Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-28


a forced laugh said not word to each
other for a whole hour, though we re
NAMED together. When we reached
the tavern where the young men who
on the morrow were to hasten in al
directions to join the standard were
passing the last evening together, ou1
spirits rose to the heights Of the
swelling and roaring flood of joy in
fatherland and in battle. We sat close
to each other in the dense throng, and
when towards midnight the glasses
were raised to the laundering shout
Death and Freedom" ManneIin held
out his glass to me and said, ''If one OF
us falls and the other wins the girl
long life to him. Here's his health!'
No less patheticalIy clinked my glass
with his and cried out, And peace to
the dead"
So we parted as good friends and
each went his way. I do not need to
relate all the events of the war.
heard that Mannelin had been made
lieutenant. then that he was lying
wounded IN some obscure hospital. I
heard, too that he was dead, but no
details, and I purposely remained in
the dark as to Mannelin's death so as
not to appear before the beautiful girl
like a creditor come to demand the
fulfillment Of her promise to marry
the survivor, which I yet firmly be-
lieyed she would fulfill.
In May, 1914, our regiment marched
up the Rhine valley, and my own
squadron was CHARTERED in our old
university town. The next day rode
out to the bankers house in the coun,
try. He and his wife did not know
me at first, but when they did recog-
nize me at last, in spite of the change
wrought by sixteen months campaign
ing, they made me welcome. What
will Hildeburg say" cried the banker S
wife, "now that the marshal is back!
And where is the chancellor? Do you
know anything of him? We have
often spoken Of you two"
Before l could answer Hildeburg
entered the room. She alone had
recsognized me the moment I had
turned in from the road. l shall never
forget her looks as she came towards
me. White as a sheet was her face,
her eyes full Of a vague terror, and yet
on her lips a smile of welcome that
came from the heart, pallid woe and
blushing JOY following each other in
quick succession. There was no doubt
she thought poor Mannelin dead and
myself come to assert my rights.
Fortunately her parents were used
to all sorts of strange moods or they
would have discovered the real state
of affairs, especially as I could no
longer avoid telling what I knew of
Mannelin, which, frankly, was little
and yet was serious enough. The
father thought there was some reason
to hope that Mannelin was still alive
But a quarter of an hour later, as
Hildeburg was showing me some
changes made in the house, she stop,
ped suddenly and said in a tone full
of grief: at is only too true! My good
dear chancellor lies in France under
the green turf They have shot him
through the breast and quenched his
true blue eyes! And you, marshal
have come to tell me-"
And she looked at me with flaming
eyes, which could glow with hate as
we'll as love. On her pallid lips lay
only bitter sadness. mo" I said, 81
know nothing, and hope he still lives
"You do mott" she cried, with flashing
eyes, while my conscience stung me
with the thought that l had not done
all | could to learn Mannelin's fate
and at the same time I felt a fiery
jealousy against the missing one who
was so passionately mourned In
this misery I gave d deep, involuntary
sigh, at which Hildeburg took me by
the hand and in a more tranquil voice
said, Come, let us say no more about
it now When I went away towards
evening she held out her hand cordial
ly and expressed a wish to see me
often so long as my regiment was il
those parts.
Then followed days that oscillateC
between brightness and darkness
One day I would find joyful greeting
sweetly, shyly affectionate, another
day her thoughts seemed sad and fal
away. I grew impatient for the end
One beautiful afternoon as I rode III
the long avenue of elms I found a hap
by pair coming to meet me, Hildeburg
and nv friend Mannelin. My frs
thought was joy at his unhoped fol
return. and my second a feeling of re
lief at the establishment of oul
old relations. Hildeburg, too, CRIED
out, ''Now everything is all right, now
we three are together again"
So began long succession of tran
quill, happy days, until unexpectedly
orders came for my regiment to marcl
in six days. Hildeburg's demeanol
was changed from this time on. Nov
restless and distracted, now absorbed
in her thoughts, and brooding owe.
something, she was whimsical anC
capricious. In thinking over her al
tered behavior 1 was inclined to con
slider it favorable to myself and to be
lieve my turn had come to shine ant
to be mOurned as the absent or los
one. I then considered what I mus
, do; trustfully leave the field to N.
rival or take advantage Of the new sit
uation and make a sudden attack. A
this juncture Hildeburg's parents in
vited me to farewell dinner in m,
honor and in the invitation urged M