The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-04-18
PART II.
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER /.
1t was Sylvester-abend of that ter
rible winter when the great German
army lay before Paris, and the ice
king sent his binding snow and Grip
ling frost to besiegers and besieged
alike.
Away in North Germany the irresist-
ible monarch had spread his white
mantel over field and forest and noun
tain, and the snow lay deep in the mar
row, roughly paved streets of a small
country town on the frontier of Sax
ony, kindly softening the noise of We
hicles and the tramp of horses to the
suffering patients of the Lazaret,
which had, since the war, been estab-
lished in large open space beyond
where the walls once stood, pure and
unadulterated, from the Riesenge-
birge.
Bernstadt had once been an import
ant border fortress, but its walls had
been long since leveled, and its pres
ent status, though not insignificant,
was now only due to its position as
the centre of a rich agricultural dis
trict and linen manufacturing popu-
lation.
The first consignment Of wounded,
after the earlier conflicts of Weissen.
burg and Woerth, had nearly all re-
covered and dispersed-those fit for
active service to rejoin their respective
regiments.
Even of the second batch after Sedan
not many were left; and, of these, all
sufficiently conyalescent to be per-
mitted such dissipation were assembled
at the house of Herr Gerhardt Werner,
the wealthy Burgomeister of Bern
stadt, who on this New Years Eve held
high festivity in his fine old mansion
in the market place, which, with its
wide staircase, all paneled and carved
with wreaths Of flowers, its large, we'll
proportional rooms and wide landings,
was especially suited for entertain
ments.
From almost every house lights
streamed out over the snow and
sparkled on the frosted trees
Music and song and laughter thrilled
i
blue stars looked down over all from a
deep steel-blue sky. intensified by
bright moonlight.
The country had begun to breathe
after the tremendous strain and tri-
umph of the last six months, and
though many sad heart wept for
the loved and lost, the general tone
was joyous and exulting
Two officers, wrapped in their large
cloaks, walked briskly from the gates
of the Lazaret past the Lyceum and
the line of trees, where the ramparts
once stood, toward the winding, mar
row street which led to the market
place.
what glorious nightv' exclaimed
the taller of the two.
1.-THE air, too, is life-giving. feel
myself again tonight for the first
time since that Turco's cursed sabre
laid me low
II may report myself fit for service
again in week or two"
"Well, ] feel rather shaky still,' re-
piled the other, who was considerably
"A fever such as mine takes more
out OF a fellow than the bullet that
caused it.
But am wonderfully stronger since
I came up here, and all the better for
meeting my old comrade.
when you left us after our Bo-
hemian campaign, and retired to the
personal acres, thought had lost
sight Of you altogether.
But such a call to arms as ours
would have reused German bear if
there was one left, even from his win
ter Sleep
YES" said his companion, II had
become almost broken in to the half
dead-and-aliye lie and the loneliness
of a remote Scnl0ss like mine, when
the call came and set my blood afame
MY eglY regret was that could
| not join Ray old regiment" "
IT has been fight Of giants this
time" resumed the second speaker,
after short pause, as they turned
into the shadow Of small street,
crunching the crisp snow beneath their
even tread
why, our Bohemian experience was
child's play to this; and get"
How well those Saxons hghtr: in
terrupted the other, speaking more 10
himself that his companion.
'"Ihen and now And their prince
!. he is a fine fellow"
"He is. Ach. how it all comes back,
Steinhausen.
sour hot. dusty march through the
Bohemian hills. and then our rest at
that delightful Saxon tilla.
II always remember It as the most
perfect house ia the world what was
1.-the nsmo Df he peQpleg'