The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-14

ana Improve IuelT lie Qau
acouaintances by this time in the wards
and the men were willing enough to be re
proved and set right in argument wheI
there was a reasonable hope of cigars re
( warding meekness. He stalked about be
tween the beds and mattresses until he
| came to the corner close by the window
| where the young French officer Law. There
was still little light in the evening sky
and what light there was fell on the up
! turned face, and the old man started bacs
as though he had been shot.
''One part of your prediction is verified
| Herr Steinberg," said the young officer
| dryly. 1 am disabled, as you see"
'Is your hurt seTiousl" said Herr Stein.
berg, laconicaily; but his eyes betrayed,
thought, more feeling than his tone.
The reply was little defiant and so was
the glance that accompanied it.
Il hope not. hope to do good service in
| the battle for my country yet"
1T will needs be in another war than
this. then. Before you are back in France
again, France will have learned to know
her master. Her pride will be humbled
again for a little while; she will be craving
peace with us-peace at any cost-peace on
our conditions. She viii have learned the
great lesson OF repentance and submission "
''SubniSsion 20 GeTmanY's will is what
she will never learn" retOrted the young
man. fercely.
Time viii prove. Bazajne must retreat.
What say you to thatl The first page of
the lesson is learned, my friend"
Il do not admit that any lesson has been
learned. eestimate your losses as greater
than our own
you estimated But we do not trust your
estimates"
''rhey are not founded on opinion, but on
fact"
''We do not trust your facts, monsieur
Your French facts are well Known. We
call your facts lies! Your country is q
country of lies. country OF 5coundrels, a
country Of And there the old man
went Off into vituperations and oaJhS. to
which my politely acquired German did not
extend.
Again my duties carried me into the a6-
Joining room. aud it was nos until long
after Herr Steinberg had t. ke, his departure
thaC | returned. Candies had been lighted.
and made patches of sicl,ly light here and
there in the gloom. Some OF t1e men were
smoking the cigars which had been given
them: now and then from ether beds loy
grOan or moan would come; and at the
upper end of the room some fierce discussion
was going on.
I went from bed to bed, fulfilling to The
best Of nv power the different demands
modest demands enough, for our poor fell
lows were Injured TO hardship. and were
almost pitifully patient; and, last of ell. l
sought Herr Steinberg's young antagonist.
The pain-lincd face he turned to me was
flushed, and his eyes bright with excite
ment.
gave him some water which he asked
for: then | sat down for a minute by his
mattress.
Your shoulder is troubling you tonight,
l fear?'' said.
Yes; it gives me pain"
He remained silent and thoughtful for a
moment: then ne looked at me and said,
soTrowfully, but with bitterness:
Madame understands now how the war
has broken ali friendships"
peace will mend them" said, trying to
speak sOothiugiy.
'.Peaca will end the war" he said with an
impatient sigh: sit viii not end the bitter
BesS which the war has brought" And
then. after at least minutes silence. he
added: sit is not possible that Herr Stein
berg will ever again forgive me for being
French. have taken the part of my cOun-
try and fought for her Nothing can alter
that"
Herr Steinberg's friendship seemed TO be
strangely valuable; it was odd that it should
have the power OF inspiring such deep affec-
ton. While pondered this my patient
asked question. He was at pains to ask it
very casually.
"Nadamo knows Herr steinberg; Posi-,
bly, she is acquainted with the good frau?"
But madame was not, and said so.
''And there is a daughter. too, " continued
the young man, N the same studiouSly list
less tone.
Eyes; Fraulein Minna."
The liStlessness had disappeared n mo-
ment
You know herr" he said. eagerly: 'iyou
see her sometimes. madame? Shall YOU see
her again! Do you see her alone! Win it
be soon that you will see her!n
Poor lad! There was not much mystery
about his secret.
mo, I do not know her." 1 said; 81 have
heard her name. no more"
And tie look of disappointment that
crept over his face was most pitiful to see.
Some one needed me next moment and
was forced to leave him. | was busy for
the next few hours. But the little romance
l had partly heard, partly guessed at, was
often in my thoughts. | was growing old.
but my youth was not 50 far behind me
that had forgotten it. l could be sorry
still for the sorTOws of young men and
maidens. Ny heart ached for the poor
young fellow for whom the war had
''broken ell friendships'-which meant one
And. perhaps Lacause | was a
woman, was more sorry still for the un,
known Minna, who had mo word to say
to Herr Hartmann, her fathers guest.
CHAPTER II.
''Mrs. Grey"
Il was a timid voice which called me, and
the voice came from the adjoining garden,
which was Herr Steinbergs.
| had come out for few ESinuteS in the
early morning to breathe little air, while
the air was cool and the dew was still heavy
on the grass and leaves. As passed by the
low hedge of bushes which divided our
neighbours orderly garden from our own
wilderness of dOwntrodden greenery &
quick step followed me and some one called
me by name As [ turned, q pretty, slim
young girl, with neatly braided golden
hair and grave, gray eyes, came toward
me and held Ou, 10 me, across the low bar
rier of bushes a little bunch of fragrant
roses. with the dewdrOps trembling and
sparkling on them. She offered them very
timidly, looking deprecatingly at me as
though she half feared repuiSe.
''Will you be kind enough to take them?'
she said, speaking in English in a slow,
precise, grave way.
TO whom must be kind enough 20 take
them.'' l said. smiling.
The fair little face hlushed rosy red.
''Will you not take them for yOurself?''
she replied, gravely. perhaps you have
not time to pluck flowers. l thought that
the rooms where you and the Door sick men
are might look brighter, perhaps, with
few little roses there"
There were tears in the poor child's eyes,
though she spoke in so deliberate and mat
ter-of-fact a tone. She looked away to
hide them.
They suffer very much. DO they not!n
she said, with heavy sigh, still looking
down.
''Some do"
Everyone ought to be very kind to them.
Is Herr Hartmann kind.'
Certainly he is"
But suppose one wounded man was
French. Would he then be kind! He
hates the French, he speaks cruelty, he
might be rough. There is one wounded
French officer at your ambulance, hare
been told. Is he very III! Is Herr Hart
mann gentle with him! Does he suffer
much."
Ianswered the questions one by one and
tried to answer th5m cheerfully.
Thank you.n said Frauiein Minna, look
ing up at me and trying to smile through
her tears; ''thank you. Perhaps-if you
put those roses where he could see them
now and then-it might pass the time-he