The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-31
IMMORTAL LOVE.


Danish allegiance to the German confed.
Grafton in 1851.
A detachment of infantry was sent to
clear n certain portion of the nearer &C
clivities, where the Holsteinors had in
trenched themselves in the slOping vine
yards. Their ranks were dccinated. The
officers in charge went down one after the
other.
The detachment wavered. Left without
a leader, the men would have fallen back.
But at this moment the color bearer,
young STRIPPING, gave mighty shout and
sprang ahead. With the colors held alOft
in one hand, sword plucked from tho
dead hand of his captain in the other, he
called on his comrades to follow him The
men were inspired They had found
new leader, and the charge went on. The
ranks were .sfosed up as by miracle, and
the astonished Holsteiners at last grabbed
up their traps and turned tail, joining the
reserves on the heights beyond, leaving
the intrenchments in the hands of the
Danes.
This was the turning point of the siege,
and although the city was frightfUlly
wrecked, the Hoisteiners were forced TO
retire.
Gaining the stronghold of the enemy
and cutting down gunners and stragglers
at the supreme moment of victory, the
young officer fell upon his face while thou.
sands were sounding his praises. A bullet
time before the brave chap was discovered
in the wreckage of tho abandoned fortif-
cations, now overstrewn with the bodies
of the Holsteiners and those of the charg-
ing Danes. But after a search amid the
confusion of a cross fire from over the val
lev the unconscious savior of the city was
borne down into the town and laid upon
white cot in the upper story of an impro-
vised hospital.
His fame was in every mouth. The
short, triumphant march. Hundreds stroye
for the privilege of carrying the litter
whereon the unconscious soldier lay, and
az the hospital the most skilled surgeons
were detailed to attend him. For hours
they worked over him. Then they left
him, uncertain whether the morrow would
sec him dead or alive.
Late that day the officer for the first
time opened his eyes. There sat beside
him a white capped nurse in a scarlet
blouse. She was young, with almost
ohildlike cast of feature, impressiOnable,
refined and Of gentle birth. The officer,
without pain as yet, was trying to remem-
be- things. But the sight of that simple
vision of patrician loveliness at his side
completely charmed him. He seemed to
doubt her bodily existence, so motionless
she sat there in the chamber of suffering,
SO like an angel of heaven in this hell of an
guish. Then the warrior heart stirred with
its deep sense of chivalry. did we take
She heights?'' he whispered.
Instantly the fair nurse turned upon
him such a look of delight and gratitude
for his return as from the grave that the
officer felt himself lifted to heaven and en-
veloped in some celestial radiance. Yes,
thank Cod" she whispered exultantly-
t'YOu saved the city. >
"And you, gentle friend?''
81 am going to try to save you"
This fair daughter of Denmark was one
1net 10
tial home to care for her comrade, sick and
wounded, even as her brothers perhaps
/ had plunged into the thick of hattie. A
sudden admiration, coupled with profound
reverence sprang up in the soldiers heart,
] and W hen they were alone, though he was
| stretched out in a helpless state, a likely
| martyr to the city's salvation, he account
! ed himself the most fortunate of men,
! For three weeks the faithful woman
| watched beside the delirious soldier and
| brought him out OF the very jaws of death
| by her watchful care. During the long
| hours they exchanged glances, simple
words and such tokens of the heart as
/ only they who love can find in silence and
! in secret. With her absence the sufferer
fell back, with her coming ho rallied as if
/ by miracle. When it came time for the
| officer to resume his command, he had the
daring to reopen his wounds that he might
remain day longer i'll the heaven of that
woman's presence. At lest, however, he
| went to the front.
1t was months after that they met. It
| was the occasion of the officers presenta-
| ton to the king, Frederick VII, and his
receiving the decorations of honor. Among
the ladies in waiting to her majesty the
queen the officer found his faithful nurse
TO whom he owed his very life. He was
amazed to discover that she was the daugh-
ter of high church dignitary and related
| closely to the throne. In a safe little re-
ia 1OVprs fOnn6 fbpmEpI alone
Both realized instinctively that it was for
the last time.
An inferior officer who had aspired to
the hand of q princess of the blood would
have been disgraccd. And yet the old fire
was renewed in both hearts, and they be-
came conscious that life without each 9th
er was worse than death. With arms en-
folding and lips pressed to lips for the first
and perhaps the last time on earths they
made their resolves. That night the young
officer laid down his arms and uniform,
resigning his commission, and fled into
Sleswick. now become German territory.
Then they were married, like two sim
| pie peasants, and from Hamburg set sail
| for a new land and fortune. As if to prove
their ronunciation of title, glory and re
nown they became " Mr.. and Mrs. Hum
BILE" For 40 years they lived in the out
/ skirts of Perth Amboy, \. J. It was g
years of uninterrupted honeymoon; never
/ a word of complaint, never a longing back
ward glance. Hardship and adversity
could not wedge them apart, and pride
forbade their sending home for help oven
in the depth of their later miseries. Then
came the sad hour of parting and Humble
held the dying woman in his arms await
ing the end. AT the very moment of heI
passing he whispered the question which
was supreme in his heart and which could
brook no simulations now:
Dearest did you ever regret?'
J ttNeVpr ueveri'' she murInureCi. 90 How
could when I loved you so? And shall
we NOT 90 rirht ON loving each othe-