Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-04

kind of petulant wall. "No, mol 1t was a
parting gitt-a parting g,ft from aI the
helm looked about him for a weapon. With
the dreadful Inconsistency of hate he did not
loosen his saving pressure above the seducers
wrist, even while he sought means TO make an
end of him. But wronged and wronger were
both unarmed. No dead still in cold hands
faithfully clasping sword and bayonet used SO
well, lay within reach. These two actors in
this drama were apart-the would-be avenger
saved only from bleeding to death by the
bandage bound by an enemy above his knee
his destined victim, with two wrists shattered,
dying from want Of a bandage. They were were
them in the clOudless heaven the cold stars
shone down.
But now the ensign, on the very verge of
faintng, began TO moan once more. blind up
my wrists, good Ronheim; bind up my wrists.
You have a handkerchief there. Why do you
sit s airing to see me bleed to deathg' He had
opened his eyes by this time, and from their
blue depths, now rapidly dmming, piteous en-
treaty spoke. Hate was for a moment disarmeo
by this glance of the dying.
Mechanically Ronheim tied the handkerchief
tightly, with the strength, strange to tell which
his very hate inspired, above one of the shat
tered wrists. Then he let it fall without a word.
Bowed over his unsuspecting enemy, he eyed
him fixedly. But from Won Trosckow's other
wrist the bright blood welled out; and the En-
sign, seeing this, seeing also that there was no
other bandage procurable to stay the 1atal
face death fearlessly like the brave soldier that
he was.
''R,nheim," he said family, you have done
alI that may be done for me in the way of help.
But, as there is but one Dandage you have only
been able to bind one wrist. And l am dying
as quickly as possible from the other. There
remains but one other thing for you to do, my
fine fellow: for, being tough, and well bound
up. it is clear to me that you will survive. Take
this silver bracelet from my wrist. and see that
It's sent to my mother with my dying charge
~
He paused for moment. struggling with the
"My dying charge" he went on. ITO my
mother is. that the girl whose name is on this
bracelet shall be treated by her as if she were
nv widow. have wronged her. But prom
ised to make her my wife. My mother is rich.
am her only son. So you see that she will see
that my dying wish is carried out. DO you un-
Won Ronheim. his eyes still fixed upon his
dying enemy, bowed his head.
"And you undertake this mission. as you are
a true SOLDIER?
Again Won Ronheim bowed his head. But
his eyes no longer sought his enemy's. They
looked out across the battlefield away toward
a tender glow the skyline; a faint streak
shining from behind the everlasting hills which
showed where the footsteps of that day of
death had died And. as his small pig-like ey es
met the light. they dilated, seeming to see some
ing vision Of dead happy days!
did you love this Rose Sucher. Ensign?" he
suddenly blurted out gruf1y.
Won Trosckow, who had closed his eyes, an
swered family:
"Have not said that She was to have been
my wife?"
:'And did this baggage really love your
Did she not give me this bracelet as
pledgeT'
covered?"
cred? l speak dying man. You know,
Ronheim, as well as do, that am bleeding to
death for want of bandage"
Ronheim was silent for moment. He
seemed to be thinking. And as he thought
there came upon his thick lips smile of sin
gular sweetness and innocence. the smile OF a
little child. And as this smile. Frightening
ever before some vision of boyhOod which, each
moment made clearer grew grew, till it trans
figured the plain face, he quietly undid that
bandage which an enemy's pitying hands had
bound so skillfully above his wounded knee.
His life-blood burst from the artery. But
without thought of it, with the last strength
of strong life. strength to which hate no
longer ministered, in minute he had bound
the saving linen, stained deeply already with
his own blood, above that others shattered
wrist, from which the last of a rivals life was
ebbing. Forgiveness stronger than hate bound
this hgament close The death flow was stayed
Trosckow opened his eyes wearily.
what now?' he asked. His voice seemed
stronger already. as if that other life self
veins. What now?' he asked.
at is, Ensign" answered Ronheim bluntly,
that have found another bandage.'
God be thanked? cried Trosckow as his
ewes lit upon his salvation.
And as" went on Ronheim. lit seems that
mine has slipped, and that there is such a
DEVILS own pool of my blood here as will short
ly send me about my business, it seems that it
is my turn now to make a confession and
exact promise" He motioned silence
family reading growing Suspicion of what had
really happened in the others tense face
Confession first Ensign. Rose Sucher was
my sweetheart. l had hoped to be happy with
her. you see. 1 gave her that bracelet com.
mitting her to God. 1t seems she has preferred
your protection. ! do not blame her Ineyer
did. Ineyer could. Rose always had her own
way"
He smiled again family that simple child's
smile. But the other read In it the whole
history of this hero's devotion-saw how his
own life had been saved.
Wretch that l amr' he cried, and tried to
raise one shattered hand to tear the bandage
from the other But Ronheim, content saw
that to do this was beyond the others power
You have promised for her, Ensign" he
said; "and l know that you will keep your
word. give my life gladly that Rose may be
an honest woman. Swear once more that if
you live you will make her your wife"
With tears flooding his eyes the other prom
ised. And then these two soldiers lay quietly
side by side on that darkened field of battle
while above them the stars shone out splendid
ly, inHumeTable rejoicing eyes. viewing with
exultation the tranquil close Of this drama of
Hate. They lay side by side for some space
looking at each other as true friends look at
other who are soon for a long space to be
parted. Then, when Ronheim's life was al
most ebbed, hurried steps were heard ap-
preaching. and relief party came up. A Ger
man surgeon, rough. red-bearded man, whose
skilful, tender hands had been Redeemed
in the service of mercy, looked at Ronheim
first. He shrugged his shoulders, and spat e1-
pressively.
"The devil" he said, looking at the ground
red with that self-sacrifcing blood-"we are
too late here" But he hurried with bandape
nevertheless. But Ronheim, now at his last
gasp. refused the service.
i am past your aid, SIR" he said. But there
is Ensign Won Trusckow, of my regiment, whom
have looked to, who will repay your care and
mine. Ensign Won Trosckow has something to
live for"
He fixed a long. steady look upon his rival
and died.
There came across the silent battlefield the
mellowed sound of distant voices singing .FTbe
Watch by the Rhine" All that remained of
the First Prussian Regiment of Dragon
Guards were marching back to VionvIlle the
nearest place with water.-PaH Mall Gazette,
SEVENTY-SIXTH,S RETNTON