Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-09-11
Man or Phantom?

attached to the Royal Saxon Army
corps, as brave a body of warriors as
was ever gathered together for pur'
poses Of destruction and carnage. /
followed the fortunes of the gallant
corps through the fall campaign and
was with them at the siege Of Paris.
AS might be expected my constant
presence at headquarters and my un-
vanished reports of the doings Of the
corps secured me the friendship Of
some of the officers, while others found
it hard work to conceal the pique ex-
cited by my letters. Among my dear
est friends and defenders was Lieut..
Baron Ludwig Won l., an adju-
tant to one of the regiments attached
to the corps. 1t had been my good
fortune to render slight service to
the lieutenant during the opening days
of the war, and with an enthusiasm
which was inexplicable to me, he de-
Tended my every action and let no op-
portunity pass by to sound my praise.
1t was but natural that such disinter-
estedness should challenge my admira-
tion, and soon our friendship had rip
ened into an intimacy such as can on
ly be established amid the surround
ings in which we were placed. Moth
ing marred these pleasant relations
until Christmas Eve, when stray
shell from one of the forts struck the
tent in which the Lieutenant and l
were celebrating the great German
holiday. In moment l realized that
he had been severely wounded, while
l had escaped unharmed. An exam
ination of the wound proved that his
life was in imminent peril, and the
staff surgeon concluded to send Won
L to his home in Saxony. In
pursuance Of the doctors directions
we parted then and there, and next
morning the early train bore my friend
to the arms of his anxious family,
while | continued my exciting life
among the sanguine soldiery.
The week following this incident
was devoid Of interest, owing to the
inactivity of the French, but on the
ninth day the forts opened fire, and
from whispered conversations at head
quarters | CLEANED that the morrow
sec sanguinary conflict. In order
to be prepared l left the tent of the
most advanced Saxon outpost at 4
o'clock in the afternoon for the pur-
pose of preparing typographical notes
concerning the probable field of car
mage. My work was soon completed.
Silence and solitude, interrupted at
rare intervals by the CHEEKY "Qui
vive ?" of the French outposts, or the
gruh "Wer da ?" of the German sem
tinels, tempted me to rest under a
protecting shed, and before | realized
it | had settled down for little nap.
When | awoke the darkness told me
me that the evening had far advanc-
ed, and looking around | saw that II
terrible snow storm had covered my
tracks. Escape was impossible. |
knew not how to reach my friends,
and to fall into the hands of the
French meant disgrace and perhaps
dishonor.
Making the best of an ugly situa-
ton, l drew my heavy fur overcoat
closer about me, pulled my cap over
my ears, and retreated once more
within the shed. Scarcely had | set
tied into comfortable position when
| was appalled,. Was it possible |!
Yes, there at the rickety door Of the
shed stood, as real as life, Lieut.. Won
l., his right hand resting upon
his sword belt, and speaking in a low
but distinct whisper: Beware of the
Franctireurs!" !" Suddenly as the APP
partition appeared it vanished.
Imagine my feelings; l can not de-
scribe them. verify believe that my
hair stood upon end. A stupor fol-
lowed this fear and n trance-like slum-
Der. How long | remained in this
condition | knew not at the time, but
well do | remember the awakening
from the trance. My nervous system
was totally deranged, my hands refus-
ell to do service; in fact l had not the
strength to light match to look at
my watch. With groan ! sank
back upon my bed of snow. ] tried
to sleep but in vam. All | could do
was to think. Had | seen Ludwig
Won L, or his spiritY the real
man or Il phantom
At last relief came. | could not
mistaken, | heard the footsteps of n
small body of men. They approach
ed the shed. Yes; but not with the
steady tread of the soldier. Heavens!
could it be the Franctireurs, those
bloodthirsty guerrilas and hyenas of
the battlefield! | tried to-fortify my
self for an attack. tried to arouse
my physical self. Before / could rise
or make a move the door of the shed