Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-25
PERSONAL,
a GERMAN WAR ROMANCE.
Return of n Husband Supposed to he
Dead-Two Lives Sacrificed.

btau-t W. hiFN' 'thtihh'Nh'
Herman Brink is the first name in
scribed in gilt letters on the war monu-
ment OF o town in Westphalia, raised in
commemoration of the sons of the place
who fell in the last French war. The
same name had headed the list of the
dead reported as killed in the battle Of
Gravelotte. which soon after reached the
Mayor Of the place with blood-stained
New Testament that was picked up
near the spot where his comrades
had last seen him during tho terrible
slaughter OF tho 18th of August,
1870, No ono saw him fall, nor
was his corpse discovered among
the thousands who were buried in the
deep, long bitches on the fields OF Lor-
raine. This was the only relic his young
wife received from the hands of the bur
eomaster-the sblood-stained book she
knew so well for she herself had writ
ten his name in it. A few months later
she gave the name of Hermann to her
only child, the image of his father, and
after years mourning her hand TO a
Mr.. X. On their wedding trip they
visited Alsace-L Lorraine. From Strass-
burg, where her second husband was for
some days detained on business, Mrs. IL.
went alone to Gravelotte to de-
post q wreath on the monu-
ment which marks the resting
place of the German soldiers Having
left her carriage by the roadside and ar
rived at the tomb, she is just on the
point OF laying the wreath on 1t when
woman rushing up to he- from behind
the monument snatches the flowers from
her hands, crying: "This is for my
Wilhelm !" Then, staring at Mrs. X.
with the eyes of n maniac, she erclalms
Thou needst not be so naughty; he
was better than thy Hermann, with his
red trousers and the French cap; he
looked at me, but | turned my face from
the traitor, and, with shrill laugh,
throwing the wreath to the ground. the
woman ran away. The terrified lady,
however, recognized in her o poor
girl OF her native town who had sud
denly disappeared in the fall OF 1870
Wilhelm, her lover, had also fallen at
Grayelotte. But what did the words OF
the insane indicate ? Recovering from
her fright, Mrs. X. rejoined her husband
at Strassburg, whence she soon returned
10 their home in Westphalia. Only to
her mother she confdes her strange ex-
perience. Years pass twenty long
wears. The terrible vision on the field
of Gravelotte is fading into dream. 1t
is on q stormy, dark night towards the
end of September, 1890. Mrs. Is. IS
hacking young Hermann's trunk,
for by tomorrow he is to leave
for the university as student OF
theology. With his stepfather he
has gone into town to take leave
of his many friends. Their house
is in the suburbs and they are ex'
nected 70 return later than usual. The
clock has Just struck 10. Suddenly the
he'll rings The servant who answers 1t
sees a tall. bearded stranger before her
who ;nnuires for Mrs. Brink. Now, the
maiden name of Mrs. X. was the same
as that of her first husband. "fou
mean Mrs H." replies the girl. "lf
NOT Mrs Brink living here ?" the stran-
Gov answers. 40, yes, the old lady
her mother. This is her room, point
inc across the hall TO the nearest door.
Entering the man after hasty greet
ing abruptly asks; /" Where is your
dancbter =" "Mrs. K. my daughter,
is upstairs" "Had she not husband :;
in the last WARP" Yes; he iell
at Gravelotte'" mot So ma.
Somo y answers the mysterious
stranger che was only wounded Gap,
tured by the French he was, after long
sickness. taken into Africa. In Algeria
ani Tonkin he fought at my SIDE. l came $
to return this ring from him to his wife.
After thus handing ring TO Ihe nov y
speeches. and thoroughly,frlght ssiS d olo
lady he disappears through the s.i sui oP 9sl
door. The daugher is just &C. crossing the tn.
hall to hurry to her mother. The stranger
passes her without saluhng ana qu'en'
steps out Of the front door. MIS- rs h :,
alarmed, hastens into the room nc Jus,
left to find her mother fainting away WIFI III
the ring in her hand, which .hi the e. da nsn
ter at once recognizes as ina, ol Me =.
mann Brink, given to him py nels1 7, ~ I.
the day Of their engagement tor.h
he. l saw his eyes" she breaks '0''n'