Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-10
IMMORTAL LOVE.

IMMORTAL LOVE.
Eventful indeed was the bombardment
of F~riedrichstadt, Denmark, at the time of
the secession of Sleswick-H olstein from
Danish allegiance to the German confed-
Grafton in 1851.
A detachment of infantry was sent to
clear a certain portion of the nearer ac-
clivities, where the Holsteiners had in
trenched themselves in the sloping vine
yards. Their ranks were decimated. The
officers in charge went down one after the
other.
The detachment wavered. Left without
q leader, the men would have fallen back.
But at this moment the color bearer, a
young STRIPPING, gave a mighty shout and
sprang ahead. With the colors held aloft
in nj hand, a sword plucked from the
dead hand Of his captain in the other, he
called on his comrades to follow him. The
men were inspired. They had found a
new leader, and the charge went on. The
ranks were closed 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 Holsteiners 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
had gone clean through him. 1t was some
time before the brave chap was discovered
In the wreckage of the abandoned fortifl-
cations, now overstrewn with the bodies
of the H~olsteiners and those of the charg-
ing Danes. But after a search amid the
confusion of a cross fire from over the val
ley the unconscious savior of the city was
borne down into the town and laid upon a
white cot in the upper story Of an impro-
yised hospital.
His fame was In every mouth. The
route from the heights to hospital was a
short, triumphant march. Hundreds stroye
for the privilege of carrying the litter
whereon the unconscious soldier lay, and
at the hospital the most skilled surgeons
were detailed to attend him. For hours
they worked over him. Then they left
him, uncertain whether tho morrow would
see 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 a
childlike cast of feature, impressionable,
refined and of gentle birth. The officer,
without pain as yet, was trying to remem-
Der things. But the sight of that simple
vision of patrician loneliness 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
the 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 solne celestial radiance. eyes,
thank God!' she whispered e%xultantly.
"You saved the city"
"And you, gentle friend?"
II am going to try to save you"
This fair daughter of Denmark was one
of the brave angels who had left her pala-
tial home to care for her comrade, sick and
wounded, even as her brothers perhaps
had plunged into the thick of battle. A
sudden admiration, coupled with profound
reverence, sprang up in the soldiers heart,
and when 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 roman
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
only they who love can find in silence and
in secret. With her absence the sufferer
fell back, with her coming he rallied as If
by miracle. When 1t came time for the
officer to resume his command, he had the
daring to reopen his wounds that he might
remain a day longer III the heaven Of that
woman's presence. At last, however, he
went to the front.
1t was months after that they met. 1t
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 a high church dignitary and related
closely to the throne, In a safe little re.
treat the lovers found themselves 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 disgraced. And yet the old fire
was renewed in both hearts, and they be-
came conscious that life without each 9TH
or was worse than death. With arms en-
folding and lips pressed to lips for the first
and perhaps the last time on earth, they
officer laid down his arms and uniform,
resigning his commission, and fed 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 reconciliation 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, N. J. 1t was 40
years Of uninterrupted honeymoon; never
q word OF complaint, nevera longing back
ward glance. Hardship and adversely
could not wedge them apart, and pride
forbade their sending home for help even
In the depth Of thcir later miscries. Then
came tho sad hour Of parting and Humble
held the dying woman in his arms await
ing the end. AT the very moment Of her
passing he whispered the question which /
was supreme in his heart and which could
brook no simulations now,
dearest, did You ever regrets"