him insane so many
years, and that he still loved me-
He landed at Castle Garden las
week, and my father got him goot
work, SO we came here to day TO b,
married.n
The little bride walked out Of th'
Mayors Office, leaning fondly on tn,
arm of the stoical Herman, and gaz
ling at him with evident admiration